REFLECTION FOR PERFORMING ARTS

Today I presented my performing arts project.  We were instructed to perform a song, dance, or rhythm with either a partner or by yourself.  Along with Maddie and Lauren, we performed the cup song.  This song was first performed in the movie 'Pitch Perfect' by Anna Kendrick.  She used a red cup and used her hands to make a song.  Maddie, Lauren and I passed around our cups in a circle once we were done with parts of the song.  Overall I think we did well and I am happy we decided to do the cup song.

Western Interaction with Asia Analysis

Which Asian country had the best (or worst if you prefer) historical relationship with “the West?”


Throughout history China and western nations have been at odds with one another. A number of historical clashes have resulted in China having the worst relation of all Asian nations with the West. The long-standing Chinese policy of isolationism has been in direct contrast with the European drive to expand their influence. Chinese isolationism began to decline in the 1700's, opening the door to the Europeans. The British merchants began to sell opium to the China citizens. By the 1800's many chinese citizens were opium addicts. The government tried to stop the opium trade, and in 1839 destroyed a British shipment of opium. After this Britain declared war. Britain won easily and forced the signing of treaties in Britain's favor. Another clash with the west occurred in 1989 when a group of students pushed for democratic reforms. They refused the Chinese government's order to go home and then the army opened fire. Thousands were killed in Tiananmen Square. This massacre was strongly condemned by the Western Nations. These are a few of the reasons why China and the West have such a poor relationship.

Solve Problems blog reflection

What has this skill looked like in your eighth grade year?

The skill 'solve problems' has looked like many things in my eighth grade year.  Whether working out math problems or solving problems with friends this skill has looked like a lot of things this year.  In math I had some trouble talking to teachers and paying attention.  Instead of paying attention to the teacher, I was paying attention to my computer screen.  I have now made an effort to close my computer when my math teacher is talking.  By doing this, I have almost fully solved my problem in not having complete focus in Math.  I have also faced problems outside of class too. There has been a lot of drama in eighth grade; especially involving friendships.  Whenever something was troubling my friends I would dedicate my whole time to try to make them feel better.  I have fixed problems by talking things out and being there for them always.

What aspects of the skill have you improved on this year?

I have improved on many skills this eighth grade year.  However the skill I have improved most on is Solving Problems.  Before this year I would face challenges and would not know how to overcome them with ease.  I would get overly stressed and upset about work and drama.  However this year, I have taken everything one step at a time and focused on the goal ahead. I have done this by prioritizing.  I would focus all attention to the goal set ahead and not let my emotions get in the way.  By prioritizing I have solved many of the problems I have faced.  When I prioritized to focus on studying for a test I had better results.  Now when I look at a math test I think back to the problems I had practiced the day before.  By doing this, I perform better on tests and quizzes in math. I have improved on many aspects this year and I am excited to see what I improve on next year.

What aspects of the skill do you need/ want to improve on?

Although I have improved on solving problems in many ways this year, there are still many aspects of the skill that I would like to improve on.  I would like to improve on solving problems in Science class.  Science has never been one of my strongest subjects, and it was hard for me to make the adjustment to Mr. Lammers class.  I have had trouble taking notes in his method of teaching and preparing for tests.   Although I have gotten better at taking notes it has taken me a while to get the hang of it.  This will set me up to do better on tests, and therefore improve my grades in his class.


How do you see this skill affecting your future?

I see this skill affecting my future in many ways.  This skill will help set me up for many different aspects in life.  Whether in College or friendships I see the skill 'solve problems' making a big impact on my future.  In college I will face many problems and I will have to have a way to solve them.  In college I can not get off task, because if I do it can interfere with jobs.  My job can decide how I live out my life... It can decide when and where I retire, and my welfare for life.  If I face drama with friends I can not give up and I will have to face the many problems that lie ahead.  My friends get me through everything and if I didn't sort out problems with them it could affect my future in many ways.  I could easily become depressed or unhealthy if I did not have many friends to get me through the days.  Solving problems can affect my future in many ways and it is imperative that I fix the problems I, or someone else, has created.  

Collaboration Blog Post

What has the skill looked like in your eighth grade year?
Collaboration, along with many of the other skills, has looked like many things in my eighth grade year.  If an outsider was to look at our grade they would see the way our core works together.  However, there are many times where no body could agree on the same thing.  Our collaboration has been a work in progress this year.  Through more and more group activities and projects, our core now works better together.  At the beginning of the year when we were assigned a group project, we would not communicate or collaborate together at all.  Many would constantly argue, and get no where throughout the project.  Now that we are reaching the end of the year, and the end of our time together I have learned many things about some of my piers by collaborating with them.

What aspects of the skill have you improved on this year?
Throughout this year I have improved on collaborating with my piers in many ways.  This year I have contributed more to partner assignment.  I have also been more attentive and thoughtful when thinking about time.  In the middle of one trimester my partners Jay and Jaya and I were assigned a project.  In this project we were told that we had to collaborate together to make a Libya report.  We carefully distributed work onto each person in the group.  This made it to where no one was doing more work than another person.  We all collaborated together and we were happy to see our outcome on this project.  Collaboration this year has taught me to be more time mannered and to work well with others.  By doing this I get all my work done in a timely manner.  I have collaborated with teachers on many occasions so that I can perform my best on upcoming tests and quizzes. I have improved on collaborating in many ways this year, and I am happy with the success that has come from it.  I have gotten better partnership grades on group projects.


