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20/21 Wrap Up and Summer Resources

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The 2020-2021 school year has been a different one to say the least. Mask mandates, social distancing, altered schedules, quarantines, vaccinations, etc... However, there have been things learned through it all. What we are most proud of is how resilient our students and staff have been. And, while it may not have looked like a normal year, we have many successes to celebrate. We have had students in-person all year, provided live-stream virtual options, continued to engage students in meaningful instruction, implemented a reset room and explicit social emotional learning lessons; we saw our students progress in their academics, specifically reading, writing, and mathematics. And students had the opportunity to participate in an outdoor day of team building and physical activity during Wellness and Unity day. While we certainly hope that next year has a greater sense of normalcy, we hope that we take our lessons of perseverance to strengthen our resolve and move forward in putting our
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The STANG Matrix

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that Showing Respect, Taking Ownership of Choices, Accepting Responsibility, Noting the Positive, and Giving Best Efforts are important factors in success. These aspects of personal character make up the foundation of the GMMS STANG matrix. "You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one." Henry David Thoreau As a pivot from the Habits of Mind discussion, I would like to take the opportunity to discuss the Governor Mifflin Middle School STANG matrix. The STANG matrix is a set of characteristics set forth for GMMS students designed to set clear expectations within the school. A great thing about the STANG matrix is that the characteristics and expectations set forth are not only good for school, but also in situations outside school. For example, learning appropriate behaviors in a cafeteria setting will transfer in more formal dining situations at home or in situations when a family might go out to a
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Habits of Mind: Thinking Flexibly

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that the development of "Habits of Mind" should be an integral part of every child's education. Habits of Mind skills help build the foundation for learning and reaching one's potential for learning and develop the disposition for problem solving and thinking critically. This week we will take a look at Thinking Flexibly . "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"   - Abraham Maslow According to  The Institute for Habits of Mind , thinking flexibly is having the ability to change perspectives, generate alternatives, and consider other options during the problem solving process. In other words, it is the ability to look at things in a different way. Thinking flexibly is a skill that can be applied to problem-solving, as well as social interactions. This skill allows individuals to change their mind based on new evidence or new understandings of old information. Flexible thinkers also tend to consider g
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Habits of Mind: Application of Knowledge

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that the development of "Habits of Mind" should be an integral part of every child's education. Habits of Mind skills help build the foundation for learning and reaching one's potential for learning and develop the disposition for problem solving and thinking critically. This week we will take a look at Applying Past Knowledge . "Knowledge has no value except that which can be gained from its application toward some noteworthy end" - Napoleon Hill Unless you are an educator, you may not have heard of Bloom's Taxonomy . Bloom's Taxonomy is a hierarchal organization of cognitive skills used to guide educators in determining useful skills in students to direct their instruction and assessments. The components of Bloom's Taxonomy include Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Creating, Evaluating, and Analyzing . These components, originally developed in 1956 and later revised in 2001, are shown to represent di
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Habits of Mind: Managing Impulsivity

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that the development of "Habits of Mind" should be an integral part of every child's education. Habits of Mind skills help build the foundation for learning and reaching one's potential for learning and develop the disposition for problem solving and thinking critically. This week we will take a look at Managing Impulsivity . As a continuation of our examination of the "Habits of Mind" series from  The Institute for Habits of Mind ,  it would be irresponsible to not discuss the habit of managing impulsivity, especially for middle-school aged children. This is a crucial skill for teens and pre-teens and, if not learned, can manifest into other lasting problems. One might consider managing impulsivity as the ability to practice self control, but it is far easier said than done for adolescent children. Remember, the goal of developing the 16 Habits of Mind is to become a an effective problem solver and this requires delib
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Habits of Mind: Persisting

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that the development of "Habits of Mind" should be an integral part of every child's education. Habits of Mind skills help build the foundation for learning and reaching one's potential for learning and develop the disposition for problem solving and thinking critically. This week we will take a look at Persisting. With technological advancements and easy access information, society is tasked less with the  memorization of facts, and more with the application of knowledge. That is not to say that it is not important to build a strong background of useful information to work from. However, considering the amount of information readily available, the greater challenge becomes how to meaningfully use and apply the information. According to The Institute for Habits of Mind , the 16 Habits of Mind, are identifiable skills that help individuals become greater problem solvers and critical thinkers. These are skills that have been deriv
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The Four C's of Education

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Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking are essential skills for the 21st century learner. People who are proficient in the Four C's are better at working with others, sharing thoughts and ideas, looking at problems in new ways, and trying new approaches to solving them. There has been quite a bit of discussion in recent years surrounding the Four C's and 21st century learning. While the skills required to be college and career ready have changed throughout the years, research shows that collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking are key contributing factors for success, regardless of a chosen academic or career path. In fact, with ever-changing technology and automation of some jobs and careers, we are likely preparing many children today for jobs that do not even exist yet. According to a U.S. Department of Labor report, 65% of students will be working in jobs that do not currently exist
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