In what ways did you demonstrate your skills as a Creative Learner while working on this project? Use the attribute list to guide you.
I demonstrated my skills as a creative learner by using my novel ideas, since I drew the design and my team picked it. I was connecting this design of the vessel to my personal interests, such as wildlife and the beach. The pearls remind me of seashells and oysters, while the sea star shows my appreciation for nature. During this, we planned where to place the objects and worked as a group to navigate how to make this vessel. By being a creative learner, I helped my group ideate and put my personality into this design.
In what ways did you demonstrate your skills as an Active Learner while working on this project? Use the attribute list to guide you.
I was an active learner by instructing my group on what to do for my design. Since I drew the design, I advised them to make one side longer to make our vessel stand out. As we went along, we reflected on our clay vessel and found that it needed more smoothing, since it was a bit rough. After that, we organized our energy and time on making the little details. By being an active learner, I helped my group organize their time well.
When working in a group setting, what does each member of a group need to keep in mind? Give examples from your experience during this project.
When working in a group setting, each member of the group needs to keep in mind that everyone is collaborating together, and the final product will reflect on everyones effort. If they do not help out, it could strain time and put back the group on time and details. When collaborating, people should participate and help each other. During this project, we helped organize roles to each other to make the specific details after we all took turns to do the coiling and structure of the clay vessel. In summary, group members should contribute and uplift each other, as they are making one product all together.
Welcome to my Student Led Conference portfolio! I’m Lizzy, an 8th grader at Shanghai American School, and I’m excited to share my educational journey with you. Below, in this post, you’ll find a collection of artifacts that showcase my growth, achievements, and areas for improvement since school started in August. I look forward to sharing these with you in person and to show you my plan for continued success for the rest of the year.
Creating My Goals
After brainstorming, I crafted my goals using the SMART goals strategy.
Goal 1:
Specific: I will participate in class discussions, analyze different perspectives, and complete a problem-solving project.
Measurable: I will track my participation in discussions (at least once per week) and complete two research projects by the end of the school year.
Achievable: I will allocate time each week to prepare for discussions and set aside time for research, ensuring I can manage my workload.
Relevant: Improving my critical thinking skills will help me in all subjects, enhancing my ability to understand complex topics and make informed decisions.
Time-bound: I will achieve this by the end of the school year, with progress checks every semester to assess my development.
Action Plan: By the end of the school year, I will improve my critical thinking skills by participating in class discussions at least once a week, completing two research projects, and analyzing different perspectives on topics, with progress checks every semester.
Goal 2:
Specific: I will analyze a current event each month and write a reflective essay discussing its implications and different viewpoints.
Measurable: I will complete one essay each month, totaling six essays by the end of the school year.
Achievable: I will dedicate time each month to research current events and write my reflections, ensuring it fits within my other school responsibilities.
Relevant: This goal will help me develop critical thinking skills necessary for understanding real-world issues, which is important for my overall education.
Time-bound: I will complete the six essays by the end of the school year, with each essay submitted on the last Friday of each month.
By the end of the school year, I will enhance my critical thinking skills by analyzing a current event each month and writing a reflective essay on its implications and different viewpoints, completing a total of six essays by the last Friday of each month.
For both goals, I will review progress with parents and teachers during our next conference, discussing any movement between “Approaching,” “Meeting,” and “Exceeding” levels on the standards-based scale.
I have demonstrated growth in math by showing my growth in COLs, and designing my own math problem. In the COL for linear relationships, I had a hard time understanding the L4, but I still pushed through and tried to form a logical response. This shows my growth and perseverance in math that I have developed in Grade 8. The problem I designed showed how I better understood this unit, as I had to change my units and start again since I thought it was better to see the lines at a better scale. This shows that I am hardworking, and will redo something if I think I can do better on it.
Core Subject: Science
I will now share my progress in Science…
Strengths
CER writing
Time management
Gathering evidence
Areas of Growth
Making predictions
Topics surrounding weather 🙁
My notebook in science is a well organized, carefully created artifact of my learning in science class this year.
Evidence of Active Learner Habits
I showed growth by always completing my homework a few days before the due date. Before, I always completed it one day before or the exact day, but I want to feel less stressed. I got it off my hands by always using my time during class to its advantage to finish my homework early.
Evidence of Understanding of Key Concepts
I noticed that for my last few 3 for 3’s I did not perform well. I fixed this by studying more about the topic, and now it has improved my understanding on science class.
Evidence of Growth in Science Skills
Standard 1: Developing and Using Models Standard 2: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solution Standard 3: Engaging in Argument from Evidence Standard 4: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Standard 5: Using Mathematics and Computation Thinking Standard 6: Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information
My L2 assessment in standard 6 got a bad grade. I went home and reviewed this standard, so I can improve further. After that, I challenged myself with an optional L4, which I got a 4 on. The other 2 submissions where L3, where I got a 3 on.
