Growth Mindset Project:
Description:
The growth mindset project was out first mini-project of the year. The goal was to practice the growth mindset: The idea that mastering a skill required long, hard work and perseverance. Each of us had to choose a skill or product that we had to master over a two-week period. At the end of the two-week period, we presented to the class about what we learned and accomplished.
What I tried to learn over the two-week period:
For my growth mindset project, I tried to build a bow and arrow out of red oak board. I chose to do this because I was interested in primitive weapons and woodworking. By building a bow and arrow, I had the opportunity to practice woodworking and try it on something that I had never done before.
Impact of the growth mindset project:
The growth mindset project forced me to do something that I had never done before. This impacted me because I got to start the year off with something productive and engaging, which is better that starting-off the year with something not engaging.
After the 2-week period:
After the 2-week period, I did not finish my bow and arrow. The reason why is because I was busy with school and Kung Fu. However, working on it for 2 weeks gave me knowledge and inspirations for the next time I decide to build a bow and arrow or anything involving woodworking. Also, I have continued to build things with wood and other materials, such as my aquarium filter and a repair job on my Agong's deck.
Application:
The growth mindset project forced me to think about geometry and measurements, since I designed the bow myself. Also, it made me think about physics, since a bow and arrow requires a specific amount of force to avoid breaking but retain strength. Different types of wood have different properties of density, pliability, and bow, so having basic knowledge of physics helped me decide on which wood to buy and what shape to cut it in.
The growth mindset project was out first mini-project of the year. The goal was to practice the growth mindset: The idea that mastering a skill required long, hard work and perseverance. Each of us had to choose a skill or product that we had to master over a two-week period. At the end of the two-week period, we presented to the class about what we learned and accomplished.
What I tried to learn over the two-week period:
For my growth mindset project, I tried to build a bow and arrow out of red oak board. I chose to do this because I was interested in primitive weapons and woodworking. By building a bow and arrow, I had the opportunity to practice woodworking and try it on something that I had never done before.
Impact of the growth mindset project:
The growth mindset project forced me to do something that I had never done before. This impacted me because I got to start the year off with something productive and engaging, which is better that starting-off the year with something not engaging.
After the 2-week period:
After the 2-week period, I did not finish my bow and arrow. The reason why is because I was busy with school and Kung Fu. However, working on it for 2 weeks gave me knowledge and inspirations for the next time I decide to build a bow and arrow or anything involving woodworking. Also, I have continued to build things with wood and other materials, such as my aquarium filter and a repair job on my Agong's deck.
Application:
The growth mindset project forced me to think about geometry and measurements, since I designed the bow myself. Also, it made me think about physics, since a bow and arrow requires a specific amount of force to avoid breaking but retain strength. Different types of wood have different properties of density, pliability, and bow, so having basic knowledge of physics helped me decide on which wood to buy and what shape to cut it in.
Problem That I Enjoyed/Struggled With This Year:
Description:
I enjoyed and struggled with the King Arthur problem in certain ways. The King Arthur problem involved finding the winning seat in a hypothetical game at King Arthur's round table. There are (x) number of knights at the round table. King Arthur starts at the first space at the table and begins walking around, eliminating knights alternately. The goal was to find a way to determine the winning knight based on the number of knights at the table.
Why I enjoyed/struggled with it:
I struggled with the problem because we were learning new math concepts such as logarithmic functions as well as exponents. After a little while, our group did find a pattern relating the number of seats and the winning number. However, we only had the idea in our minds, and not in correct mathematical notation. We needed Mr. B to finally show us the math in order for us to articulate the formula. However, I also enjoyed this problem because we were learning something new and I love learning new things. The math was also very advanced for me, so I was proud to be able to finally write the notation and be able to find the winning knight in the end.
I enjoyed and struggled with the King Arthur problem in certain ways. The King Arthur problem involved finding the winning seat in a hypothetical game at King Arthur's round table. There are (x) number of knights at the round table. King Arthur starts at the first space at the table and begins walking around, eliminating knights alternately. The goal was to find a way to determine the winning knight based on the number of knights at the table.
Why I enjoyed/struggled with it:
I struggled with the problem because we were learning new math concepts such as logarithmic functions as well as exponents. After a little while, our group did find a pattern relating the number of seats and the winning number. However, we only had the idea in our minds, and not in correct mathematical notation. We needed Mr. B to finally show us the math in order for us to articulate the formula. However, I also enjoyed this problem because we were learning something new and I love learning new things. The math was also very advanced for me, so I was proud to be able to finally write the notation and be able to find the winning knight in the end.
