Blog Post #3

Reflecting on my experience of creating a myth definitely enhanced my understanding of myths and how they function. Reading and analyzing a myth is very different from actually writing one. When studying a myth, the focus is on interpretation—unpacking its themes, symbols, and cultural significance. However, writing a myth required me to actively engage with the storytelling process, considering not just what happens in the story but why it is being told. I learned that myths are not just entertaining stories; they serve a deeper purpose, whether explaining natural phenomena, reinforcing cultural beliefs, or conveying moral lessons.

Creating my own myth forced me to think critically about why myths exist and how they resonate with audiences. It required both creativity and structure, pushing me to craft a story that felt meaningful and engaging. This experience gave me insight into how myths shape understanding and make complex ideas more accessible. In a classroom setting, I can see how having students create their own myths would be an effective way to connect them with literature. It would encourage creativity, critical thinking, and an appreciation for storytelling as a powerful form of expression.

Beyond teaching, this experience reminded me of the power of narrative in everyday life. Myths help us make sense of the world, and storytelling in general is a valuable tool for communication and perspective-taking. Encouraging creativity through myth-making not only enhances literary understanding but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the stories that shape human experience.

Blog #2

Blog #2

When it comes to writing poetry or writing about poetry there is one main similarity and difference that comes to mind. To begin with, when you’re writing poetry you’re able to go deep into your own head and express your emotions through your words. However, the poets that are written about will always be written about from a third person point of view and as much as we analyze their work we will never know what they were truly thinking when creating their written work. With that being said, writing about poetry helped me pay closer attention to understanding the elements that impact the way my poetry is read and that I could be using in my own writing to create a certain effect. The fact that I write poetry helped me resonate with other poets and become amazed with the destructuring of it and analyzing it and getting into other poets heads. As poets I feel it is beautiful experience to understand other human beings on a deep emotional level and be able to relate to other people through words and language. Through this experience I have learned creative ways to help teach students in a way that keeps them involved and engaged. Having students write their own poetry before studying poetry can take away the intimidation that is surrounded around analyzing poetry. Once they realize how easy writing poetry can be they will feel more confident being able to analyze it and understand it on a deeper level. 

Blog #1: Media Technology and Teaching

Welcome to my little corner, where I discuss my thoughts. My name is Marisol Fuentes. I am a senior at Cal State Northridge, obtaining my degree in English with a Single-Subject Credential to become a secondary school teacher. 

Regarding media technology and teaching, I believe it can be used to our advantage as teachers. The truth is that we are living in a world where technology is used in all aspects of life. While there are pros and cons to using technology, instead of critiquing it, we should make use of it as a way to engage our students. We can creatively use media technology in a way that helps students learn without hindering their learning progress. As a current student myself, I find assignments, like this blog, a useful way of using media technology in the classroom. I have also heard of classmates who have incorporated social media platforms such as Instagram in their lesson plans which I believe can make the classroom environment more engaging. This can be similar to the argument of teaching young adult literature rather than just classic literature. It is a modern way to teach students while keeping them engaged. I believe that keeping students interested and helping them learn to appreciate learning is an important factor in being a teacher and this can be done by using methods that are already familiar and interesting to them. This can also help teachers expand on their lesson plans to experiment with different and creative ways to teach.