Core Subject: Language Arts
I will now share my progress in Language Arts…
Strengths
Vocabulary
Comprehension
Writing
Areas of Growth
Public Speech
I have shown significant growth in language arts through my improvement in both reading and writing. At the beginning of the year, I was reading approximately one book per unit. However, I am proud to say that I have just completed my fourth book for this unit. My increase in reading has not only enriched my understanding but has also greatly enhanced my vocabulary.
Core Subject: Social Studies
I will now share my progress in Social Studies…
Strengths
Time Management
Areas of Growth
Understanding of WW1
These artifacts show growth because I revised with the teacher before submitting, and improved with advice. With the help of my peers and the teacher, I improved by writing and make it more organized. I also improved on sorting my texts, and researching with insightful and trustworthy sources to write my paragraphs. By growing on these subjects, my writing has improved drastically.
EnCore: Health
I will now share my progress in Health…
Strengths
Time Management
Collaboration
Areas of Growth
Precision
The brain comic shows my handwork in health. At first, my partner and I didnt get a good grade, but we tried to fix it according to the teacher’s suggestions and got ourselves a meeting. The health app review showed my dedication, as for this project I logged on 7 days in a row to test out this app for my class. In the end, I found a good productivity app. Health allowed me to reflect better on my learning and choices.
EnCore: French
I will now share my progress in French…
Strengths
Vocabulary
Memorization
Areas of Growth
Conjugation
I think I demonstrated growth by working on past tense. Although I had a hard time conjugating, I got past it and improved my past tense skills. I learned many new vocabulary using Quizlet, and overcame a lot of obstacles such as my bad memory. With this, I improved my French by using war vocabulary, and my past tense conjugation skills. I demonstrated growth by mastering the past tense in French. Initially, I struggled with conjugation, but I persevered and ultimately improved my skills. I expanded my vocabulary, particularly focusing on war-related terms. This practice helped me overcome challenges, such as my poor memory. As a result, I not only enhanced my understanding of past tense conjugation but also enriched my overall French language abilities.
This artifact shows growth, since I learned how to give advice/ demands. I also researched from French sources, which improved my comprehension. I used my organization skills to sort the advice into categories, such as 2 people experiences, and the average time 13 year olds sleep, and advice for students. By making this educational poster in French, I learned more about sleep, as well as giving advice in French. Overall, this experience not only expanded my knowledge about sleep but also equipped me with valuable skills in advising and organizing information. It has motivated me to continue exploring topics in both French and English, further enhancing my bilingual capabilities and understanding of diverse subjects. This growth is a stepping stone in my academic journey, and I look forward to applying what I have learned in future projects.
EnCore: Physical Education
I will now share my progress in Physical Education…
EnCore: Design Tech
I will now share my progress in Design Tech…
Strengths
Writing
Precision
Graphic Design
Areas of Growth
Robotics
My Strengths:
Creativity
Empathy
Humour
Areas of Growth
Organization
Multitasking
As a creative learner, I thrive on collaboration and experimentation, exemplified by my recent project where I used Inkscape to design an Art Nouveau tissue box. Reflecting on this experience using Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle, I first considered the initial excitement I felt when brainstorming ideas, alongside the invaluable input from my peers. During the design process, I encountered challenges in translating my concepts into a digital format, prompting me to seek feedback and adapt my approach. This led to a deeper understanding of both the software and the artistic style, enhancing my skills and confidence. Ultimately, I learned that collaboration not only enriches creativity but also fosters a supportive environment where diverse ideas can flourish, encouraging continuous growth and innovation in my learning journey.
Specific: Submit all assignments for my design technology course three days before their due dates.
Measurable: Keep a log of submission dates to ensure all assignments are submitted early.
Achievable: Plan and allocate specific time blocks each week for assignment completion.
Relevant: Submitting early will allow time for revisions and reduce last-minute stress.
Time-bound: Achieve this goal for all assignments over the next semester (approximately four months).
Full Goal Statement “Over the next semester, I will submit all assignments for my design technology course three days before their due dates by allocating specific time blocks each week for completion, ensuring timely submissions.”
Passion Project 4.0
My partner and I are making a terrarium to learn more about taking care of plants, and to improve our design skills by organizing nature.
Closing…
Thank you for listening to my progress towards my goals over the last year. Do you have any questions?
