Mustang Connection: GMMS Parents as Partners

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...

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...

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...

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...

Governor Mifflin Middle School believes that students do well if they can. When students are not successful, it is most often due to undeveloped or underdeveloped skills, also known as lagging skills. Most times students exhibit a concerning or challenging behavior, it is associated to a lagging skill. “Every day, and with every child, we need to keep in mind that behaviors are just the protruding tip of the proverbial iceberg." -Alfie Kohn While it may not immediately sound like an earth-shattering statement to say that students do well if they can, it does force one to challenge the more commonly held belief that students do well if they want to . This philosophy is the culmination of the work of behavioral scientist and founder of  Lives in the Balance, Dr. Ross Greene.  Lives in the Balance is a non-profit organization whose goal is to "foster collaboration and empathy, transform lives, and inspire change for all children (especially the most vulnerable), to heighten awar...