Mythology and Folklore Fall 2020

  The Nativity Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to have the baby sent from heaven baby was born in a manger wise men, shepherds, and kings come gather around baby Jesus angel announces the baby is the Savior (The Nativity from 12th Century Bible Illustration ) The Wise Men another version of the Nativity angel came down to Mary and said she would have a baby and to name him Jesus Jesus was born in Bethlehem and people came from far and wide to see him King Herod was scared so he sent wise men to search for this baby they followed a star east and it lead them to Jesus they instead worshipped Jesus and warned Mary and Joseph, telling them to flee to Egypt When Herod died, Mary and Joseph and Jesus returned to Jerusalem The Virgin Grown Big James' story of Mary and Joseph Joseph found Mary pregnant (6 months) but she claimed to be a virgin Joseph was confused and scared but an angel told him to help her, so he did they privately got married and he took ownership for the child The Nativ...

  The first article I read was "How to Give Bad Feedback Without Being  a Jerk" by Adam Grant. What immediately stuck out to me about this article was how Grant said a complement sandwich is not a very effective way to give feedback. This really took me aback because that is my go-to strategy. However, after considering his explanations of why they aren't effective, I have to agree. Like Grant said, I think it's important to explain why you are giving the feedback and to take yourself off of a pedestal. It's easier for someone to take feedback when they know that this person cares and is on the same level as them. The second article I read was "The Difference Between Praise and Feedback" by Anya Kamenetz. I really like her article because I had never though of a difference between process praise and person praise. The idea of praising someones process/hard-work rather than their talents/personality can make a total difference, yet it is only a few word...

Upon much consideration, I have decided to do a spin off of the  Madame Gossip storybook and do the traditional Disney princesses. I chose to do this topic because I found myself getting excited thinking about the ways I could retell the stories I grew up loving. With my mind being so science and math focused, it is usually hard for me to actually want to sit down and read/write something. But with this topic, I lose track of time reading and brainstorming ideas. So, I am pretty excited to say the least! Like Madame Gossip,  I will be retelling classic princess stories from the perspective of Gossip Girl (a new name will be decided later). I think I want to use Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty in my stories. Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella all come from the book Once Upon a Time . Snow White and Sleeping Beauty come from a very similar book called The Old Fairy Tales . Again, I am really looking forward to letting ...

As we entered Bethsaida, my master was stopped by a crowd. He hopped off of me to come face-to-face with a blind man. My master took his hand and helped the man up onto my back. He led me and his followers out of town with this blind man to a spot right off the highway. It was then when my master helped the blind man down and faced him. My master spit in his eyes and rubbed it in. The man cried out in surprise and disgust. But when my master removed his hands from the man's eyes, the blind man gasped in disbelief. My master asked, "What is it? What do you see?" The blind man pondered for a second before replying with, "I see trees walking. The men look like trees. They are trees walking!" My master spit in the blind man's eyes once more, rubbing it in again. The blind man was taken aback again, but did not shout this time. When my master removed his hands for the second time, he asked again, "What do you see?" The blind man began to tear up. "...

 READING B: Jesus and the Blind Man heals another blind man beggar outside of Jericho became instant follower of Jesus (Painting of Jesus Healing Blind Man by El Greco ) Jesus and the Scribe Pharisees try to outsmart/trick Jesus ask what most important commandment is  Jesus replies with love God, love others The Prophecies of Jesus Jesus talks about Rapture the Father is the only one to know exactly when be a follower now because you never know if you have tomorrow The Last Supper bread=body, wine=blood supper before crucifixion predicts Peter will deny him 3x The Crucifixion Pilate tries to convince that Jesus hasn't done anything wrong public insists on crucifixion mocked on cross (King of Jews) centurion is first person to correctly identify Him as Messiah The Resurrection Jesus wants to disciples to preach to the whole world Bibliography. The Gospel of Mark from King James Bible .

  READING A: The Parables of Jesus **could tell from perspective of sheep (He is the shepherd) tells 12 disciples parables (sower) Jesus calmed the storm and the sea Jesus the Healer heals the woman that no doctor could fix healed by touching His robe, but Jesus did not know raised daughter form the dead The Miracles of Jesus feeds the 500 with fish and bread more healing with His robe The Loaves and Fishes Again 2-Part Miracle with the blind man Peter (wrongly) declares He is the Messiah (Painting of the 2-Part Miracle by Assereto ) Bibliography: The Gospel of Mark from the King James Bible .