The media could influence teen mental health by adding stigma to mental illnesses, hurtful assumptions, and unrealistic stereotypes. This happens because of many posts and assumptions other people could have on mental health. Stigma around mental health exists because of the stereotypes often portrayed in the media, like mental illness patients. They are often described as violent, while that is far from the truth.
We can reduce stigma by spreading awareness about this topic and educating your peers and community about mental health. In this unit, I learned about Bipolar Disorder. It is crucial for us teens to better understand this disorder, as many media portrayals can be inaccurate. When people with Bipolar go to therapy and receive help and treatment, they are capable of a normal job and can do day-to-day tasks with little to no disruptions.
My opinion on the increased cell phone access is that it will benefit teens. I believe that cell phones positively impact high school students’ social emotional health and relationships, because it boosts connectivity, communication skills, and support networks. Smartphones enhance connectivity among high school students. NCBI highlights that smartphones are found everywhere, with adolescents frequently using them to communicate throughout the day, facilitating constant connection with peers. This connectivity allows students to maintain relationships, share experiences, and support one another emotionally, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, Use of smartphones improve communication skills among teenagers. Our interview with a 9th grader revealed that many students feel more comfortable expressing themselves online, citing the ability to say their “thoughts without the pressure of face-to-face interaction”. By engaging in communication digitally, students can develop their ability to “show their true emotions and ideas effectively”, which can enhance their overall communication skills in various social timings. Lastly, Smartphones make up support networks for high school students. PewResearch.com indicates that teens use social media to connect with friends, share experiences, and seek advice, therefore creating support systems for each other. These support networks are important for emotional health, as it provides teens with resources to cope with stress, anxiety, and social challenges, which ultimately contributes to their well-being, social emotional health, and relationships.
I think that parents wouldn’t agree with this, because their values and perspectives are somewhat different from teenagers, and they were raised with different beliefs. This would mean that they would mostly prioritize face-to-face communication over the phone, as opposed to texting or video calling.
Some strategies I would use to help me ensure that my phone does not decrease the quality of my emotional health and relationships at school next year is putting my phone down during social contexts, like classes, conversations, and anything that has to do with speaking. In my opinion, I prefer conversing in real life, because there are less distractions and it feels more sincere and direct. During classes, I will put my phone in my backpack, more specifically, in a place that is hard to reach. The process of trying to take my phone out will be increased in difficulty, which means I have less of an urge to check my cell phone. For my emotional health, I will make sure to check my screen time to make sure that I do not go over the boundaries that I set for myself, such as limited access to social media, and only checking my phone after I am completely done with tasks and my homework.
Quotes From Our Interview
He stated that he felt he could express his “thoughts without the pressure of face-to-face interaction”
He claimed that teens could “show their true emotions and ideas effectively”
= Some mathematics we used in this project is ratios and unit rates. We calculated meters/second and added it up. Something i would redo is to just walk normally and not make my partners count, since because of that we went really off the timing. We used meters per second during our timed trials. Units were very important so that we can get an accurate timing. Groups that didn’t would not know how fast to walk.
I did well in the graphic design and i included the statistical question and claim. I could improve on my reasoning. I could also change the font since the texts look a bit squished together.
I am proud of this art project because i think i caught all the shapes and sizes. It is a contour drawing and it was a challenge because it only was for 7 minutes. I learned to make my drawings quick and full.
Creating a portfolio, or blog is a great way to collect all the work you’ve done throughout your academic career. You can include academic, athletic, and personal artifacts or experiences that you want to share with a wider audience. This is a great way to organize all your learning in one place and you can take it with you when you leave SAS. When you make your portfolio, you create posts that are categorized according to your subject. Some categories have already been set up for you, but if you need more categories you can add them as needed. It’s important that your posts have the following:
An engaging title – this should not include the name of the subject since this is referenced in the category. Think of this as the first opportunity to engage and hook your reader!
Body – this is where you share your learning. This should include a combination of text and media in the form of images, graphics, and embedded videos. You should always consider how your post looks to your audience. Is it engaging and organized? Do they want to keep reading?
Category – select one that has been set for you or add a new category. Posts can have more than one category e.g. Humanities and Myself as a Learner
Tags – create tags that can be used as keywords to describe your post. Tags help organize your post a little more! Aim to have 3-5 tags for each post. For example, if you are posting about a novel you wrote, you might want the following tags: #Fiction, #MurderMystery, #Theme, #PlotDiagram
Click on the images below to find a few helpful tips for creating your posts, adding media, and making categories:
Some mathematics we used in this project is ratios and unit rates. We calculated meters/second and added it up. Something i would redo is to just walk normally and not make my partners count, since because of that we went really off the timing. We used meters per second during our timed trials. Units were very important so that we can get an accurate timing. Groups that didn’t would not know how fast to walk.
