Math Reflection

As a junior, I had three AP classes: AP United States History, AP Language and Composition, and AP Chemistry. I thought taking them was going to be a breeze. As the AP tests approached at the end of the year, AP test preparation accelerated to levels where the question was not whether or not we had homework, but instead e how much time the homework would take to complete. My struggle came with preparing for the AP Chemistry test that coupled complex chemistry topics with difficult algebra. I took practice test after practice test, read test prep book after test prep book, and asked for help constantly on any perplexing concepts and any convoluted math problems. The time came and went slowly, yet very quickly.

Throughout many of the arduous AP courses I took in high school I was pushed to my limits, but I accomplished my goals through hard work. One example of this would be my AP United States History class. This class was one of the most difficult courses I had taken, mostly due to the sheer amount of information being presented and needed to be memorized. Even though the basics of U.S. history had been taught to me in one way shape or form every school year, there was brand new information on people and important dates. At first I struggled with the work load and text, but I eventually made it through and succeeded by diving

In the beginning of my junior year, I had signed up for one of the most intimidating classes in my high school, AP chemistry. While I took chemistry honors, I heard rumors about the AP course and seen homework packets that overwhelmed me to the point of removing the class from next year’s schedule. However, out of impulsiveness, I decided it was time for a challenge and put the course back on my schedule. When I received my summer assignment for the course, I felt confused and regretful about the decision I had made. My commitment to not fail the class the first week back from break forced me to focus on the time-consuming homework. From my struggle, I managed to finish the packet on time. The school year began, and one of the first lessons

The past few years since I have began High School I have realized how important school really is for my future. My freshman year was the year I slacked because I really just had no care but as an 11th grader and an incoming 12th grader for the 2018-2019 school year, I have realized it was a very big mistake because it is now affecting my GPA which I know could be higher. I am hoping that by taking this class it could increase my GPA although by the time I will be taking this class my college applications will have already been submitted. Taking an AP course will be the biggest step I have taken in my high school career. I may not have been ready for this step up in my education during the 2017-2018 school year but I believe I am fully prepared

The second semester of this course made me question my passion for math. I understood concepts and the curriculum but I would never do well in the practice AP Tests my teacher gave us weekly. The tests would be curved tremendously and the grades I received were a lie. 9/45 does not equal a 70%. I felt true resentment.

Going into high school is rough, excepting the fact that whatever grades a student receives will be decisive for the their future. So many students question, what can be done to make this high school experience beneficial to the future that lies ahead of me? The answer is simple, take a few AP courses. AP courses are described in many ways, one way to think of them is a course for kids that want to have a challenge. According to the website, “Consider AP Classes For More Than AP Scores”, having AP classes on a student's college application shows the college that the student enjoy challenges (¨Consider AP Classes For More Than AP Scores¨). When a student's application has these courses on it, it shows the college that the student is prepared and ready for

The class didn’t even feel very challenging from the course load so my issues baffled me. I finally realized the difficulty came from myself and how my work ethic, in terms of academics, needed a dramatic upgrade. I started studying my textbook outside of school on nightly, I found helpful online study tools I began using, and did practice tests and essays in my free time. I improved massively in history and my grades and success reflected this. I was even able to pass the AP test for the subject and attain college credit. I used this experience and these new tools in many classes during my junior year and felt I’d never struggle in a class again. This introduced me to AP Physics

At the end of second semester AP's, we had to do a presentation combining two AP subjects, and I completely underestimated it. I did one sophomore year with minimal effort and was able to get an 83. I figured, why would this year be any different. Sadly, there was a lot of things I did not account for, such as the grading being easier on sophomores than juniors or seniors. My strategy of putting in minimal effort backfired, and landed me a 69 as an