Content Area That I Enjoyed/Struggled With This Year:
Description:
I enjoyed/struggled with the functions content area this year. For this content area, we learned about functions--their varieties, transformations, and operations. The unit lasted three weeks, during which time we learned everything from function properties to function applications.
Why I enjoyed/struggled with it:
I struggled with the functions content area because there was a lot of new terms and operations and rules that I had to memorize. Plus, there was more homework compared to previous content areas. Plus, I was absent for a few days out of the week, so I had to catch-up on some of the work and missed lessons. Function transformations were especially difficult because I had to memorize the properties and varieties of different functions in order to understand it--or get the work done.
I enjoyed/struggled with the functions content area this year. For this content area, we learned about functions--their varieties, transformations, and operations. The unit lasted three weeks, during which time we learned everything from function properties to function applications.
Why I enjoyed/struggled with it:
I struggled with the functions content area because there was a lot of new terms and operations and rules that I had to memorize. Plus, there was more homework compared to previous content areas. Plus, I was absent for a few days out of the week, so I had to catch-up on some of the work and missed lessons. Function transformations were especially difficult because I had to memorize the properties and varieties of different functions in order to understand it--or get the work done.
How I Have Grown This Year:
This year, I have grown in my ability to work in groups. Group work is something that I always brought up for me when discussing areas of improvement, and it is still something that doesn't come naturally to me, especially in math. For me, my tendency is to completely focus on the problem in my own mind, blocking out distractions--or so it seems. What I learned this year is that doing math is like solving a rubicks cube. When you're solving it, you don't necessarily know exactly how the pieces will fit together or how a scrambled cube will eventually turn into a complete one. It's the same with math problems. You can't know exactly how to solve the problem, and there might be complications that occur as you work. Really, the best way is to gather as many ideas as possible and test those ideas until on works. Of course, you also need some independent work, but it is equally as important to join together as a team.
Math Next Year:
Next year, I am planning to take calculus as my math class. I feel that I am ready for the challenge to move on to harder math and work load. Also, I know that calculus is a better class to prepare me for college.
How I Plan On Being Successful In Math Next Year:
I plan on being successful in math by working hard and smart on homework. When I learn a new topic, I will practice it as soon as possible after learning it, so the topic remains fresh in my mind. Also, I will moderate the time with I practice so that my mind is sharp for practicing and memorizing. To be successful, I know that I expect the math to be difficult, that way I will work hard and stay hungry for it. Finally, I will ask my teacher for help if and when I need it, as I recognize teachers as an awesome resource of learning in math.
Honors:
Positive/Negative?
Honors this year was positive for me because I got to access more advanced, challenging math, plus there was a GPA boost involved. I found that the challenge of the math itself was motivating for me to do well, as was the fact that all tests and homework grades are reduced by a certain amount for honors students. I believe that the extra challenging math practice helped me achieve my goals for me SAT score.
What I learned about myself during the honors project:
I learned that it's better to choose an idea for your project earlier rather than later. This is exactly what happened to me. I originally chose geometric origami as my project, but changed it to a poster presentation on the golden ratio, as I only had a few days before Festival Del Sol. My project turned out good, but I reason that it would have been better to slowly and carefully work on it so that the mathematical descriptions of it are as clear as can be.
Suggestions for honors next year:
My suggestion is that honors be an opt-in system, that way people who really want the opportunity and challenge are separated from people who only sort-of want to do it. Also, I would have more traditional style lectures, worksheets, and tests so that the math would be more challenging for everyone and so that everyone would get better at math. However, I did appreciate the extreme about of SAT practice and strategy lessons that we did. I believe that all the time we spent on this really helped me with my SAT.
Honors this year was positive for me because I got to access more advanced, challenging math, plus there was a GPA boost involved. I found that the challenge of the math itself was motivating for me to do well, as was the fact that all tests and homework grades are reduced by a certain amount for honors students. I believe that the extra challenging math practice helped me achieve my goals for me SAT score.
What I learned about myself during the honors project:
I learned that it's better to choose an idea for your project earlier rather than later. This is exactly what happened to me. I originally chose geometric origami as my project, but changed it to a poster presentation on the golden ratio, as I only had a few days before Festival Del Sol. My project turned out good, but I reason that it would have been better to slowly and carefully work on it so that the mathematical descriptions of it are as clear as can be.
Suggestions for honors next year:
My suggestion is that honors be an opt-in system, that way people who really want the opportunity and challenge are separated from people who only sort-of want to do it. Also, I would have more traditional style lectures, worksheets, and tests so that the math would be more challenging for everyone and so that everyone would get better at math. However, I did appreciate the extreme about of SAT practice and strategy lessons that we did. I believe that all the time we spent on this really helped me with my SAT.