End-of-Year Reflection for Math

My new learning in Math 8+ this year included factoring and quadratics. More specifically, the different methods to factoring quadratics (such as the diamond problem method, the rectangle method, and factor by parts), and the different methods to solving quadratics (such as using Desmos, square root, factoring, and the quadratic equation). Before this school year, I didn't know anything about quadratics; however, now I am very comfortable with this concept.

I really understand the different types of functions, ranging from linear relationships to exponential relationships, to quadratic relationships. I know how to recognize which relationships are which and how to find the equation from a graph and/or table. I can use this knowledge to solve a variety of applied problems.

Over summer break, I should learn how to solve systems of equations with exponents and how to solve three equation systems of equations. I should review and practice quadratics, especially the special cases and the ways to find the solution because I feel that practicing these things will help me become less careless and a better learner in 9th grade.

Looking at all my tests and my mistakes from those worked well in preparing for the End-of-Year Test test. I felt that this method worked because I would know what to focus on so that I wouldn't make the same mistakes again. If I got a question correct on a previous test, I know that I understand that concept, which means that I wouldn't have to focus on it as much. I also just looked at all the notes I took throughout the whole year and compiled them into one sheet which made it easier to review. Overall, I feel that I did pretty well studying for the EOY test.

This year, I learned that taking notes is very very important. On top of studying the concepts I'm unfamiliar with more, to better prepare for tests in high school, I should continue taking notes on new information and continue analyzing my formative and summative tests, keeping in mind the concepts from the questions I got wrong. This would help me with EOY exams just like the one I took this year (8th grade).

The Learning Behaviors I will focus on improving is reflection because I feel that reflecting on my learning is a key to success. I will continue to ask questions and get help whenever I need help understanding a concept.

Grade 8 PE/Health Reflection

1. What did you enjoy most about PE this year? What did you enjoy least about PE this year? 
I enjoyed the games and the different sports we played in PE. I've become better at different sports that I wouldn't have played without PE. The thing I disliked the most about PE was the warm ups and the miles we had to run throughout the year.

2. What units did you enjoy most? What units would you add or change? 
I personally preferred team sports such as basketball, volleyball, and floor hockey. Those units were very fun. But if I had to choose my favorite unit, I would choose floor hockey. I think that we could change the space invaders unit, but I think that that was changed into rugby or football. I also want to change project adventure because that wasn't that fun. Building towers, for me, isn't very fun.

3. What did you enjoy most about Health this year? What did you enjoy least about health this year? 
I enjoyed the health lessons on our diet and health because I could really use that learning and apply it to my life. I didn't like how we had to do a lot of projects. I think you could lessen a number of projects and change that into more interactive activities. I think that would help us soak in more information compared to presentations.

4. What units would you add or change to Health for next year? 
I think that the balance between the different topics was good. I liked how later in the year we moved on from our health to more about our decision making and the dangers of different things such as social media and addictions.

5. What is something that you can improve as you pursue PE and Health classes in high school during the next four years?
I think that I could improve my stamina and my cardio fitness. I also think my leadership is strong but it could improve because nothing is perfect.

Drug Awareness Public Service Announcement

NNF Reflection

I felt that the Narrative Non Fiction unit was a unit that helped me grow a lot as a writer. A few things that I wanted to learn or needed to learn as we went into the Narrative NonFiction unit of study was how to do proper research and how to take my research and turn it into a narrative nonfiction piece.

Throughout the unit, I learned different skills and techniques, including how to research and write narrative nonfiction. Something interesting that I learned from Mr Riley about researching using a book was the technique of reading a page and then summarizing the page in your head without looking at it and turn those ideas into three to five bullet points. I showed this learning by using this strategy during my research. Also, I learned the process of researching about one individual and creating a story from that.

During this unit, I’ve hit many “roadblocks”. One specific “roadblock” I hit was when I couldn’t find any information online about my topic. I found 0 sources online. I overcame this “roadblock” by interviewing Mr Riley and using newspapers and books for my research. Another “roadblock” that I hit during the process of making my chapter was when I received feedback from Mr Arleth about how my chapter did not have much rising tension. From this, I added more rising tension to make my book flow more smoothly, making it sound like one story instead of a bunch of summaries of Hurkos’ visions.

After I learned what I wanted to learn, I applied this new knowledge to my chapter and research. A couple examples of this was when I used Mr Riley’s technique in my research and used Mr Arleth’s feedback to improve my writing. Overall, I felt that this was a very unique and interesting unit.

My Book: https://drive.google.com/a/sas.edu.sg/file/d/0B7oIUmWCW5wiZjdLcy1NVkxZckk/view?usp=sharing

NNF Chapter

https://drive.google.com/a/sas.edu.sg/file/d/0B7oIUmWCW5wiZjdLcy1NVkxZckk/view?usp=sharing

Modern-Day Slavery Reflection

Blog reflection: We are living in the midst of a tragic paradox: no longer is there an underground network to guide slaves to freedom, but rather, there is an underground criminal network to entrap people and sell them into slavery.

Slavery today, modern-day slavery, is more complicated, more immense, and more large-scale than ever before. The number of slaves now are greater than any other time in history. It has become so bad, in terms of the number of people involved, that there are more slaves now than in the 1800s, a time period that is known for slavery! Slavery is something that many thought was over, but not many realize it's not. The one difference between the 1800s slavery and modern-day slavery is how urgent people are to fix this issue. Back then, slavery was a very public thing and there were countless abolitionist trying to end it; now, not so much.

To me, the real problem is not awareness, it's doing something about it. People hear about these things and think "Oh no this is terrible" and that's where it ends. They move on with their lives doing nothing to help the situation. Today, people don't think of this forced labor as slavery, which is why people don't reach that sense of urgency. Many think it's not that bad and that this issue can be fixed simply. Nothing will change if no one does anything about it.

So what is the solution? The solution is in the people. People care about money so much these days that they don't care about how their workers feel. Just like the solution to the underground criminal network, people need to be aware and report suspicious situations. People need to start becoming aware of their surroundings and realize that you could be walking next to someone who has been trafficked. If people do that, then modern-day slavery can be fixed. I believe that it is the people who can make the most change.

But for now, us as individuals can make a change. We can stop purchasing products from companies that use slave labor. We can check the ingredients in food products and make sure the clothes you buy are coming from a place where workers are treated right. Individuals can do their part by spreading awareness to others, and that is how change happens.

Persuasive Speech

Here is a video of me giving a speech about making music mandatory at SAS. I wrote this speech after creating a podcast about music at SAS.

Nutrition Video