3/19 Reflection

Today in class, we read a story and answered questions surrounding it. Short Stories drastically differ from books' structure, figurative language use, and writing styles. Short stories are often simpler than books; their plots are often about personal things that connect to the reader in ways books can't. I've never not liked short stories, but I will always prefer books due to their complicated plots. Books give me more time to fully understand the characters in a way that short stories can't. 

3/18 Reflection

 Today in class, we had pre-reading questions about our family's cultural dynamic. Over this semester, I've had to describe the culture in over a million different ways, but today, it was about familial culture. I grew up in a very religious household, so that takes up most of our culture. Our family has always had a way of twisting things that make them unique for us; I'm glad our family does that because every holiday we celebrate is so unique compared to other families, which makes mine feel special. 

Reflection 3/5

 Today in class, we reviewed a specific poem that reflected the story of Adam and Eve. I grew up in a private Catholic school, where we had to memorize verses, annotate chapters, and test our knowledge of biblical topics. I've always been devout, and I have never seen that as something negative, but now that I go to a school where religion isn't taught, I've become ever closer to my personal beliefs. But just because I am comfortable with these beliefs, I know most aren't. Religious differences should be celebrated and never questioned or judged. It can be elementary to come off as judgmental of other people's "lack of knowledge" surrounding biblical topics, and today, in class, this was obscenely present. There are specific ways religious issues should be conveyed in class, and we can do better. Many pieces of literature have historical and biblical allusions, and being able to teach these allusions in a way that makes every student feel safe and comfortable with these topics is a necessity for every educator. 

Reflection 3/4

 Today in class, we started discussing poetry. I've always had a love-hate relationship with poetry. In middle school, our literature teacher loved poetry and was able to share that love through her teaching. I've always seen poetry as a challenge, and once I broke the literary barrier between the words and me, I could fully immerse myself in the writing. Growing up, I've learned to apply what my old teachers at school have taught me, and that's a skill I hope to continue to grow in.