Net Speed, Accuracy and Gross Speed

My reflection on this year is that my typing scores actually DID improve! I am so glad, and this was probably because I actually got a lot into facebook, started doing these blog posts, and of course, did Typing Master, although I would NOT consider myself a "typing master". Yet. Now, I don't feel like I am a slow typer, or that I should type any faster. Since all of the class improved in typing, and most of us already do sufficient typing at home in facebook or other websites I do not think it is a good idea at all to include Typing Master, especially taking account that most of us already reached our higher potential.

MAP Progress

The very prestigious American School of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is having their excellent students perform MAP tests. (As you may be aware of). Please see bellow to see how students progress and how these three charts help/opposite of help display the information accurately.
This is the first chart that I used, and I think that it is actually a very good chart to show your scores and progress over time since the dates are visible and you get a clear idea of how the student has risen and fallen over time.

This is not a good chart to display MAP scores. It does not tell when the tests were made so the person will not know over how much time the progress was made. I think that this would be better replaced by a line graph, like to one bellow.

This is a very good chart for displaying MAP scores. It has everything you need to know in a simple manner: the dates, the progress, the skipped tests, and it pinpoints each exact score. I think this is why this is also the best chart.

Oil Overboard!

There has recently been a terrible oil spill in Mexico. Oil spills are awful happenings since they contribute to serious environmental issues like pollution, habitat damage and health damage of organisms in general. This oil came on big-time in the news and most people didn't know what to make of it since many different sources blamed multiple reasons. After the tremendous research I have outaken, I have come to the conclusion that the cause for the oil spill were flaws in a cement encasement intended to seal the now very infamous brand, Beyond petroleum. Exactly which flaws and where were not determined, but our loyal source,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2519294/posts clearly explained that that's the legal cause.

The cause is important, but now we all know: every cause has an effect. The effect for this oil spill may be worse than what you think, but for now nothing is 100% sure. Some people think that the effort for the oil collection will actually work, which is the most hopeful projection. For now this has affected many places that surround the central spill place and places all over the coast with pollution and harm to organisms like the lovely pelicans from Louisiana. The cleanup crews, which have been working since a few days ago, will be trying their best to get most of the oil. I think they will actually help because the company BP is the one who's sponsoring them in order to clean their name. I think that even though it's directly the company's fault it really is humanity's fault for having such a big need of petroleum and i think that we should all become even more environmentally conscious because we take resources like this for granted; it's not fair. In the end of the day however, it's every individual's choice if they want to save the planet. Do you?

Moti-testion!

What is your motivation for test-taking? We have recently taken the MAP tests {URL: http://www.nwea.org/ } which I guess are a lamer version of the original American SAT's, and even though I'm not a fan, I can make my try. Taking a test, for me, usually feels stressful because I put a lot of pressure into myself, however; I was very relaxed. There is something about not being graded that makes me just get into the test in a calm way. When the scores for English and language came, I was happy but I think that I could've done better in the math test. To improve the math score I could review that material in math class, but It was weird because nothing of what we're currently studying came up on the test. The fact that we get one free spirit day if we surpass our goals actually motivated me, but not as much as I motivate myself.

IMAGE TAKEN FROM: http://hilary.lookingatstars.com/pics/Relaxed-thumb.jpg