Mythology & Folklore

The Eclipse Many luscious fruits and trees live in the rainforest of Costa Rica, but the most virtuous of them all is the great crescent shaped banana. Banana shares his great wisdom with all the fruits and trees beneath the canopy. He teaches Blackberry tree to be grateful for the nourishment of the Great Yellow Sun, sweet Mango tree to follow the moral guidance, and Kiwi blossoms to remember to share its riches with those less fortunate always. The trees and plants listen carefully for they know that Banana speaks the truth and cares for them from this perch in the canopy. The Watcher of the Rainforest, the sly Spider Monkey observed Banana and the teachings he shared with the plant pupils. Spider Monkey questioned whether Banana’s resolve would hold when tested. Spider Monkey settled on a plan. And then came the day when the sun’s light was eclipsed by the moon. As the moon crossed the Great Sun’s path, the fruits and plants of the trees became frightened. “Would the Great Sun ret

A tentative schedule for the semester: Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4. Week 3: Aesop (Jacobs) Week 4: Adam and Eve Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6. Week 5: Panchatantra Week 6: Khasi Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.] Week 7: Japanese Mythology Week 9: Tibet (Folktales) Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11. Week 10: Alaska Week 11: Inuit Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13. Week 12: Celtic Tales Week 13: Faerie Queene Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15. Week 14: Kalevala Week 15: Russian Fairy Tales First, I would like to say that I am very happy that the course will cover myths and legends from all around the world. In my first year of college, I completed a mythology course in which we spent the first 14 weeks on Greek myths and weeks 15 & 16 on Rome and "the rest of the world.

My best laid plans for the semester begin to show the chinks in the armor, this assignment is well planned. I originally thought that setting two blocks of time for this class would allow me enough time, I now think that this classwork needs to be spread out more.  Percolater. Source:  Pxhere.com In order to allow my creativity to re-surface, I think it would be better to give the reading time to percolate in my brain. My new plan is to begin the week with the reading assignments on Monday night. Then I will give them a day or two to brew before working on the story telling assignments and the project related writing.  I also think that I will work better in more frequent, shorter bursts of time rather than fewer, longer stretches. I actually hope to end of each of my days with a little bit of work in this class.  So, Mythology and Folklore will become my nightly routine this semester. Just a little bedtime storytelling...  https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1168046

Freebookapalooza ?! I cannot understate my excitement about this. It combines three of my favorite things: Books, newly  made up words (because all words were made up at some point), and...well, FREE! Eek!  In addition, I am excited to learn new tech tips that will help me save time in my day. Probably unlike many of the students here, I am a working adult. I would not be able to get through my work day without many of the tools you mentioned, such as bookmarks and Google docs, and I am always looking for ways to use technology to make things more efficient. I dislike the fact that most of us, myself included, barely scratch the surface of the capability of the technology that we use everyday. Most of us have smart phones and other devices capable of so much more than posting on social media and helping us find the nearest coffee shop. Even though I am just as guilty as the next girl, I am eager to learn more about the technology at my fingertips. To look below the surface and find

This class is going to force me to return to creative writing, which is both exciting and intimidating! When I started college, which was longer ago than I would like to admit right now, I was an English Literature major, and I used to write frequently. Now as a paralegal, I still write frequently, but legal writing is very different. Legal writing, even when attempting to persuade, is dry, passive and matter of fact. The tone is extremely different, and I worry that it will be difficult for me to change gears. On the other hand, it is a very exciting. I always enjoyed reading and writing, but I rarely make time for it. This class will force me out of my comfort zone, which is usually good but always a little scary. Comfort Zone. Source:  Wikipedia Commons I appreciate the extra credit opportunities, as well. Specifically the tech tips and the growth mindset. In my work, I've found that tech tips are the absolute best things to collect. You never know when something is go

The concept of the Growth Mindset vs. the Fixed Mindset is one that I can relate to in my personal life. My 13 year old daughter as severe autism and sensory processing disorder. In learning to teach her, we have not only had to seek out alternative ways to communicate with her, but also to embrace the different way that she thinks. With any special needs students, it is very easy to get stuck in what they can't  do, rather than focusing on what they can. I've learned over the years that we can find better success by celebrating what she can do, what she loves to do, and helping her explore those things in a way that incorporates other "more traditional" learning. This process is very similar to the "not yet" way of accepting that we all learn at a different pace. When we take the crushing failure mindset out of the equation and teach through success it creates a much happier way to learn. Autism Awareness. Web Source:  Wikipedia Commons When I l

Hello everyone! My name is Samantha Hatch, and I am excited to be back in school. It's been a little while (a long while) since I've been in the university routine. I am working on a Multidisciplinary degree that combines Information Studies with Management Information Systems. Currently, I work as a paralegal and records administrator for the state of Oklahoma. This degree should help me obtain a position with a private e-Discovery and information governance firm. At least...that's the plan! While e-Discovery seems like a far cry from Mythology, I am also excited about this course. In one of my past lives, I was an English major. I really loved looking at ancient cultures by studying their heroes, their legends, and their religions. Even though my career path is heading in a far more technological direction, I hope this class will be a fun mix of technology and classical subject matter. My hobbies right now include buying paint supplies and watching Youtube videos ab

Many of the storybooks of former students were very compelling, but in life as well as art, there must be a winner! I have chosen these as my favorites: Flood Myths, Tales on a Train, and the Real Housewives of Greek Mythology.   Flood Myths  had to be my favorite. While it may not have been the most dynamic of the story books aesthetically speaking, it combined two of my personal favorites from my past lives. As a child, I always loved "Choose Your Own Adventure" books! As an adult, I've tried to create similar experiences for my daughter with little success. I love the added interest that it gives to this subject matter. Additionally, the subject has always been a favorite of mine. In studying the mythology of various cultures through the ages, it is hard to ignore that each culture has some version of a flood story. The variations are as fascinating to me as the similarities.  Tales on a Train  cannot be overlooked. The catchy title that brings the pilgrimage conce

My favorite place is San Diego, CA. I love the architecture of the old Spanish missions: Spanish Missions in California. Source:  Wikipedia And the cliffs are gorgeous.  Sunset Cliffs, San Diego, CA. Source:  Wikipedia Commons  

Testing... I am hopeful that as the semester progresses I will be far more creative than I do now.