These synthesis essays seem to follow the same format each week: what I learned, what seemed easy, what was hard, etc. If you read my week one, you'll know I was already behind. I'm writing this after having just written the week one essay, three weeks behind. I'm catching up though. So here it goes.
Algebra 1 seemed a little easier than Pre-Algebra for some reason. Before I started I took the course quiz and was able to achieve mastery on about half the subjects. Inequalities seemed easy once I got the hang of it. Linear equations and forms of lines were also pretty easy. Graphing inequalities was fine once I got the hang of it. The AI tutor has been a big help though I might be using it more than I should. If I'm stuck on a concept I will bring up the Gemini side panel built into Chrome and ask it to go over the problem that's on screen. It's been a big help though and I have actually learned a lot while using it.
I'm trying to think if there really were any issues. The move from Pre-Algebra to Algebra 1 seemed easy enough: same concepts, just add letters. I think this coming week (Algebra 1 part 2) will be easier as it's similar concepts but I also won't feel rushed. I think a lot of the last few weeks has been that rushed feeling and getting mad at myself if I don't pass a unit test the first time, as it means I have to retake it to achieve mastery, which takes too long when I was four days behind. I shouldn't have this issue going forward.
I don't have my notebook on me (where I actually write stuff down), but I learned concepts for graphing inequalities that helped but of course can't remember them now. I guess closed circle means greater/less than or equal to while open circle means greater/less than. There was something about shading when graphing inequalities as well, and/or equal to being a solid line and the other a dashed line. Once I figured these out, it was a piece of cake. This makes me realize I need to re-read my notebook and do more practice problems over the weekend or else I will forget everything I've learned the previous week.
Layer 3 for this week was interesting. I'm linking them below again. Going forward I'm going to start writing a little section each week about what I read / watched. The curriculum already has me write a few sentences about the content but I will start adding them here next week. Until next time.