In class we did a project called "Growth mindset" basically what we had to do was learn something new or strengthen a skill we already had in a 2 week period. For this project I decided to learn how to perform card tricks. At first I thought about it and it seemed silly. After debating for a while I finally came to the conclusion that I would learn a couple of card tricks. The reason I chose learning how to do card tricks was because it has always been something that I have found interesting and cool and for once I wanted to be "the magician" who never revealed the secret. Another reason that I wanted to do a card tricks was because I knew that I would never find the time to actually practice card tricks if it wasn't assigned. Over the 2 week period I learned about 3 card tricks and one of them included trying to switch a card with one hand (which was difficult for me) .
The growth mindset project had an impact on me this year because I knew that no matter what I could learn a problem as long as I studied. Sadly, the card tricks didn't come in handy, but the mindset part of the project did. When I was trying to learn how to make a card disappear for my project the cards kept slipping off my fingers and it was super noticeable. Eventually after a while I managed to somewhat make it "disappear" and that motivated me to keep trying and then I started getting the hang of it. The mindset I had while learning this is something I tried to use all year . When I wouldn't understand a problem and I knew that it was important I would try my very best to understand each and every step.
After the project was over I did not try to continue on improving on card tricks. Since the project happened in the beginning of the year I was still adjusting to the different amount of work we were receiving compared to the past years. Improving my card trick skills wasn't the first thing on my mind that semester and eventually I forgot about it.
Math this year has definitely challenged me. In my past 6 years at High Tech I have never taken the amount of math tests we took in one semester. It was something that was completely new to me. Especially because the math challenged my thinking way more. We were graded on tests and homework assignments, so I had to try my best if I wanted to receive a good grade. The growth mindset project was applicable to math this year because there were many times that I had to spend studying with my friends until 9 p.m. then getting home to study more instead of relaxing at home, but in order to get the grade I wanted I had to work hard and try to wire my brain to soak in all this information. I kept myself motivated throughout the whole year.
The growth mindset project had an impact on me this year because I knew that no matter what I could learn a problem as long as I studied. Sadly, the card tricks didn't come in handy, but the mindset part of the project did. When I was trying to learn how to make a card disappear for my project the cards kept slipping off my fingers and it was super noticeable. Eventually after a while I managed to somewhat make it "disappear" and that motivated me to keep trying and then I started getting the hang of it. The mindset I had while learning this is something I tried to use all year . When I wouldn't understand a problem and I knew that it was important I would try my very best to understand each and every step.
After the project was over I did not try to continue on improving on card tricks. Since the project happened in the beginning of the year I was still adjusting to the different amount of work we were receiving compared to the past years. Improving my card trick skills wasn't the first thing on my mind that semester and eventually I forgot about it.
Math this year has definitely challenged me. In my past 6 years at High Tech I have never taken the amount of math tests we took in one semester. It was something that was completely new to me. Especially because the math challenged my thinking way more. We were graded on tests and homework assignments, so I had to try my best if I wanted to receive a good grade. The growth mindset project was applicable to math this year because there were many times that I had to spend studying with my friends until 9 p.m. then getting home to study more instead of relaxing at home, but in order to get the grade I wanted I had to work hard and try to wire my brain to soak in all this information. I kept myself motivated throughout the whole year.
Problem Statement
In the cow problem we were given a 10ft. x 10ft. barn and a cow on a 100ft long rope and we were trying to find the area the cow could graze in.
The cow problem was a problem that I struggled with this year. We were put in random groups, so I was in a group with people that I never really talked to. This made it challenging for me to ask my peers questions. I asked questions, but I would try not to bother them. This resulted in me being confused the whole class period. I also struggled with this problem because there were so many steps to get to the final answer and it was all really hard to memorize. When we finished the problem we had to do a write-up which "forced" me to try my best to understand the problem. I asked multiple people for help and they all explained the problem to me and each time I understood it better.
In the cow problem we were given a 10ft. x 10ft. barn and a cow on a 100ft long rope and we were trying to find the area the cow could graze in.
The cow problem was a problem that I struggled with this year. We were put in random groups, so I was in a group with people that I never really talked to. This made it challenging for me to ask my peers questions. I asked questions, but I would try not to bother them. This resulted in me being confused the whole class period. I also struggled with this problem because there were so many steps to get to the final answer and it was all really hard to memorize. When we finished the problem we had to do a write-up which "forced" me to try my best to understand the problem. I asked multiple people for help and they all explained the problem to me and each time I understood it better.
Function - A variable quantity regarded in relation to one or more other variables in terms of which it may be expressed or on which its value depends.
Factor- A number or algebraic expression by which another is exactly divisible.
Something that I enjoyed doing in class would be graphing functions and solving equations by factoring. I really enjoyed these two topics because they both were so confusing to me at first. I struggled a lot, but both of these topics were an example of pushing myself. In order for me to understand how to solve problems like these I had to spend hours at Starbucks practicing with my friends.
I never used to like math since it was the one subject I have always struggled with the most, but problems like graphing functions and factoring were the reason my mindset changed. It taught me that math can be fun when you're challenging yourself. It can be even more fun when you finally understand the problem, in my case it was graphing functions and factoring.
Factor- A number or algebraic expression by which another is exactly divisible.
Something that I enjoyed doing in class would be graphing functions and solving equations by factoring. I really enjoyed these two topics because they both were so confusing to me at first. I struggled a lot, but both of these topics were an example of pushing myself. In order for me to understand how to solve problems like these I had to spend hours at Starbucks practicing with my friends.
I never used to like math since it was the one subject I have always struggled with the most, but problems like graphing functions and factoring were the reason my mindset changed. It taught me that math can be fun when you're challenging yourself. It can be even more fun when you finally understand the problem, in my case it was graphing functions and factoring.
When you become a Junior you have to flip a switch to "game mode" because everything will be thrown at you and you have figure out how to balance it all. I knew on the first day of school that I was going to challenge myself by taking honors, extra curriculars etc. All these things pushed me to become more hardworking. In the past years when I would study for math tests I would study for about 30 minutes, but this year I went to Starbucks at least once a week. I have also grown by becoming a young adult. During internship if I wanted my mentors to trust me and treat me with respect I had to be mature and proffesional.
Next year I am taking pre-algebra because I was definitely challenged this year and I feel like I am not ready to take calculus yet. I want to take baby steps and challege myself with pre-algebra first.
A way that I plan being successful next year is by using my resources. This year I would study with my friends, but sometimes we would not know how to solve an answer so we would be stuck. A way that I can change that is by going tutoring and asking for help. Tutoring is such a great resource that I could use more often.
Next year I am taking pre-algebra because I was definitely challenged this year and I feel like I am not ready to take calculus yet. I want to take baby steps and challege myself with pre-algebra first.
A way that I plan being successful next year is by using my resources. This year I would study with my friends, but sometimes we would not know how to solve an answer so we would be stuck. A way that I can change that is by going tutoring and asking for help. Tutoring is such a great resource that I could use more often.
For the honors project my group and I did, we met up to plan what we wanted to do, we all decide that we had to do something that would be original and connected to math in a fun way. After discussing it we decided to do a cooking show . This year I did not take honors because I was scared of my grade being anything less than an A. This is something I regret. I know that it would've been even more challenging, but I know that I could've done it. Since I didn't take honors this year I decided to do the honors project to get extra credit. Overall I enjoyed making the project. It was a fun way of including cooking with math!