Famous Last Words: Week 13

I wanted to use this post to talk about a struggle that I have every semester. I have issues with mental health that usually result in me falling behind at some point in the semester and then I have to race to catch up at the end. Every semester I say that I am not going to let myself have that problem and so I do not talk to my professors about it thinking I can keep it from happening. But then I inevitably fall behind in at least one class, usually two, and I then feel like I cannot talk to the professor after the fact because it would sound like making up excuses. So here I am again at the end of the semester, and I am in fact catching up in three of my classes right before graduation. In grad school I hope I can swallow my pride and talk to professors ahead of time. I think I have finally learned my lesson and will be able to do so. At least I hope I have. Which is why I am writing this post so that I have a documentation of my realization that I can look back on to remind me. Hopefully having a concrete sample of me telling myself to get over my pride and do the thing will help me be convinced to do it.

On a lighter note, I am super excited for the end of the semester because I get to graduate! It took a lot of work to still be able to graduate in four years with honors, and I have almost done it! Despite all of my setbacks, I am going to walk that stage on the 14th which is so exciting and I cannot wait for that to be accomplished. So thanks to this class for helping me finish up my last semester and tackle some problems I have. This class has been more than I could have ever hoped and I will recommend it to any and everyone every opportunity that I get.

Graduation Cap

Learning Challenge: Pomodoro Technique

Since I did a tech tip for the google timer this week, I thought I would do the pomodoro technique for my learning challenge. This technique has you select a task to work on and set a timer for 25 minutes. You then work at the task until the timer goes off and then take a short break (I chose 3 minutes). Every fourth time you take a longer break. This is actually really helpful for me and I really love it! So glad I tried it! Sometimes I found that I needed to shorten to 15 minutes because I was having trouble focusing, but it was okay because after my break I got right back to work. So great!

Pomodoro Technique

Growth Mindset Memes

For this challenge I looked through some fantastic growth mindset memes and picked out my favorite:

Laura Gibbs and Cheezburger

I chose this meme because I really love the imagery of active curiosity. It makes me think of digging in sand or climbing on your tippie-toes to discover something which I think is fantastic. I love the idea of curiosity requiring action because true curiosity really does spark energy!

Storytelling Week 13: The Fox and the Stork

Author's Note: This story is based off of the tale "The Fox and the Stork" from the La Fontaine unit. I did not change the plot at all really so there is no need to summarize that here. What I did do however is something I thought worthy of mentioning before reading the story which is why this note comes first. Every single word in this story is only one syllable! I got this idea from the storytelling style random generator and it was so fun to do! I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a way to do their last story next week. I hope you enjoy this monosyllabic version of "The Fox and the Stork."



Once there was a fox and a stork. The fox would oft' play tricks on the stork, but the stork would just turn a blind eye to these antics. One day the fox got up to his rude ways once more. He made a call for the stork to come eat a late day meal at his home. The stork much to his own shock said yes 'fore he knew what he did. So, at dusk he set out for the home of the fox.

Fox took stork's cloak and led him to the heart of the den. There they sat and had a short chat till fox said "I will get the meal." He brought out two bowls though they could scarce be called that for the depth was less than an inch. Each bowl held a bit of broth. The fox set down the bowls and got down to his meal. He used his tongue to lap up the thin soup. But the stork, try as he might could not get even one sip. His beak was much too long and his tongue much too thin. He tried and tried but got not one drop. When fox was done with his food, stork left with his tum left void. Though he said not a word of his woe to the fox.

By John Rae

The next day, stork made a call for the fox to come eat at his home. The fox was glad to say yes to the stork. He thought it might be good to see stork's house to help him come up with a new trick close to home. When the fox got there, stork sat him down in the nest. He then went and came back with one tall vase and then one more. The best smell came out of the vase as the two braced to start the meal. The stork then used his long beak to peck at the food in his vase. He ate and ate and ate. The fox, though, could not get his nose through the top of his vase. Though he tried he got not one bite. He left the meal most stung, while the stork was most pleased.

