Getting Started With Students

Definition of Habits of Mind The social, emotional and academic dispositions that help students respond thoughtfully to challenges and problems the answers to which are not immediately apparent. — Costa and Kallick (2008) Tony Wagner: “What I find most significant about this list is that they represent a set of skills and habits of mind that can be nurtured, taught and mentored.”

What do you hear yourself saying? How would you like them to be? WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PEERS THAT MAKES YOU THINK ALL COULD LEARN HOW TO THINK MORE EFFECTIVELY? What do you see yourself doing? What do you hear yourself saying? How are they feeling? How would you like them to be? 11

HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO BE LIST PHRASES IN HERE . Break the group into 16 pairs. If you are not going to introduce all of the habits at once, just make groups for the number of habits you will be introducing.

HABITS OF MIND Discussion READ AND DEFINE IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS GIVE EXAMPLES: WHAT DO YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAYING OR SEE THEM DOING AS THEY USE THE HABIT OF MIND? DESCRIBE SITUATIONS WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE THE HABIT OF MIND Instruction for the groups. Each group has a habit. They should take the text from the article on Habits of Mind. 11

CREATE A 3 MIN PRESENTATION TO THE GROUP Find images or photos that create an understanding of the habit. Create a movie Script a skit Make a poster TAKE A RESPONSIBLE RISK!! You have 20 minutes for this activity 11

COMPARE YOUR LIST OF ATTRIBUTES: “HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE?” WITH THE LIST OF HABITS OF MIND. FIND SIMILARITIES Resources: Where did they com from? Glatthorn Feuerstein Sternbeg Perkins Gardner Goleman 11

Habits of Mind Persisting Managing impulsivity Listening with understanding and empathy Thinking flexibly Thinking about thinking Striving for accuracy Questioning and posing problems Applying past knowledge to new situations Finding humor Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision Gathering data through all senses Creating, imagining, innovating Responding with wonderment and awe Taking responsible risks Thinking interdependently Remaining open to continuous learning Compare to this chart