I'm JJ...again.

Today's blogpost is a reflection on Learning Profiles, and now that you have a better understanding of your profile we would like you to write and share the information with the class. In a well structured response, (using the information you gained in class ) please reflect upon and answer the following ....

1) I learn best when I'm moving because I don't prefer to follow step-by-step instructions. I focus on the big picture. For example, when we were taking the DBQ, one of the questions was to annotate a picture of "The Fall of Icarus". I didn't pay attention to detail at first and I was focusing on the overall product. I also learn best when I imagine end results first and then by instinct, do what seems right.

2) I need to try to not be stressed often. I normally get stressed if I have a lot of homework. I am a procrastinator and if I have a lot of things to do, I will normally do it the day before they're due. When I am stressed, my technique gets worse as I continue with this headache. I should also be encouraged to work with aspects of life and learning.

3) The strategies that would help me in my learning would be that I could also sit on the right side of the classroom several rows back so I can hear easily. Another good strategy would be to do Lazy 8's which could help me in tests. Cross-hand and foot play lateral like writing or drawing with my non dominant hand is helpful. Tasks using the brain like word-searches, sudoku or crosswords involving math or linguistics will be highly beneficial.

4) I would like my teachers to know that I work well when I sit with/work with my friends. It seems as though I'm distracted and not doing work, but I actually am doing work because I know I have some people I can relate to and know very well. I would also like my teachers to know that I usually draw/doodle or play with something while they are talking. I still am listening as I am an auditory learner, even though it may seem like I am not paying attention.

Hope this helps a lot on how I learn!

-Nadia

"I Remember..."

"I Remember..."

I remember when I was about 4 or 5, I was locked in our family car, crying for my dad to get me out. We were going to my favourite restaurant with the best sweet and sour fish ever, and the only thing I feared was missing that fish.

I remember when I was about 3 or 4, I was trying to drink from my Rugrats tumbler, but ended up sticking the straw in my nose. We were taking a picture in front of Universal Studios and I was thirsty, I thrust my straw up and it ended up in my nose. We now have a picture of me with a straw in my nose.

I remember when I was about 4, first when into the pool, I was too scared to let go of the wall, even when I had my floaties on. I thought the water was the scariest thing ever, my mom had encouraged me to let go, but I just kept on refusing. Now I love the water, and a very good swimmer too.

I remember when I was about 2 or 3, my family was going to Universal Studios and I really wanted to take a picture with Barney. But when I saw the massive dinosaur, I immediately got scared and hid in my mom’s hair.

I remember when I was about 4 or 5, I had just burned myself for the first time. I stuck my finger in the car charger because I was curious. I remembered my mom scolding me for putting my finger in it. For weeks, my mom put Savlon on it and it magically healed.

I remember when I was 5 and I had just learned to ride a 2-wheel bike. My dad, my sister and I were cycling around the neighbourhood and my dad called out my name. I turned around and I bumped into a car’s rear bumper. I cried so hard, but felt better when my mom put a Barbie band-aid on my wound.

I remember when I was about 6 and in kindergarten, I had sprained my ankle during PE. We were practising our frog jumps and I landed on the outside of my foot. My friend was helping me to the Nurses’ office and I remember hopping all the from the gym to the Nurse’s. My friend then left and the nurse had just given me the worst news ever, “Go on back to class, it’s no big deal.” I asked her if she could help me but she just said she was busy. I then hopped all the way back to class, waiting for my mom to pick me up.

I remember when I was 5 and I had my birthday party. It seemed perfect, my hair was curled and my dress was nicely ironed. But the downer of the party was that ‘my’ prize had been given away to someone else. I cried so hard at my own party and there is a picture to remember us of this moment.

I remember when I was 4 and I had just made the most embarrassing video of my life. I was in a yellow Belle princess dress and I was dancing to the song ‘Mambo No. 5’. I was just being silly and I kept on asking my mom to play the song 3 more times. We found the video a few years ago and we had laughed our heads off.

I remember when I was about 4 or 5, I just had my first experience of snow. I was in Beijing and when I looked out my window, I saw this white cloudy blanket over our swing and porch tables. I ran out with my purple winter jacket out and my snow boots. I tried my first ever snow angel and my dad was at the window taking pictures of this moment.

