What do you enjoy most about Maths class?
So far this semester, I have enjoyed the classroom environment in maths class. To me, maths have always been something I never felt extremely confident in, and in maths class I feel that I can go at my own pace and that when we share our work with the class that it's a safe space and that it's ok to get the answer wrong. After we learned that your brain actually grows when you make a mistake as well as when you realized you made a mistake and are able to correct it, it made maths less scary and intimidating. If you get an answer wrong or your attempt has an error you can just go back and revise, and I think that with that positive attitude set in our class, I will enjoy even more things as the semester continues.
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What are your strengths in this class?
HOMM?
To me, some of my strengths in maths class is being able to visualize problems quickly in my mind and create a visual, which is just how my brain functions in comparison to others who can do mental math easily. I have to see the problem in my mind as well as write it out on paper, and until this year I don't think I saw this as a strength. Through this quarter I am slowly becoming more confident in my maths abilities and now recognize that the ways I see maths and visualize maths problems are how my brain interoperates them and shouldn't be looked at as a weakness.
A Habit of a mathematician I think is a strength of mine is starting small. When I tackle a problem I break it down and take it step by step. By doing this I can also use the habit of looking for patterns. When you take a complex problem and break it down into one simple step, you can recognize patterns and put the puzzle together. On of my absolute favorite HOMM is Describe and Articulate. I love creating diagrams, charts, visuals, anything where I can see a visual of the problem and mark up to get a better understanding of it. |
What areas do you need improvement?
HOMM?
All my life I have been a horrible test taker, no matter the subject. As soon as I start a test, I get stressed out and extremely anxious, and with the PSAT and the actual SAT approaching, I've realized a certain urgency to grow in my test taking areas. I think that this mind set towards testing is a way I psyche myself out without meaning to, and This year I want to not only improve in my actual test taking abilities but the mindset that I take my tests with.
A HOMM I want to grow in is Be Confident, Patient and Persistent, because often I underestimate my maths abilities and just figure: I don't have the ability to solve this on my own, or maybe I should give up and ask my peers or teacher for help. I think that as I grow in other areas of math I will gain confidence in my abilities to recognize patterns and get to solutions.
A HOMM I want to grow in is Be Confident, Patient and Persistent, because often I underestimate my maths abilities and just figure: I don't have the ability to solve this on my own, or maybe I should give up and ask my peers or teacher for help. I think that as I grow in other areas of math I will gain confidence in my abilities to recognize patterns and get to solutions.
How do you plan to achieve these goals?
I'm grateful for the opportunities HTH gives us to work towards goals and the resources we are given. I plan to start attending office hours after school to prepare for the PSAT and I have already begun creating a plan with my advisor to start taking practice tests at lunch to get more comfortable with standard structured tests. Through office hours and practice tests I plan to use these tools to have a better mindset during tests as well as become more comfortable with the actual test.