Mustang Connection: GMMS Parents as Partners

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

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