Week 4 Review: Laser Pointer

While reviewing over this weeks announcements, I came across the following gif in Thursday's announcements and I thought it was hilarious! At my house we love playing with the laser pointer with our dog and cats, so I think that this is the cutest thing ever!

Feedback Focus

The three strategies suggested to us are all very helpful in focusing in on what you are reading. If I were to rank the strategies, it would be:

1. Setting a Timer

2. Reading Aloud

3. Copy & Delete

Using these three strategies, I could tell that it had a positive affect on my reading. I was able to understand what the author was trying to convey in each of these things. For each of these strategies, there were advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of setting a timer was that I was able to focus just on the story for 10 minutes without having any other distractions. I was able to read through the story multiple times and catch things I hadn't previously caught the first time. For this strategy, I wouldn't really say there were any disadvantages to it. An advantage of reading aloud was this it made it very easy to tell if you missed anything, which helped make sure you were understanding what the author is trying to convey. A disadvantage would be that you have to read it out loud which isn't always the most feasible thing to do depending on your location. An advantage to the copy and delete strategy is that you focused on the paragraphs rather than the story as a whole. The only disadvantage to this is that sometimes it's nice to be able to go back and quickly re-read something and this is somewhat difficult with this strategy. 

I will definitely be using these strategies in the future because I think that they really helped me focus on what the story is about and helped me get good notes on these stories. I've never used these strategies before so I'm very excited to see how much better of a reader/feedbacker I become with these strategies. I really enjoyed reading "Midterm Madness" because I thought it was very clever how the author was able to integrate the Ramayana into something so relatable for every student with using midterms as the theme.

(Photo of a person studying,

Web Source)

Tech Tip: Google Site Website

For this tech tip, I decided to make a website using Google Sites. I am using this website for my storybook. Here is the the link to the website

(Photo of the Haunted Mansion in Disney World,

Web Source)

Story: House Hunter

Hi, I'm Visva-mitra, the old city guru. Although I love my luxurious life in the big city, I think it's time for me to make my move to a rural country life. As of right now I don't have any jobs lined up, so I have a pretty low budget, but I don't need much, just a bedroom, kitchen, electricity, internet (I have to be able to watch my Netflix!) and plumbing...oh and plenty of room to entertain my guests. Just kidding! I just need enough room for me because I'm a hermit and don't really want to deal with people for a while. If I could get a few upgrades like some granite countertops, hardwood floors that would be incredible. But, I definitely think my realtor will be able to help me find something well within my budget.

So today is the day that me and the realtor are going to go and look at a few different options for me and my new life. The first house was pretty nice. It was small and there weren't too many upgrades. Just the bare minimum, everything a hermit could ever need. The neighbors were all about a mile away from the house though, and that was a little too close for me. The next house was almost too much of a hermit hole for me. The house was maybe half the size of the first house and there was no way I could comfortably be in the bathroom, I always felt squished. I will say though that Debbie, my realtor, hit the price right on the nose. It was about half my budget, which is incredible. The third and final place we saw was spectacular. Brand new upgrades, the kitchen was beautiful, the bathroom was incredible, and the bedroom was spacious. It was almost like what I had in the city, expect on a smaller scale...and maybe not so luxurious. The best part about this house was the property that came with it. It sat on a two and a half square mile lot, and the closest neighbors were three miles away! Incredible! The only downside to the house was that the price was a little over my budget.

Once I saw all three houses, I knew it would be a difficult decision to choose the perfect one for me and only me. Do I go with number one, the quaint house that wasn't too special? Or number two, the house that looked like something the peasant people from the city live in? Should I dare with number three, in a house made for the city transported to the country? I decided to make my decision a little easier by removing number two. Even though I wanted to get away from the city, I didn't want to live like a poor man. So now the decision was between number one and number three. I could see myself being comfortable and enjoying life in both houses, so this really was the hardest decision of my life.
I finally came the decision and realized that house number three really screamed Visva-mitra! When I walked inside for the first time, I could see myself loving life here. I saw myself sitting on the sofa, reading a book or watching the latest season of Orange is the New Black on Netflix. I could see myself cooking in the kitchen. And most importantly, I could see myself living peacefully, and alone, here with no one to bother me.

Author's Note

For this retelling, I decided to use Visva-mitra's story. In The Divine Archer the author never really touched on Visva-mitra's life other than the fact that he needed Rama to help him. I wanted to show him finding the perfect house to become a hermit in, and what show is better at helping people find their dream homes than 'House Hunters' on HGTV? I thought that having Visva-mitra being the buyer of a new property was the perfect platform to creating a backstory for him! 

