This school year I achieved my goal of not procrastinating, as much. I organized myself in a better way than the years before, and I was able to complete the majority of my work before it was due. Something I enjoyed was science, more specifically chemistry and physics. In middle school we didn’t go into depth for each unit so I’m glad that we got to learn about the individuals, and I was able to determine more about my future career.
I chose Jigsaw Planet as my favorite website because it supports my mental health. By solving the diverse set of puzzles, I feel myself become more relaxed. Also, I find that when I create my own puzzles I can calm down from stressful situations.
My Favorite Video
https://youtu.be/80srGMzydQo
Bill Nye the Science Guy – S05E03 Genes
I chose this video because I love science, and Bill Nye. Mr. Nye has a great way of expressing the information, in a way that makes it fun to watch.
My Favorite Image
Playing cards
I chose this image because when I look at this photo, I remember how much my friend and I struggled while making this. We would constantly shake the surface (that being the drums) whenever we got annoyed, but after several attempts, we were able to complete the card tower. We felt very proud.
My Favorite Quote
“I used to tell students…the difference between poetry and you is you look in the mirror and say, “I am getting old,” but Shakespeare looks in the mirror and says, “Devouring Time, blunt thou thy lion’s paws.” by Jim Harrison
I chose this quote because it shows the difference in the two’s perspective. I feel the need to experience and see through different perspectives, and being able to understand how it came to be. This thought has been with me throughout the school year.
Works cited
Video: Bill nye the science guy—S05e03 genes. (n.d.). Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80srGMzydQo
Image: Mine
Quote: Hearst, W. (2021, September 27). Publisher’s note: The poet as a storyteller. Alta Online. https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a37398457/poet-as-a-storyteller-publisher-will-hearst-jim-harrison/
I show that I value feedback from others in my group by…taking interest in what they have to say. In our first model for our machine, we were planning on using scissors to cut open a hot cocoa powder pocket. It seemed like a creative idea, however my partner had some doubts about it. Afterschool, my partner came up with a more efficient device, using a pulley, which was much easier to make. Whenever my partner came to me with feedback or ideas, we would usually agree upon it right away. However, sometimes I would be hesitant with some of her feedback, but I would not push it away. I would ask her to explain/show it to me in a visual way, such as a sketch, or building a small model of it with enough detail to explain what she wanted. If I didn’t value my partner’s feedback, our machine would not be so fortunate.
MY 19th century invention presentation: Winchester model 1873
Curricular Competencies Reflection:
I was able to show significance in my invention by giving reasons, that being the advantages of using/investing in my invention. I used several sources to prove my evidence (both primary AND secondary). I added pictures, gave reasonings, and was able to communicate these aspects in my work.
Core Competencies Reflection THINKING:
I use evidence to make judgements or decisions as demonstrated in this…while working on this project, my belief was that Oliver Winchester (inventor) was a great businessman, and I that judgement came from many pieces of evidence. As I researched on this inventor, I learned that he had many businesses before, and I was very surprised when I learned that he was not a gunmaker, yet he was the president of a gun company. I searched with more depth to see how one could do that, and I came to the result that he made deals with people with the needed skills. He worked with many skilled people, and they all felt comfortable working with him because he could handle and organize things in a pleasing manner.
Core Competencies Reflection PERSONAL SOCIAL:
Some of the things I do to stay mentally and physically healthy include…whenever I work/study, I end up sitting for many hours straight, which is terrible for my posture, eyesight, and body. I also tend to forget my needs, such as food and rest. While working on this project, I was able to create a work schedule, where I would work for thirty minutes, then take a 20 minutes break moving around, hydrating myself, going on a walk, and other pleasant things. I also set timers/alarms so I wouldn’t lose track of time, and not have to glance back at my clock every minute.
Some of the ways I work to build and maintain relationships are…
By communicating with my group mates, and make sure everyone is on the same page. I take time to check if everyone understands, and from doing this my relationship with them grows.
When I need to boost my mood or refocus, I…
Take a break by going on a walk, and not pushing myself on one idea. Taking a break gives me new options, which can help me with the problems I’m stuck on. Also, to boost my mood I break down the math question into small parts I can understand, and later I connect it and see if it makes sense.
Examples of where I communicate clearly and purposefully can be seen in…
In my work because I state what I am doing with what part, I label different equations, I can draw diagrams/graph, and I make my answer clear and apart from my work. Doing this is beneficial for both me and the person reading my work because it makes it easier to understand, and gives me an “organized” look.
The ways I communicate at school differs from how I communicate at home in these ways…
The emotional bank account is something everyone has. Lets say your friend asked you for a favor, which is like taking a loan from the bank. There are two ways this can go; your friend returns the favor (paying off the loan), or they can forget/ignore it. Depending on their choice, you can choose whether or not you trust them with your emotional bank account. Why is the emotional bank account important? It’s because it plays a key role in good relationships. If you have a “friend” that constantly borrows from your bank account, but never returns, than you can easily find that they aren’t that good of a friend. However, if they can return what they owe, and deposit more into your account, than you’ll come to realize that friend is someone you should keep/trust.