  Feedback is both a dream and a nightmare. I am always longing for feedback on my work to see what my strengths and weaknesses are, but I am always so afraid to confront my weaknesses. In one of my previous blog posts, I talk about how being a perfectionist has sort of hindered a growth mindset for me. While I hope this class will help me overcome that, I need to also put in effort on my own time to fix it.  The two articles I read have really inspired me to take action. The first article I read was "Seven Ways to Crush Self-Doubt in Creative Work" by John Spencer. I really liked this article because I am indeed my own worst critic and self-deprecation is one of the biggest obstacles I face in my life. I felt like the tips he shared are very relevant to my life, like how I shouldn't compare myself to others and to abandon my perfectionism.  I saw this tweet the other day that reminds me of the picture I have inserted below: it said something along the lin...

  Madame Gossip This storybook initially captured my attention because it was about princesses, which--as a Disney fanatic--is right up my alley. But as I began to read the introduction, I noticed that it was written in a way very similar to Gossip Girl , which is one of my all-time favorite shows! This storybook is really inspiring me to pick a topic on princesses and approach it as Gossip Girl would! I have no previous knowledge of any of these princesses, but I am looking forward to learning more about their stories (and gossip, of course!). The Fair Angiola Again, the Disney fanatic in me wanted to look into one of my favorite princesses, Rapunzel. I know the Disney version like the back of my hand, but this is pretty different (obviously). If I were to choose this as my topic, I think I would tell it more like the Disney remake and tell it from the perspective of an animal companion (like Pascal). Animal Tales This was one of the first three storybooks I read and wrote about. ...

In a town in the countryside of France lived a mother and her three daughters. They were a poor family with just a one-room cottage and one very scrawny cow. Getting by was tough, but they were happy nonetheless.  This particular day, the mother decided to go to the village to buy her daughters some gifts. The two oldest daughters wanted jewelry and dresses and dolls and so many other things while the youngest daughter stayed quiet. The mother promised them the finest gifts she could find. The mother then asked the youngest, Mary, what she wanted from the village. Quietly, Mary answered with, "three roses please." The mother smiled and declared she would find Mary the three prettiest roses in the whole world! Off she went to the village to buy her daughters some gifts. The mother spent hours searching for jewelry and dolls, only to find two little rag dolls for her oldest daughters. Satisfied with her find, the mother trotted off towards the cottage, taking the scenic route t...

  Fairy Tale: Beauty and the Basilisk The Three Roses by Josef Baudis mother + 3 daughters--2=greedy, 3rd=only wants 3 roses mother lost in forest, went to palace, remembered roses basilisk wanted to trade roses for 3rd daughter, mother forced to trade took 3rd daughter to palace (she didn't mind)--everything she wanted was there basilisk wanted Mary (daughter) to nurse him 3hr/day 3rd day, brought sword for Mary to cut off his head--forced her to do it serpent came out of body(holding golden keys)--cut off head again (asked again) serpent turned to handsome boy--got married I liked this story because it was the Beauty and the Beast before  Beauty and the Beast  (Disney). As a Disney fanatic, I felt compelled to read and I was not disappointed. It reminds me of a cross between Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. (Picture of Basilisk from  Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch ) Origin Stories: The Moon The Man in the Moon by Katherine Neville Fleeson blacksmith wished to ...

Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4. Week 3: __Cupid and Psyche_______ Week 4: ____Bible Women_____ Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6. Week 5: ____Arabian Nights_____ Week 6: ____Ancient Egypt_____ Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.] Week 7: ____Brer Rabbit_____ Week 9: ____Japanese Mythology_____ Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11. Week 10: ____Alaska_____ Week 11: ____Pacific Northwest_____ Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13. Week 12: ____Celtic Tales_____ Week 13: ____Alice in Wonderland_____ Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15. Week 14: ____Italian_____ Week 15: ____Hans Christian Anderson_____ I am not going to lie... I was worried I wouldn't find some of the units interesting. However, after browsing through the storybooks, I am genuinely excited for EVERY unit, especially European (that's where the Disney sto...

Time management is vital to success, yet it is one of the most overlooked strategies for everyday life. Personally, I feel like I have a good grasp on time management because I am the complete opposite of a procrastinator. My theory is that it is better to finish work now and have fun later than to have fun now while stressing about all the work that is being put off for later. However, after reading some of the articles provided, I have realized I have been making some key mistakes in time management. The first article I read was "The Myth of 'Too Busy'."  I really enjoyed this article because it challenged me to think differently about how I describe my time. Like Grahl mentioned, some people pride themselves in being busy all the time, which I find myself doing sometimes, too. But in reality, being busy means you are not prioritizing very well (or you are just using the word wrong). So, this semester I am challenging myself to describe my time differently. The seco...