The fox had a void deep in his gut where a nice meal should have been. He was not pleased at all with what had gone down. And that fox thought twice 'fore he pulled any more tricks on that wise old stork.

Bibliography: "The Fox and the Stork" is from Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks by W.T. Larned (1918)

Reading Diary Week 13, Continued: La Fontaine

I really enjoyed the first half of this unit, so my hopes are high for the second half. I will do this in the same format, picking a favorite from each page to write about. These stories are all from The Fables of La Fontaine.

The Mouse Metamorphosed into a Maid: I first thought when I read the title of this story that it would be similar to the cat story of similar name, but it was not! I was caught off guard, but pleasantly so.

The Council Held by the Rats: I adored this story when I first read it in the Aesop unit and I loved it again in poetic form. The author did a great job transposing it into verse!

The Tortoise and the Two Ducks: Though I am not so sure of the ending, I liked the majority of this story.

The Frogs Asking a King: I honestly do not know why I enjoyed this story so much, but I really did! I think it was the juxtaposition of the rhyming verse with the harsh god that tickled me.

The Swallow and the Little Birds: Though I did not necessarily think this story was fantastic, I chose it because it reminds me of the birds in the Sower passage of the Bible. I love that passage and therefore any reminder makes me happy.

The Bear and the Amateur Gardner: I think I have a love hate relationship with this story. On the one hand there is the sad ending, but on the other there is a funny picture of a man and bear as friends and a stupid bear at that. I love and hate this as I said.

The Astrologer Who Stumbled Into a Well: I found the purposeful irony in this story hilarious and that is why I chose this story from the page. It really made me smile.

The Carter in the Mire: This story makes me think of the saying of "God helps those who learn to help themselves" which is I think sometimes true and sometimes God just has to do the thing for you (once you ask him to, so I suppose asking is helping yourself). But I digress, in short I appreciate that Hercules helped him figure out how to do the task himself.

Poebus and Boreas: I have heard a version of this story before as a riddle, but never just as a story I do not think. I enjoyed how it played out.

Illustration by Barlow

Reading Diary Week 13: La Fontaine

Here are my thoughts on some of the rhymes from the first half of the La Fontaine unit. I am picking my favorites from each page to discuss here. These stories come from either Fables in Rhyme for Little Folks or The Fables of La Fontaine.

The Hare and the Tortoise: For a story that I know so well, this story was surprisingly refreshing and I really loved it! There were some funny quips throughout that added to the rhythm of the rhyme for an extremely pleasant read of a classic tale.

The Monkey and the Cat: This story caught my attention because I do not believe I have heard it before but it was a good one. I like the play between the two creatures and how the monkey strokes the cat's pride to get his way.

The Fox and the Stork: The trickery in this story amuses me greatly. I loved this story when I first read the Aesop version early in the semester and I love it even more now in verse. Such a funny story and fitting for a rhyme.

The Heron who was Hard to Please: This story reminded me of trying new foods growing up. My mom would always say "either eat what I made or don't eat at all," and I thank her for that because my palate became much more accepting and adventurous than the average child's. It seems like the Heron is learning this the hard way.

The Dove and the Ant: I just really love all of the good deeds in this story. That an ant and dove should both save the life of the other is a sweet concept and one that is made sweeter through rhyme.

The Acorn and the Pumpkin: This story spread a smile across my face. I love the innocence of the bumpkin and his realization that maybe things are the way they are for a reason. Very lovable character and story.

The Wolf and the Fox: I love that the beginning of this rhyme notes on a trend in Aesop's tales. It is a fun nod to where the stories came from. I also just really loved the flow of this story.

The Horse Wishing to be Revenged on the Stag: What I enjoyed about this story was the moral behind it. The rhyme itself was a little hard to understand at first, but once it became clear it was like I was the horse coming to realize what had taken place.

The Ass and the Dog: I do not really know what drew me to this story. I did not particularly enjoy or despise it. It simply drew me in.

The Cat Metamorphosed Into a Woman: The absurdness of this story amuses me greatly.

Illustration by Rackham