4th year: 116291.54 times 1.072= 124664.53, 124664.53+10000= 134664.53
is it enough to reach our goal?
Yes. the 2nd path takes 1 more year though since there was a decrease the 2nd year.
1st path, made on Excel2nd path, Excel
Justification
For my first solution, I used two different GIC’s combined. It’s a safe option because there is a lower investment risk, and the rate will stay the same no matter what happens to the market. However, you can’t receive your money until your agreement is finished, and long term investments will not be able to keep up with inflation.
For my second solution, I used stock investments. This option is easier because you can start online, or with a broker. Also you don’t need much to start. If you understand how economies grow, then your investments will most likely be successful. In order to earn well from you investments, you should take time researching the company your planning on investing in, and be aware that you can lose everything, and could go through a lot of emotional distress.
The second option is more suited for me because using a GIC seems boring. I’m heading for something long term, and the first option can’t keep up with inflation, which sadly will keep growing in our economy. I understand that investing in stocks can go terrible but I believe I have a good understanding in our economy and I usually have a hard time starting anything, so hearing that you can start investing in stocks online gave me the decision to choose this option.
Collaboration and Contributions
How did you find working with your group?
I had a good time working with my group because they were easy to communicate with, and they answered my questions and cleared any extra confusion. I’m glad I was able to collaborate well with my group because I’m not familiar with finance, and they taught me simple details that helped me understand how investments work.
How did you contribute to the group? And how did others in the group contribute to your learning?
I contributed by making calculations, listening, asking questions, and making group decisions. The others contributed by listening, giving ideas, answering questions, and making group decisions. Overall, they were great people to work with.
Did you use any other solutions proposed by your group? Why or why not?
No, we only used these two presented above because they achieved the finance goal.
How would you rate your ability to collaborate with others in your group on a scale of 1-4 (1 not good; 4- excellent)
As explained above, I had a good time working with my group, so I would rate my experience a 4.
Core Competency Reflection
I show others that I truly value their contributions by…
listening to their ideas and opinions, and giving them the advice needed. I don’t throw away their ideas but instead, we working together to form it into something that would be a good possible solution. An example of this is when my two partners started off with the idea of splitting our money in half and putting it into two separate GIC’s. Instead of doubting their decision, I agreed with their idea, and we were able to come up with a successful solution.
In discussions and conversations, I help to build and extend understanding by…
asking questions, listening to ideas offered, and making agreements. Asking questions is a key part in growing one’s understanding, and I’m glad that I was able to comfortably clear up the confusion I had at the beginning of this lesson. I also listened to my groupmates ideas, which showed me their perspective on what to do with our money, which made me more open-minded. Finally, me and my group we’re able to agree on multiple ideas, so finding a solution was less-stressful and simpler.
I remain open minded as I explore viable options or alternative approaches, like when I…
when we first received this assignment, I was quite worried. Honestly, I never enjoyed working with finance related work so I expected my time to be stressful and tiring. Surprisingly, I had a good time working on this project. I remained open-minded when working with my group, since I didn’t know much about this topic. This gave me the opportunity to explore different options, and understand why someone wouldn’t choose a riskier choice.
I am proud of my performance in the fall concert, specifically how I kept the tempo in my head. In my old rehearsals I would sometimes forget to count the rests or I would lose it. During this performance I was able to count the rests perfectly and I had the right tempo. I was able to do this because I would look at the conductor frequently.
Curricular Competencies Reflection
I played the sixteenth-notes unexpectedly well, which I used to struggle with a lot. They appeared several times in the music sheet, and I was able to play these notes successfully because I practiced them separately. A skill I would like to improve on would be the triplet notes so they sound more even. I think if I practice them individually then I can also be successful with these notes. I will also go back to playing the piano so my finger techniques can improve. Finally, I plan on continuing to play the flute in the future as a hobby. I would never want to quit the flute because I love my flute and I will find myself visiting music exhibitions.
Core Competencies Reflection
I was able to communicate well with the woodwinds and we collaborated well. An example of this is the first part of “Guardians of the Galaxy” where the triplets are divided amongst us and we have to listen carefully in order to sound decent. My partner and I preformed this nicely because we communicated a lot with each other and we had many experiences where we could work together.
Finding the characters “identity”: The authors writing style is very descriptive. He only adds what is necessary to the plot, and the way he describes the people and places is helpful for this assignment. Usually at the beginning of the story, it describes how the character looks, and some peculiar traits they have. However, these stories are shorter because they are a fairytale, so not much is known about the characters past. Overall, I could find a satisfying amount of information from each fairytale.
Choosing plot points: to find good plot points, you have to be able to read them to someone and they would understand the story. It’s like a summary in point form, and is easy to use if you need many people to comprehend your information. Making plot points is practical because you don’t have to think about how to connect each sentence, and is easier for the writer. It gets the ideas straight down without any unnecessary words blocking the way.
Determining the setting: setting is important to the plot because they relate to each other. An example in my story was the balcony (The Dwarf-1904) because the characters told stories and held important conversations there. I was able to imagine the balcony thoroughly because the it was mentioned a lot. Also, the characters do many things that are connected to the setting, so if the setting isn’t mentioned, it should be easy to find out where it’s happening.