Even though this class was already a completely online course before the pandemic, this semester is still going to look a lot different being mostly online. We will have to learn more and more about technology to survive the fall.  I have taken a few online classes as a student, but this class is unlike any of the ones I have taken. This class is based more on blogging and reading than my other classes. Again, it is fresh and a nice change for me! Learning how to do Zoom was pretty new to me when we were thrown into it during the spring, but I feel like I can figure out technology stuff pretty quickly. Out of all of the tools listed, I am only familiar with image editing (Canva), Canvas (for obvious reasons), and Twitter. Other than that, blogging and website publishing are pretty foreign to me.  Luckily, all of the browser tune-ups I already had, so I was good on that end.  I am excited to learn how to blog, which I have already gotten the hang of, but I am also excited ...

  After reviewing how the semester is going to look for this class, I am very excited! I have already been having so much fun writing these blog posts, so now I am really excited to get into Mythology and Folklore! I am most intrigued by the Storytelling assignments because I like idea reading a classic story then telling it in my own way. I am also excited for the Storybook project. After reading some of the storybooks, I started getting some ideas of what I want to write about. I have always loved creative writing, so that is why I am very happy about this assignment! This class is SO SO different than the classes I have taken. Most of my classes are science classes, so the only writing I have done has been lab reports. I am happy for a change, though! The extra credit assignments I am excited for are "Check-In and Connect" and "Microfictions." Check-In and Connect is so important for mental health and just a fun break from actual school work. Microfictions sounds...

If you couldn't tell from my Introduction blog post , I am indeed a perfectionist. The thing that keeps me motivated is the idea of becoming the best version of myself. For example, I want to be intelligent, fit/healthy, and have a close relationship with God; so, I work hard to earn good grades, try to workout 4-6 times a week and eat healthy, and constantly pursue God on a daily basis through prayer and devotion. I just want to be the very best version of me that I can be.  I had never heard of Carol Dweck or growth mindset before, but after watching the videos, I was intrigued. I never really took the time to stop and think about how my mind was processing progress and/or achievements. As a perfectionist, I feel like I fall in the middle of the spectrum. When I do fail at something, I get really frustrated and angry that I couldn't accomplish it; however, I feel like personally, I also can accept that as long as I gave it my all--even if I failed--that it is okay. I am also ...

Hello, everyone! I figured if y'all are going to be reading my blog posts all semester that I should probably tell you a little bit about myself.  Hi! My name is Libby Helm and I am from Dallas, Texas (for all my Dallas people--I grew up in Carrollton, now I live in Coppell). My declared major is Chemical Biosciences (Pre-Med) but I have been teetering between medical school and PA school. If I decide PA--which I *think* I am leaning towards--then I will switch to a Planned Program major, which will mirror Chemical Biosciences very closely. So, yes, my major is very complicated! However, the end goal is the same: to become a dermatologist. Here is a summed up version of why: As a child I had gotten acne long before any of my peers did, while moles and freckles covered my body, as they did my father's. Earlier diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, which turned into Melanoma, my father had to undergo surgery to remove the cancer. Between the premature acne and suspicious moles, my...

  Hawaiian Mythology: If you have read my "Favorite Place" blog post , you already know that I love Hawaii, so this storybook automatically caught my attention. As I started reading the introduction, I started gaining more interest because the storybook was about Hawaiian culture and the myths/stories that stemmed from it. I am somewhat familiar with Hawaiian/Polynesian culture from personal experience and a few Disney movies, but I am by no means an expert. With that being said, I am interested in this storybook so that I may learn more about Hawaiian culture. I really like the layout of the storybook. It is very simple and neat and contains very beautiful pictures. I like how easy it is to navigate with the tabs at the top and I also like all of the links provided in text. Tales of Davy Jones's Locker: The title immediately caught my attention because I am a HUGE Pirates of the Caribbean fan! As I opened the storybook, the layout was just so amazing and stunning! I love...

I have been so fortunate to travel to so many different places in my life, so it is very hard to narrow it down to just one favorite! However, if I had to pick, it would be Hawaii. My family and I decided to vacation in Hawaii the summer of 2016. We stayed in Maui, Kauai, and Oahu. Hawaii is one of my favorite trips because I am a big beach person and it was just absolutely beautiful there! Stop #1: Maui In Maui, we stayed at the Grand Wailea (which some of you may recognize from Just Go With It ! ). It truly was a slice of heaven. (Grand Wailea Mermaid Fountain by The Sweetest Escapes ) During our stay, we drove around the whole perimeter of Maui, including journeying on the Road to Hana. My favorite town was Lahaina because it was the cutest surfing town ever! Maui was probably my favorite island just because there was so much to do. Also, the sunsets were unbelievable! (Photograph by me at the Grand Wailea from June 2016) Stop #2: Kauai We stayed at the St. Regis in Princeville in K...

 Hello everyone! My name is Libby and I am trying out blogging for the first time!