The Hero’s Journey

Last week our blog post discussed the attributes of heroes and how those traits change in different cultures depending on that culture’s beliefs.  One thing that connects many hero stories across time and genres in our present day is the arc of the Hero’s Journey. The monomyth of the Hero’s Journey was developed by Joseph …

What is a Hero?

Last week our blog featured storytelling and the ways that this helps create understanding between diverse peoples. A central aspect of these stories is the heroes that are featured in them. What do you think of when you think of a hero? I tend to think of the countless Marvel movies that were released since …

Storytelling

As an education student at Hope College, I get to join a classroom at various times throughout the week to learn about education from a practicing teacher. One of my placements teaches a Greek mythology elective, which is one of my favorite classes to observe because of how engaging it is.  This class made me …

Reading in Everyday Places

March is National Reading Month, which typically is used to encourage readers across the ages to read every day. Reading more sounds like a great idea in practice, but I often struggle to fit in time to sit down and read a book.  Yet, we discuss in many of my English and education classes that …

Notable Female Authors

March is both Women’s History Month and National Reading Month. Women’s History Month was established by Congress in 1987 but stems from work throughout the 20th century by women to achieve suffrage and equal right. Furthermore, March became National Reading Month in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2. These two themes are both …

Black History Month Theme

As part of my English Education experience at Hope College, I have clinical placements in local schools. I love being able to work with and learn from area teachers and students. One of the things I learned this past week as the school acknowledged Black History Month was that each year a theme is chosen …

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day to our Lakeshore readers! Hope College and some of our area schools have winter break today, so we hope you are able to spend your day doing something you love with the people that you love. Below are a few activities using the power of words to make you chuckle this Monday! …

Black History Month Resources

February is Black History Month, which provides a time to celebrate and learn more about African American history. Carter Woodson originally advocated in 1926 for a time dedicated to Black history and culture and President Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976. February was ultimately chosen because the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick …

Finding Joy in Reading

If you’re reading this blog, then it is likely that you enjoy reading and/or writing in some capacity. However, maybe like me, you struggle to read for fun as you have gotten older. When I was in elementary and middle school, I have distinct memories of lying in my bunk bed and staying up late …

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

What is MLK Day?  Martin Luther King Jr was a prominent civil rights leader and advocated for the end of racial segregation. King Jr became notable for his work with the Montgomery, AL bus boycott in 1955, founding the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, helping pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights …