Independent Reading

What are you reading? Summarize?
I read Heroes of Olympus: Mark of Athena.

Basically Annabeth Chase, Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, Piper Mclean come to retrieve Percy Jackson, Hazel, and Frank. When they are reunited, a spirit posseses Leo and he attacks Camp Jupiter which causes misunderstanding between the Greeks and the Romans. The Romans [their last scene in this book] set off to Camp HalfBlood to destroy the Greeks. Hazel is reminded of her ex-boyfriend when she sees Leo because Leo is the grandson of her ex-boyfriend. Percy is more serious during this book and it seems more grim. Annabeth is a lot more clingy as well. Nico di Angelo is actually trapped by Gaea and they rescue him. But most of the book is the journey and its perils. For example Jason and Percy fight because spirits make them fight and they're so much more awkward to each other than anyone. However it also has the ways they learn to work together.

Do you like/dislike? Evaluate.
I don't really like this book of the series. It focuses too much on description instead of meanings and the plot. The plot is extremely slow moving until the end. However you can only anticipate for so long before it starts boring you. This book is mostly about learning to 'work together'. And the Roman and Greek camps just can't be peaceful. It's like they're trying to fight instead of trying to work together. This also has more thoughts than actions. Books need to have a balence between thoughts and actions, which this book doesn't have.


Why you should read independently?
Reading independently encourages your reading comprehension and your perception of the world and/or your book. People who read to you mostly hold your hand throughout the whole reading; they influence your thoughts as well as your understanding and that leads you to have a whole different view on the book [which can influence your perception of the world]. When I read Harry Potter in 4rth grade it was completely different than when I read it in 6th grade. In 6th grade, I noticed the manipulations of Dumbledore and the 'innocence' of Tom Riddle Jr. After learning about the terrible World War II, I can safely say that Tom Riddle was not happy. World War II affected the entire world and most likely orphanages weren't very nice.

Next book/step?
Well, the next book came out last year. It's called the House of Hades. I've bought it but I haven't read it yet. The Hunger Games and Divergent was a little [a lot] more interesting.

Día de la Hispanidad / Día de la Raza

During Día de la Hispanidad [Día de la Raza] which is on May 1, the Spanish classes are going to host a Spanish Festival. We're going to cook Spanish [Spanish-Speaking Countries's] food, dance to Spanish songs for the entire day. And during ES, MS, and HS' lunch break, we will be at the breezeway to sell Spanish Food, games, and everyone is welcome to join in our games, songs, and dancing.

For Día de la Hispanidad [Día de la Raza], I have decided to cook Chilean Style Stuffed Potatoes and Pebre [A Chilean Style Chilli Salsa]. Pebre can be paired up with my brother's nachos.

Quarter 3 Reflections

In Quarter 3, school went a little fast for us. It passed by with due dates all splattered across the calender. Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies, Spanish, Thai and Drama. Projects and Essays and Reading and Tests. Golden Rule: Do them now before they catch you in their trap later. Are my Goals fulfilled to my satisfaction? Well lets see!!!

Skills Reflection:
I have been speaking fluently [due to all my reading and conversations with my friends as well as teachers] and I'm struggling a bit at not making things a bit complicated. Complicated is something I'm used to. I've always taken complicated notes as my friends love to tell me. But it's always something I was proud of [I always wanted to do it like that in Elementary but now in Middle School, I'm finally getting the chance to atleast attempt at this].

Skills Adjustment: Speaking Clearly with a Topic [Summarizing Notes]
I will speak clearly with a clear topic and will not give unnecessary information in my presentations.
I will know that my goal has been achieved when I can speak without stuttering or pausing in my speeches and I will not need to practice my speech for a presentation
I will volunteer to answer complicated questions with a simple answer and question teachers in class and practice writing essays, short summaries and stories and read books aloud to increase my knowledge of professional summarizing
I will do this by the end of school year

Values Reflection:
I am still struggling a lot with this goal. There were more projects than homework and tests last year for me and so I'm not used to handling even this year's homework. I do dislike homework so that might be the reason. And I have this habit of saying to myself; "Just a few more minutes, 10 minutes more." That might hinder my determination for doing homework.

Values Adjustment: Organization of My Homework
I will be more organized with my homework and not finish it the day before it is due but rather the day I recieve it and if not, I will take more time out of my daily schedule and finish it the day after I receive it and if not, I will take more time out of my daily schedule and finish it the day after I receive it.
I will know that the goal has been achieved when I will have more freetime and when I will look over my homework again and see if I need corrections.
I will write my homework in my planner and sticky notes in my computer desktops that I will see everyday.
I will make alerts in my laptop and phone calendar as well as alarms in my phones. I will also ask my mom to remind me about my homework and all my necessary dates.
I will do this by the end of the school year.

Knowledge: Reading and Comprehending
I read a lot but I'm slightly struggling with comprehending. I can't really analyze and infer most of the gist

Knowledge Adjustment: Comprehension of Reading Material
I will read more than 20 minutes per day and comprehend that reading material
I will know that my goal has been achieved when I have a higher level of comprehension and acadamic skill
I will talk to people older than me everyday more than just once per day.
I will ask and answer questions atleast 3 times in school.
I will find more books and read more than 20 minutes.
I will ask my teacher about doubts I have about the book that I am reading or about something else.
I will time myself to read atleast 25 minutes per day, either on my laptop [E-Books] or a real book.
I will have a conversation with my teachers and parents every day
I will do this by the end of the school year

My Science Goal for 8th Grade 2015

My Science Goal:

To be able to provide details and facts that are related somewhat distantly to the main focus. I usually write a lot about the main focus but I only describe it; I don't really go in-depth and actually connect it to another fact that is related to the main points.

An Extremely Detailed Family Tree

How will I accomplish my Goal:

1.) I will study my textbook and my notes to cross-reference them for formatives as well as tests and projects

A Collection of Post It Notes

2.) I will note down the important details in the textbook that we do not really go in details

3.) I will attempt to converse with my brother about what he is doing in Science when possible and I will cross-reference what I have learned in school with what my brother has learnt so that I may understand more since I usually add a lot of details.

4.) If I do not understand a specfic detail that is important, I will ask my teacher, brother or mother

5.) I will try to research topics in advance so that I may have questions that does relate, distantly, to what we learn in class so that it may help me understand further about the topic

6.) I will also write what we have learned and some side notes on the topic in my journal/my other notebook

Checkpoint!!! How will I stay focused:

Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini [My Phone]

1.) I will set up a study schedule so that I may be organised with my work and divide it so that I may have a period of time to study science only

2.) I will set alarms in my phone so that it goes off for every period of time for when I need to study

3.) I will write a digital post it note for me so that I know the dates in which assignments are due on and when the tests are so that I can study for it.

How will I know that I have accomplished my Goal:

Exceeding Expectations/Meeting Standerds Test Papers

I will know that I have accomplished my Goal when I get E and Ms on my test papers in class as well as the projects and lab reports.

When will I accomplish it:

2015 Calendar

I will accomplish my goal by the end of March.

Plans:

I will reflect every Friday evening on what I have done in science and if I am close to accomplishing my goal. I will write my reflections in my daily journal.

My Understanding of the Concept of Probability

When we were near the end of learning about Probability, we were given a project; a probability project. You see, there are two types of probability, theoretical and experimental. Of course there's also the compound probabilty which consists of independent and dependent and then there's ratios and percent.  We had to find the theoretical and experimenal probability of an independent compound probability of an experiment that we had to conduct with one probability. To be more specific, I did Battle Spirits Cards. And I had three different variables; colour, number, and the special glittery cards. There were 2 colours; blue and green. The numbers varied from 1-6. There were 2 special glittery cards, 1 blue, 1 green and both were #5. I counted every card of each variable and catogorised it as #colour. Of course the specials were also a part of this. I simply had to shuffle it later and replace the cards and then note the #colour%special/ordinary. Later I counted how much of each catogory; # then colour and then the specials.

