Growth Mindset Project
Most of my family knows how to drive stick. The tradition of learning stick stopped at my brother and I. I thought that with this growth mindset project to chose to learn whatever we wanted I would take advantage to finally learn how to drive stick shift. The biggest impact I had from this project was realizing that consistency is key. If you want to learn something new and get good at it, you need to practice. After my growth mindset project I continued to take the car out into a empty parking lot and just practiced driving around. The most challenging part was first starting up the car because it was difficult to balance the clutch and gas pedal. This growth mindset was applicable to my math class by learning about patience. For me I got really frustrated when I kept staling the car and I realized I wasn't getting anywhere so I was able to apply the skill of being patient to math concepts I wasn't understanding right away.
Strengths and Struggles
Junior year math I was introduced to a whole way of the way math class was run. Usually we start with a group problem, take a few days to solve it, take a test, and do a write up. This year we did do some of that but, we also did lecture style math which I really enjoyed. If I were to chose one problem that I did like from this year it would be the Cow problem where there was a 10x10 barn, and at one corner of the barn there war a rope that extends 100ft long. We were in charge of finding the area that the cow can graze. This problem had a mixture of algebra, and trigonometry which I really enjoyed to solve. It was both a challenge but, something that pushed me to work with my group members and felt really good understanding once solving it.
One area of content that I really enjoyed that we did this year was SAT Prep. Everyday we started class with solving a SAT problem with only having two minutes. I both struggled and enjoyed during this time because the pressure of having two minutes was a little difficult to adjust to but, I also enjoyed that I was developing that habit of having to think quickly and strategize for the SAT.
One area of content that I really enjoyed that we did this year was SAT Prep. Everyday we started class with solving a SAT problem with only having two minutes. I both struggled and enjoyed during this time because the pressure of having two minutes was a little difficult to adjust to but, I also enjoyed that I was developing that habit of having to think quickly and strategize for the SAT.
Growth
This year in math class I grew by developing a habit where I don't need to use notecards. Our class was really flexible in having notecards that we could prepare for the day of tests that we could use and I always challenged myself to not use them so that I could develop a habit for senior year tests and college. I always created a notecard and in the beginning of the year and used them when I felt like I was struggling in one area of the test but, towards the end I found myself not needing to use them. I think it was both developing that kind of study habit where I felt like I didn't need to use it and challenged myself not to.
Next year I decided to take calculus for my math class. My time being at High Tech I never felt extremely challenged to the point where I though I would have to go to the teachers for tutoring and so I am ready to take on that next step in challenging myself.
Next year I plan on being a successful math student by being proactive and study groups. When the seniors from this year came to talk to our class the main things I took away from their advice were to form study groups and study. Everyone struggles in the math classes together so it's important to surround yourself with people who can support you. Finals are a big part of our grades for next year in math class so I want to take make sure I am being proactive with my studying, and notes.
Next year I decided to take calculus for my math class. My time being at High Tech I never felt extremely challenged to the point where I though I would have to go to the teachers for tutoring and so I am ready to take on that next step in challenging myself.
Next year I plan on being a successful math student by being proactive and study groups. When the seniors from this year came to talk to our class the main things I took away from their advice were to form study groups and study. Everyone struggles in the math classes together so it's important to surround yourself with people who can support you. Finals are a big part of our grades for next year in math class so I want to take make sure I am being proactive with my studying, and notes.
Honors
Math honors this year was not what I expected. I expected a little bit more of a challenge. From what I remember this year honors for math was extra question in the back of tests, and a few extra requirements for math projects. During the honors project I learned that I need to step more out of my comfort zone and think of more creative. We originally started with the idea of creating a song and we changed the idea to something more simple. I learned that I need to challenge myself creatively. My suggestions to improve math honors for next year is develop a course that will make them feel prepared for next years math classes. Personally I would have love to seen more packets, worksheets and homework. Math does not seem like a priority to students since we have only have it for one hour so it would have been nice to have more work to work on outside of school.