Bibliography

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould, online book

Logo for House Hunters, web source

Reading Notes: The Divine Archer, Part A

For this weeks reading, I decided to read The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould. I chose to read this because it seemed very interesting and I like that it is mainly based on Rama and how he uses archery to help him in all of his battles. As I was reading, I really liked the format of the book because it was very easy to read. This version seems much more like a fairy tale for children, where as Narayan's Ramayana read more like a novel. The fairy tale like writing makes it very playful, while also stressing the evils that Rama faces.

Something I really like about this version of the Ramayana is that the author focuses on Rama's brothers. I know that is Narayan's Ramayana he discussed Lakshman and Bhartha, but he didn't really go into that much detail about his third brother, or much detail about the other two in general other than the fact that they both trusted Rama and did what he said. When Rama meets Sita and gets married to her, the author explains that all three of Rama's brothers got married that day as well and I think that that is good information to have. I also enjoy how he told the story of Rama and Sita meeting and getting married. There was more detail to it than the fact that they saw each other through a window and Rama was able to string the bow to win Sita's hand in marriage.

As I was reading through The Divine Archer, I was thinking of ways I could retell the story. Here are a few options:

Chapter 1

• I could write about Visva-mitra's life and the journey that he went on with Rama and his brothers from his perspective

Chapter 2

• I could write how Sita at first didn't love Rama back, but she eventually fell in love with him
• I could write that Rama had failed to string the bow, but was able to still win Sita's hand in marriage

Chapter 3

• I could rewrite the story where Dasaratha doesn't give Kaikeyi what she wants
• I could rewrite the story to where Rama gets furious at his father's decision to not give him the crown

Chapter 4

• I could write where Kaikeyi was Rama's charioteer and abandoned him in the forest on coronation day rather than he asking Dasaratha to not crown Rama

Chapter 5

• I could write a story where Maricha disguised himself as a dog rather than a deer

Chapter 6

• I could write where Ravan was defeated by the vulture rather than Ravan defeating the vulture

Bibliography

The Divine Archer by F.J. Gould, online book

Symbol of an archer, web source

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D

As I finished up reading Narayan's Ramayana I was very excited to see how it all would end. Would Rama defeat Ravana? Would they both live? Would Rama and Sita be reunited with one another? It was very fun to read and figure out the answers to all of these questions.

When Ravana was meeting with his council to decide what to do regarding Rama, the detail that was put into all of the conversations that were taking place was very realistic. His council was telling him so many different things, the way I feel like cabinet meetings go for the President. I thought it was very interesting that many of his councilmen were telling Ravana that he was in the wrong for holding Sita captive for so long, however in the end Ravana did as he pleased. I also think that it was admirable of Vibishana to stick up for himself and continue to believe that what Ravana did was wrong and seek asylum with Rama.

As the epic got into the battle sequence, it was very fun to read with all of the details the author put into it. I really felt like I was there watching the battle occur! Once it got to the final battle between Rama and Ravana, it was very interesting. It almost reminded me of the scene in Hercules where Hercules is fighting the Hydra where its heads keep coming back.

Once Sita and Rama were finally reunited, it was very disappointing that Sita threw herself in the fire, however I love that it all worked out and that Sita and Rama were able to end up together and rule the kingdom with one another. When Rama's father, Dasartha, came back to visit Rama, it was very emotional and I'm glad that he was able to forgive Kaikeyi like how Rama wanted.

(Rama and Lakshmana fighting Ravana;

Web Source)

While reading, I found a few things that I may want to incorporate while doing some of my retellings. They are as follows:

IX. Ravana in Council

• I could rewrite the story to where Ravana is trying to win back the love of his life rather than take someone's love away from them
• I could rewrite to where Ravana is battling Rama for land rather than a woman
• I could rewrite the story to where Ravana is out Black Friday shopping and is trying to steal a great item from someone

X. Across the Ocean

• I could rewrite where Vibishana is like Snowden seeking asylum after giving out a countries secrets

XI. Siege of Lanka

• I could rewrite the story to where Kumbakarna is helping Rama rather than his own brother

XII. Rama and Ravana in Battle

• I could rewrite to where the chariot races are like a Mario Kart or Nascar race

XIII. Interlude

• I could rewrite the story to where Rama is so happy to see Sita and knows that she didn't do anything un-pure while being held captive, this way she doesn't have to throw herself into a fire

XIV. Coronation

• I could rewrite the story to where Bharatha doesn't want to give up the crown to Rama

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide D

Rama and Lakshmana fighting Ravana, Web Source