I remember when I was 4 and one of my friends from my class had come over. I had just finished a shower and my maid was drying me off and then I heard a voice, “Nadia, are you there?” I froze because my friend was a boy. I told him to wait and quickly changed. We then got on with our play date, watching Teletubbies and Barney.

-Nadia Redza

My Name

MY NAME

Nadia. Such a simple name and yet when someone says it with happiness and pride, it lightens up my mood and completes my day. My name is from Russian, Arabic and Swahili origin. They all have different meanings; in Russian it means "hope", in Arabic it means "moist, tender and delicate", and in Swahili it means "caller". Some have teased me about Nadia meaning moist, but I don’t mind. Just how I didn’t mind when one boy called me "Narnia". It just means that I’m adventurous, just like the book. Such an adventure-filled journey through darkness.

I’m the kind of girl who has multiple names. My family calls me "Nana", from my middle name Adrianna, and sometimes old family friends or relatives call me "Adrianna". But my friends are different. They give me “fun” nicknames such as Naderzzz, Nodders and Nadie. I don’t know any particular reason as to why I am called these, but I love all my nicknames because it’s like a connection with the many kind of people I socialize with. When I hear these in the hallway, I turn around straight away like a person dodging a bullet. Though I respond to these nicknames, I will never remember my true identity. My mom named me after the great Nadia Comaneci because she hopes that one day, I will become an Olympian. Therefore came the meaning of Nadia, hope.

-Nadia Redza

Me In 3

ME IN 3

How do I begin to explain myself in 3 objects? Maybe these objects give some insights to my personality. Through these objects, you will see into my soul and see what I am truly about. These objects are my sister’s and my trophy case, the pictures on my desk and my Apple Notebook/Laptop.

Many would think that a trophy case is an out of blue object to describe one’s self, but I see it as a gateway to a whole new me. These trophies date back to as early as 2007 and as recent as 2011. To me, these trophies represent my swimming feats and whenever someone comes over, they will ALL go “WOW! You have so many trophies.” It may just be a piece of plastic to them, but to my family and me, they portray how talented and skillful my family is. For example, my sister and I are swimmers, my dad is the Country Managing Director of the company Accenture and my mom helps earn the money that our family lives off. Every family is special and this trophy case shows the Redzas off.

The next object I think represents me would be the pictures on my desk. They remind me of moments and memories that I think were the most happiest and memorable in my life. One of the pictures was at a birthday dinner this year when I turned 12. I believe this is an important moment in my life because it was my golden birthday and I had one of my best and closest friends with me that day. Another picture is of my best friend and me when she came over to KL to visit my family. I only got to see her for 2 days, but these were the most happiest days of my life. Even a minute with her would make me the happiest girl alive. The other pictures are of me as a baby and as a child, and they just remind me that I was a cute baby.

One final object that represents me well is my Apple Notebook/Laptop. Though I am not one of those tech-savvy people, I still love technology and photography. I spend a majority of my time on the computer but I still go outside and sniff the musky dirt smell of rain. I have a Facebook, Skype, Twitter -- all of the social networking sites. They are all just for entertainment, but it doesn’t impact my overall lifestyle. I do go out to explore the world and I socialize with my friends and family. Though most of the time I’m on the computer because of homework, I still have a goal not spend my time on the computer. My whole family has individual electronics. My sister and I have an iPhone, and my parents have iPads. But these items don’t keep us from socializing with our family and friends.

To summarize what I have written here, the 3 objects I think portray my true identity are my trophy case, the pictures on my desk and my Apple Notebook/Laptop. I chose these objects for many reasons, all of which are similar though these objects are totally different.

-Nadia Redza

Bio-Poem

BIO-POEM

Nadia

Neat, active, kind, optimistic

Proud sister of Diana Redza, friend of everybody!

Loves my family, friends and chocolate

Have felt intimidated, hyper, and frightened before

Afraid of squished bugs, being alone and thunder/lightning storms

Learned how to be mature, rewarded RM1000 for swimming accomplishments

Wants to go bungee jumping, be able to cook/bake and be successful before I die

Lives in 2A, Villa Mon’t Kiara, Kuala Lumpur

Redza

Japanese Creation Story

Here is the iMovie I made about the Japanese Creation Myth.