The word mood: it’s the tone/theme that the story gives off. It can also be used for the characters current feelings, and is important to describe in books since there are no pictures. I picked my song because it felt classical and slightly dark, which matches my stories because they both ended in a sad way and anything other than classical would not fit these tales.
Core Competency Reflection
Examples of where I communicate clearly and purposefully can be seen in the setting slides because I have a quote to go with each picture, and highlighted sections for the parts I will read out loud. I also added the page number in case anyone would like to read that specific part of the book for more details. The points after the quote helped connect each setting slide together, and is a good style of summarizing instead of writing a huge, boring paragraph.
When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I… whenever I needed to boost my mood during this project, I would re-read important pages, or pause and go to another fairytale. This was helpful because it would bring me interest and I would get my motivation back and start working again. These tales help me be more aware, which helps with me controlling my feelings. This brings my mood to a neutral/calm level, which I work best at.
I use evidence to make judgements or decisions as demonstrated in this… my movie shows many citations and quotes, which is enough evidence to support my judgements. If there wasn’t any evidence, I would not be confident in my decision, therefore I would not add it to the movie. I always make sure I have evidence proving what I say is right because I have a cautious mindset.
Because protecting your privacy is important. There are many dangerous things that can happen, such as being scammed, blackmailed, and having your privacy invaded. These risks can be avoided if you’re careful, and think before you share something online. If you don’t know a lot about the internet, than you shouldn’t be careless with it and post anything you want. You don’t know who can see it, how it can affect someone (possibly), and where it can go.
Word Art #2: “Dangers Online”
Examples of unsafe activities:
Sharing your location: you don’t know who can see your information, so think to yourself, would I be comfortable sharing my location with a stranger? Many people will say no, and most likely you too. Don’t share anything personal about yourself online, it may lead to unwanted situations.
2. Cyber-bullying: just like offline, you shouldn’t bully anyone. It will negatively impact your future job opportunities, and it’s not nice. You don’t know if your victim is taking your words seriously, so it could risk their life.
3. Sexting: similar to “Sharing your location”, you don’t know who will see those explicit photos/videos of you. The person you sent them to can change their mind, and send them to others without your consent. It will put you in uncomfortable situations, and lead to misery.
4. Talking to strangers: You don’t really know who you’re talking to. They could’ve used a fake identity to gain your trust. There are many online predators that can take advantage of you, so know who you’re talking to.
Word Art #3: “Social Media”
Steps to stay safe:
-Don’t spend so much time online: if your spending way too much time online, most likely your going to share something personal. Use a device when you need it, and don’t revolve your life around it.
-Know who you’re talking to: if you do this than you won’t accidentally share information with the wrong person.
-Know what you’re using: if your using an app/website that asks for too much personal information, than it’s probably not safe. Most popular apps/websites are safe because many people use them, and it’s approved by someone professional.
-Have a private account: by doing this, you can control who sees your posts, and it will help protect your privacy more than having a public account.
Work cited:
Hickey, Chelsea. “Teenagers: Why You Should Care About Your Digital Footprint.” Social Media Club, 22 May 2013, https://socialmediaclub.org/blog/from-the-clubhouse/teenagers-why-you-should-care-about-your-digital-footprint/.
Protecting Your Online Identity and Reputation (for Teens) – Nemours KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/online-id.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
Personal/Social Competency Reflection:
Some of my preferred strategies for maintaining a healthy, balanced online presence include not spending too much time online. I like to organize my time online and offline in a balanced manner so I can talk both ways and not ruin my social skills. I also control my online behavior so I don’t act impulsively and scare my online friends so they get the wrong idea. Lastly, I avoid doing any unsafe activities that can affect my digital footprint.
Some of the ways I work to build and maintain online relationships are respecting each others privacy. We talk about hobbies and interests we have in common, but we never cross the line or make the other feel uncomfortable. I think my online relationships are as important as offline ones, so I try my best not to lose them.
My online support network (ex. Teachers’ TEAMS pages, Tech Leadership Edublog, Career Centre web-site, Library web-site, Centennial school web-site, etc) is helpful to me because they help me organize myself by reminding me what to do, and when to do something. It’s also a great way to hand in work with less of a mess in a simple form of a button. It connects me with my peers and teachers, so I can reach out to them in an easier way at any time.
I know the group is working well together when I hear/ see…
lots of on-topic communication happening, and every member is contributing. I usually love doing anything in groups, especially when the other group members have the same energy as I do. I want to extend this skill by having a good relationship with my groupmates, being less indecisive, and by having a positive attitude.
2. One strategy or activity that stimulates my imagination is…
seeing or reading something inspirational, and finding something short but entertaining. This year, I want to be able to think outside the box more, and be able to use my creativity whenever I want to. I usually think of great ideas, but they’re not handed in on time. By managing a schedule, I believe I can stimulate my imagination further.
3. When I need to boost my mood or re-focus, I…
take a break, or make a plan. The main reason why my mood would be low or I’m not paying attention is because of lack of good sleep. This year, I want to maintain a good character/mark, while having some good sleep. I’ll do more organizing, and try to be more aware about my mood.