I had thoroughly enjoyed and was quite proficient at the Honors Chemistry course my sophomore year, so I was ecstatic to delve deeper into the subject. I had heard that the class was one of the most difficult classes a student could take, but I was not deterred by these warnings. The first couple of weeks, I thought I was grasping the material quite well. The first test of the year was administered, and when we received the tests back, I was utterly confounded to see that I had made the first failing grade of my entire academic career. Many students dropped out of Advanced Placement Chemistry by the first month, but I was determined to see it through to the end. I carefully and thoughtfully completed homework assignments, study guides, and any extra-credit opportunities in order to succeed. Despite many of my peers telling me dropping out was the best decision they had made, I still sought out assistance from my teacher as well as other resources to overcome obstacles that were challenging me. I embraced the rigors the class presented, and knew it was going to be the most difficult out of them all, but it was also going to be the most rewarding in the end. I finished the year with an incredibly strong semester grade, as well as an above average AP exam score. This enlightening experience instilled in me not only my grit and tenacity

For the life of me I could not understand what was being taught in my AP Chemistry class. A big part of chemistry was memorizing important facts and equations and using those concepts in the comprehension of chemistry. I always failed grasping these important concepts and I was struggling in the class for a long time. I really wanted a tutor to educate me more on this subject, but due to financial issues there was no possible way we could manage to afford one. Another big part of taking an AP class is collaborating with your classmates but I was always shy. While my classmates were interacting, helping each other, and sending each other study guides and useful information, I would always be left in the dark.

In this country there are a great majority of opportunities, but for some reason in our school there aren’t as much educational opportunities as other schools in this nation. As a person that will do anything to succeed I have to take advantage of the educational opportunities that are offered. One of the educational opportunities I have taken advantage are the AP and Honors classes. These classes are more rigorous than the other regular classes and have therefore helped me be better prepared for college. The AP classes I have taken are; AP Euro, AP US History, AP Spanish Language, and AP Chemistry. As for Senior year I am taking AP Calculus and AP Government. I found out about these classes by being told by the school, I always wanted to

My junior year, I decided to take my first Advanced Placement class, AP Chemistry. In the beginning, it required no effort since it only reviewed the material of the general chemistry class I had taken the previous year. Then, it started to become complicated. Through all of high school, I had drifted by and I never needed to study before. Suddenly, I needed to study for hours every night. The stress began to take a toll on me and my will to try diminished during the third quarter. During fourth quarter, the teacher gave us class time to review and ask him questions. On top of refreshing myself on what I learned first semester, I needed to learn all the material I had missed out on during the third quarter.

I am not very familiar with the common core other than I had to use it as a reference last semester, to create a lesson plan for EDUC 100 class. I did ask some of the teachers I work with if they like or dislike the common core and why. The response was not reassuring. One of the reasons why they did not like the common core was the introduction of Algebra II as a core class requirement for high school graduation. They say not all students need that class in real life. Another reason was that not all states have the same standards, so when the students move to Iowa from another state, it makes it difficult for them to keep up with the classes that are required for them to move on, or they are not academically prepared for the next level.

During the observation time I was placed in a first grade classroom. Walking into the class I began to look around and smile, there was so much color all over the classroom I could not help but feel happier. The teacher immediately stopped the class and told us what they were doing that morning and had each student introduce themselves to us. They went around and stated their name and then went back to their math workbook. When they were finished with their math worksheets they were then able to pick something to do around the room. That included reading on their own, getting to use the iPad, working on the computer, etc. Some students were together while others chose to work on things independently.

There I was in eleventh grade in my final month of school that year. I was sitting in the front row near the door of my Math Inquiry classroom, just behind the foreign exchange student from Japan and my friend Eryn. I found Math to be the most difficult subject in school for me, always getting C’s and D’s on exams and never comprehending anything that was told to me. Which is why I was put in the Math Inquiry class in the first place with a teacher named Ms. Dickey. Math that year was beyond difficult and I cannot explain even to this day how I managed to survive. My teacher always answered my questions when I struggled and was well aware I studied day and night for this class and this class only. Then came the dreaded nightmare known as the Unit Circle. I had to learn it or else I would never pass the class.