Apparently, The End Is Near.

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SO AMAZING! My first Malaysia Week, my first time studying

humanities, MS parties, new friends and so many new things to learn! But now, as Homer Simpson says, the end is near. And it's also time to reflect:

I think one piece of work I'm proud of would be the literature circles. I think this because though it may not be my most favorite thing to do, I feel that some of my best work is on it. I found that the first book "Call It Courage" was very hard to do literature circles on because everybody was so new to it and I was getting B's and A-'s. Then we got to "The True Confessions Of Charlotte Doyle", many were more familiar but still a very hard book. And finally, we came to the "The Giver". I thought that I was very 'into' the book and found it very easy to write literature circles and was headed towards A+'s!

I think my greatest challenge would be getting all of my homework done on time. Since I am a serious swimmer, I train every night and only get home at about 8:00, and have only about an hour or 2 to finish my homework. I am not able to do my homework in the afternoon as I also have other activities I take part in. The biggest obstacle I had to tackle would be the literature circles. Though many would argue that we have a whole week to finish it, I have other homework I have to do on a daily basis such as KUMON. But I have managed to overcome this roadblock with great pride.

What I have learned about myself as a learner would be that I'm a JJ. At the beginning of the year, Mr Whiting had come in to determine our learning profile. It was to show how we learn best and some strategies to use when we are stressed or nervous. Being a JJ, I am gestalt, right eye dominant, left ear dominant, right hand dominant and left leg dominant. As you can see, I am very "mixed-up", proving that everybody is unique. One strategy that would work when I am nervous would be to do Lazy-8's. Lazy-8's are when you draw figure 8's with your hand. I often do this when I am taking a test or when I am thinking. Another strategy would be to sit on the right side of the room as sitting on the left might affect my hearing.

WHAT ABOUT MY WORK HABITS?

Behavior

Could be improved
Satisfactory
Perfect - the model student

I think my behavior is satisfactory because sometimes I talk in class and won't know what the teacher is talking about.
Participation
None
SatisfactoryActively participate in class

I don't alway participate in class because sometimes I may have had a bad day or just didn't feel like talking.

Organization

Needs serious helpSatisfactory
I'm super organized

I think I am very organized because in my locker, I don't have any stray papers and I am able to finish off all of my homework. For example, I went to ISTA this year for a week and had a lot of homework when I came back to KL. But I managed to catch up in all my classes within a few days.
Effort

Needs serious help
SatisfactoryI always go above and beyond what is required.

I have always gone above and beyond in my work in order to get good grades. For example, for the most recent Tic-Tac-Toe, I had put explanations for all of the events we had included. I always put 100% effort in my work, because I always know the outcome will be good.

In Grade 7, I plan to manage my time so that I can complete my homework on time. Sometimes, I would pull an all nighter to finish my literature circle. This was because I would never plan ahead to organize my time well. I was selected to be in the "higher" math group in 7th grade, which just makes everything even more complicated. I plan to make a schedule on how to organize my homework and time well.

In Grade 7, I plan to stay academically as high as I can possibly go. My 4th grade teacher wrote in my report card that "the sky is the limit" for me. And I try to establish this because the final result is always good. This doesn't mean that I would neglect all the other things I take part in. I just want to maintain and/or improve my standards of where I stand academically. I will try to not make many low grades and try to maintain the good grades that I have right now.

One thing I would like 7th grade teachers to know is that I have a very creative touch and I like many projects in school like timelines, drawings, mobiles or posters. Another thing would be that I can work with anybody. I can work in groups and individually because I don't mind it. The last thing would be that when working in groups, I'd like to pick who I work with because I know that I would work well with them especially if I know how they work.

I have two words of wisdom to tell the Class of 2018. One would be to just have fun! HAVE FUN! You have finished elementary school and it's time for you to grow up! But don't have too

much if you feel you will be distracted or drawn away from the whole picture.

Secondly, I would like to pass on to NOT STRESS. There is no point of stressing about homework or projects because it will not get you anywhere. Everything will be fine and in the end, everything works out! And you will get the hang of things really quick here in ISKL because there are so many people around that can help you with your troubles.