What aspects of the skill do you need/ want to improve on?
Although there are many things that I have improved on this year involving collaboration, there is still more things that I would like to improve on.  I would like to improve on collaborating, not with others, but with myself.  I would like to work with myself to not distracted or sidetracked when working.  Many times I find myself procrastinating at home.  Whether it's shopping, Facebook, or Skype I sometimes find myself paying more attention to something that is anything but work.  I plan to fix this by doing my work before playing on the computer.  I think this will help with work loads and therefore my future grades.

How do you see this skill affecting your future?
I see the skill 'Collaboration' affecting my future in many ways.  One of the many ways it will affect my future is how I collaborate with teachers in the future.  In college I may be in single class of 300-400 hundred people.  This means that I will have to collaborate with the teacher and myself to pay attention.  My college decides whether or not I get a good job or not, and if I tune out in class then my life could be greatly changed.  Collaborating will affect my future in huge ways, and I am excited to see how my future turns out.

Learn Reflection blog post

What has the skill looked like in your 8th grade year?
The skill 'Learn' has looked like many things in my eighth grade year.  I have learned many things through the process of my last year in middle school.  Whether learning how to communicate with teachers or learning how to calm my nerves for tests I have seen what Learn has looked like many times.  Learn has looked like something different in all classes, but overall I learned how to prioritize.  I have put aside less important tasks and begin to work on bigger tasks. Learning has looked like taking notes, seeking help, and many other things in my eighth grade year.

What aspects of the skill have you improved on this year?
I have improved on learning in many different subjects this year.  In Math I have payed better attention and have sought more help when I did not understand something.  By using this skill Math is now my best subject.  In Science I have learned how to take better notes and I am making progress when dealing with my emotions.  Before this year my notes were not well organized and easy to read.  I am now able to read my notes clearly, and this is helpful when I need to look over notes quickly.  In Language Arts and Social Studies I have communicated with my teacher more, which improves my learning.  When I have questions about grades I do not hesitate to ask.  All of these things have helped me learn better.

What aspects of the skill do you want/need to improve on some more?
I need to improve on learning in many more areas.  Although I have improved on learning in many subjects this year, there is still more improvement to be made.  Even though I have learned how to take more precautions when expressing my emotions, I know I can make more improvement.  This gets in the way of many things in school.  It can prevent me from talking to teachers if I have a question.  I think once I master the skill of controlling my emotions, my learning in classes will improve.

How do you see the skill affecting your future?
Whether learning in school or other aspects in life, learning can affect my future in a huge way.  If I go to a large college then I will have to learn how to pay attention better.  The college that I go to can decide if I get a good job or not.  It can also effect my learning in day to day life.

Communicate Blog Reflection

1. What has the skill looked like in your 8th grade year?
   
   
   The skill 'communicate' has looked like many things in my eighth grade year. To me communicating is when you talk to teachers about improving your comprehension of subjects. To me, communicating is when you laugh with friends, and stick up with them when needed. To me, communicating is finding that voice inside of you that makes you... You. Throughout 8th grade I have had a glimpse of what it means to be, and see, all of these things. This year I have gotten the chance to find real friends, and to find the real me. Of course 8th grade has looked like many things throughout the months, but these are the few things that can be highlighted for me.
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What aspects of the skill have you improved this year?

Whether it was to teachers, or even friends I have improved on communicating in many ways.  When learning, communicating to the teacher is vital to my comprehension of the subject.  It used to be that if we were learning something new in class that I didn't understand, I would feel embarrassed to ask a question.   In sixth and seventh grade this was one of my main issues when learning at school.  This made it to where I would never fully comprehend what the teacher was giving a lesson about.  The past two years I have learned from my past mistakes and continue to improve to communicate with teachers.  By doing this, I am performing better on tests, quizzes and homework.  My fear to communicate with teachers was not the only thing I was afraid of.  In the past it used to be difficult for me to stick up for my friends, and even myself.  Throughout this year I have learned that there will always be people that will try to bring you down.   I have learned that by letting them get to you they may think that they have succeeded in trying to destroy your self confidence.  Although it took a while for me to have full self confidence, I have improved in more ways than one.  Now if anybody threatens to hurt my friends I am ready to stick up for them.  My friends have a special place in my heart and so when my friend is hurt emotionally, I am emotionally wounded as well.  By doing this I have gained wonderful best friends who I know I will always trust.  I have learned many lessons this year that have to deal with communicating and am continuing to take great strides to improving. 

3. What aspects of the skill do you need/want to improve some more?

   Although there are many things that I have improved on this year, there is still much more improvement to be made. My emotions almost always interfere with how my attitude is for the next hour, day, and even week. Sometimes it gets so severe that if I am angry I get myself worked up even more. When I get to that point I can't focus on doing any work. The only thing that runs through my mind at that time is what made me so emotional. I have come up with some solutions though... If I am angry or sad I think about what makes me the most happy.

4. How do you see the skill affecting your future?

The way you communicate with people leaves a lasting impression. Whether applying for a job or meeting a stranger for the first time, the way you interact with people is very important. In the future I see this skill playing a big role in my day to day life. I see myself asking questions in college and seeking help with the teacher. I see myself communicating well with adults and leaving an impression. I think the way you communicate with people can decide how nice someone is in return.

Rocket Report Reflection 2013

The rocket accelerated quickly, going up higher and higher until the parachute deployed.  The 8th grade class at Carolina Day School has recently been working on a new project, titled water bottle rockets.  As the water bottle rocket slowly came back down many on the field watched in awh.  As the teacher exclaims “That’s a 7.25 launch!  Thats A B+! Good Job girls!”  The girls, one with red hair and one with blonde, hug eachother in happiness.  This was the last day for testing bottle rockets and they had finally had success.  There was only one quote that could describe this moment that the girls had said : “Hard work pays off!” That quote fits this moment perfectly.  The look of joy on the girls face was undoubtley success.