Special, # and Colour

Back of the Cards

First of all, Probability is not a guess. It is far more educated and precise to be a guess. A guess is when you choose randomly out of all the possibilties. Probability is when you calculate using all the variables in question. Variables include; theoretical, experimental, compound; independent and dependent as well as the other variables which depend on what you're trying to calculate. There are formulas and you actually have to tally and work out the answer of the possibility and as I have said before, this is more accurate but this is due to the calculations. 

History of Ebay and Amazon for Investments

SAT Scores by Family Income

There are many ways that this can be used in real life. For example, investments; you have to know and calculate how much profit you can get if you invest in them; so you need their profit in a year and so. Detectives calculate the criminal activity so that they can see if there's any criminal who's doing something or to calculate robberies, they find clues and thus use it to calculate the probability of finding the criminal at a certain place and time. Actors and Actresses calculate if their movie will be famous and can bring money. People who work in production companies calculate the probability of people buying things from them, if there are any defects and how much they need to make in a year/month/week. If you are starting a business, then you need to calculate the probability of earning enough money to buy the necessary objects to keep increasing the customers and if you can succeed. Also teachers need to calculate the probability of averages, so that they can figure out which is meeting standerds, which is below meeting standerds, are they improving, exceeding standerds and so on. Doctors choose which medicine/treatment is good for patients. There are also betting standerds that has to be met. 

New Goals!!!

Skill: Speaking Fluently and Summarizing
I will speak fluently and do a short summary instead of going into full detail.
I will know when my goal has been achieved when I can speak fluently without stuttering or making a speech and I will not need to practice my speech for a presentation.
I will volunteer to answer questions and question teachers in class and practice writing essays, short summaries and stories and read books aloud to increase my knowledge of summarizing and to practice speaking fluently
I will do this by the end of school year.

Values: Organization of my Homework
I will be more organized with my homework and not finish it the day before it is due but rather the day I recieve it and if not, I will take more time out of my daily schedule and finish it the day after I recieve it.
I will know that the goal has been achieved when I will have more freetime and when I will look over my homework again and see if I need corrections.
I will write my homework in my planner and sticky notes in my computer desktops that I will see everyday.
I will make alerts in my laptop calendar and alarms in my phone. I will also ask my mom to remind me about my homework and all my necessary dates.
I will do this by the end of the school year.

Knowledge: Reading and Comprehending
I will read more than 20 minutes per day.
I will know that my goal has been achieved when I have a higher level vocabulary, comprehension and acadamic skill.
I will talk to people older than me everyday more than just once. I will ask and answer questions atleast 3 times in school. I will find more books and read more than 20 minutes. I will ask my teacher about doubts I have about the book that I am reading or about something else. I will time myself to read atleast 25 minutes per day, either on my laptop [E-Books] or a real book. I will have a conversation with my teachers and parents everyday.
I will do this by the end of the school year.

My Middle School Goals

Skills
I will speak clearly and fluently with confidence.
I will know that the goal has been achieved when I will not need as much time to prepare how to present and be able to prepare what I will present more.
I will practice speaking clearly and fluently at a good volume at home. I will ask my brother and my parents as well as my friends to listen to my rehearsal of my presentation and give constructive criticism.
I will do this by the end of the school year.

Values
I will be more organized with my homework and not finish it the day before it is due but rather the day I recieve it and if not I will take more time out of my schedule and finish it the day after I recieve it.
I will know that the goal has been achieved when I will have more freetime and when I will look over my homework again and see if I need corrections.
I will write my homework in my planner and another piece of paper that I will see everyday. I will make alerts in my laptop calendar and my phone. I will also ask my mom to remind me about my homework.
I will do this by the end of the school year.

Knowledge
I will read more than 20 minutes per day.
I will know when my goal has been achieved when I have a higher range of vocabulary and when I will be able to comprehend passages that a normal 13 year old cannot.
I will talk to my elders everyday. I will ask questions often in class. I will buy more books or find E-Books to read. I will ask my teacher about doubts that I will have about the book that I am reading. I will time myself to read atleast 30 minutes per day, either on my laptop (E-Books) or a real book.
I will do this by the end of the semester.