Habits of Mind: Persisting

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 derived from studies of "problem-solvers" from diverse backgrounds and careers (Costa and Kallick, 2009). Persistence is the first habit up for discussion, but please check out the video below to get an overview of the 16 habits and how they are relevant in an academic setting.



“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge 

Most people understand that persistence is the ability to push through difficult situations, yet many younger people are challenged to do this. Like most habits of mind, persistence needs to be taught and fostered. A great way to begin to teach persistence is to model, and show examples of where persistence has paid off. There are many great examples to use in a historic context, but personal experiences will likely be more impactful. In the Kidspot post, 6 ways to teach your kids persistence, there are suggested ways parents can support the development of persistence by doing the following in the summary below:

* 1. Nurture A Hobby - Find a hobby your child loves to do, and let them indulge in their passion. 
* 2. Give Them Opportunities To Succeed -  give them a chance to stretch themselves, and praise them for rising up to the challenge.
* 3. Give Your Child Responsibility - Let them take on responsibility and learn to take pride in work.
* 4. Resist Rescuing Your Child From Meltdowns - Give them the opportunity to step up and get back on their pony after they fall apart
* 5. Don’t Give Up On Them When They Give Up On Themselves - Encourage problem solving skills.
* 6. Remind Them Of Their Successes - When your child is overwhelmed, remind them of a time when they achieved something big, or difficult. 

Over the next few weeks, we will take a closer look at some additional important habits of mind and provide resources to help support the development of these habits in your children. I hope you continue to find them useful.

Additional resources and what's on the horizon for flex period!
* SEL lessons will resume at the conclusion of PSSA testing on 5/1.

As always, thank you for your continued support and partnership in education!

Sincerely,

Chris Killinger
GMMS Associate Principal

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