MMS Update 9-30-24
(Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Determination, Effort)
A main goal of teachers today is to teach students the skills they need to be critical thinkers. Instead of simply memorizing facts and ideas, children need to engage in higher levels of thinking to reach their fullest potential. Practicing Higher Order Thinking (HOT) skills outside of school will give children and teens the tools that they need to understand, infer, connect, categorize, synthesis (create), evaluate, and apply the information they know to find solutions to new and existing problems.
Simple but important things you can do as a parent/caregiver:
Families/Caregivers can play a significant role in encouraging higher order thinking with their children and teens, even when having a casual conversation. Asking open-ended questions that don’t have one “right” answer gives children confidence to respond in creative ways without being afraid of being “wrong.” After a child has read a book, a parent might ask their child a question such as: “If you were that character, how would you have persuaded Timothy to turn himself in?” rather than something like “What was the main character’s name in the book?”
Below are examples of questions to ask your child to spark discussion, make them think critically, and encourage higher order thinking.
- When reading a book:
- “What do you think might happen next?” “Does this remind you of anything from your life?” “Can you tell me about what you read today?” “Why did he/she act that way?”
- When visiting an unfamiliar place: “How is __________ similar to/different from __________?” “Can you explain/show me that in another way?” “What if _________? (you can ask anything here to promote interesting discussion) e.g. every town looked exactly the same, same shops, same type of houses etc.
- When making an important decision: “How would you prioritize __________?” “How do you imagine __________ would look?” “What do you think a solution might be?” “Why did you decide to choose __________ over __________?”
Games played with your child that will encourage High Order Thinking – These can be any games which require thinking: logical, lateral or creative, problem solving. Games that require communication and participation.
In our country, Latino leaders are striving for the American Dream and helping those around them reach it too. From those who have been here for generations to those who have recently arrived, Latinos have pushed our great American experiment forward. They are the community, faith, and union leaders who advocate and stand up for all of us. They are the first responders, who put themselves in harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe. And they represent the best of who we are as a Nation — the teachers and doctors, athletes and artists, business leaders, public servants, and so much more. They embody the possibilities of our Nation and the dreams of those who work every day to build a better future for their children, grandchildren, and beyond.
Important Information
- Students have 4 minutes to transition from one class to another. They must be on time for each of their classes. They should be in their seats ready to learn when the bell rings.
No Cell phones/headphones/earbuds/ Air pods
No Hats or Hoods on heads
No Backpacks/winter coats
No sunglasses/bandanas
No Food/drinks (other than water in clear water bottles) in classrooms
- Parents, remember to use PowerSchool to monitor your child's grades and attendance. It is important for all students to arrive to school and class on time every day.
Be Proactive and Safe!
- If you or your child becomes aware of a situation that may create a problem at school, please contact an administrator at the school (269-337-0670). We want to be proactive and maintain the best possible learning environment for our students.
Academic Achievement, Safety and Order are Milwood Magnet School Priorities!
PowerSchool Parent Portal is an online resource that gives parents/guardians access to their student’s:
- Grades and attendance
- Test results
- Report Cards
- Attendance history
- Email notifications that can include your child's grades and school announcements
- Teacher comments
- Calendars
How do I access the PowerSchool Parent Portal?
Click this link.