St Mary Star of the Sea 12 October 2009

Identify the habits of the mind. Understand their importance Explore definitions for each of the 16 habits Available resources Consider how HOM fit into our school curriculum and how we might integrate them into our teaching.

HOM, a term developed by Professor Art Costa, is a repertoire of strategies that helps students develop ways of thinking and acting that lead to success. This approach helps students and their teachers become better thinkers able to employ specific thinking strategies. Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it each day, And at last we cannot break it. Horace Mann, American educator,

The 16 Habits of Mind Persisting Managing Impulsivity Listening to Others-with Understanding and Empathy Thinking Flexibly Thinking About our Thinking (Metacognition) Striving for Accuracy and Precision Questioning and Posing Problems Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision Gathering Data through All Senses Creating, Imagining and Innovating Responding with Wonderment and Awe Taking Responsible Risks Finding Humour Thinking Interdependently Learning Continuously

The HOM give freedom to a broad range of character traits, so that individual differences come to the fore. HOM encourage individual expression and are not tied to a particular way of working or intelligence. Research tells us that intelligence is not static and that it can be taught and learned. We can help students to get into the habit of behaving intelligently and improving their ability to think.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle

Hang in there Stick to it There are many ways to solve a problem Dont give up Try another way It may take time Stay focused Look for ways to reach your goal Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Dale Carnegie

Managing Impulsivity Take your time Remain calm Think before you act Consider the alternatives Stop, think and make a good decision Gather information Listen to others point of view before deciding Never be afraid to sit awhile and think. Lorraine Hansberry

Listening to Others – with Understanding and Empathy Understand Others Make an effort to perceive anothers point of view and emotions Devote mental energy to another persons thoughts and ideas Spend time and energy listening attentively If there is any secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other persons point of view and see things from his angle as well as from your own. Henry Ford

We need to teach children how to listen.

Thinking Flexibly Look at something another way It is okay to change your mind and your opinion Be open Think laterally Consider opinions and alternatives Take into account additional information If you never change your mind, why have one? Edward DeBono

Thinking About our Thinking (Metacognition) Verbalise your thinking Plan your strategies Reflect on your thinking Develop a plan of action Search for information and meaning Develop a mind map Mentally rehearse and monitor your plan I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think. Socrates

Striving for Accuracy and Precision Check it again Desire greater results Work to attain highest possible standards Pursue ongoing learning Take pride in what you do Find your own errors Continue to redo, revise and improve He who stops being better, stops being good. Oliver Cromwell

Questioning and Posing Problems How do you know? Find problems to solve Ask a variety of questions Be involved in developing your own questions Develop a range of questioning strategies Have an inquiry approach Find out and discover Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why. Bernard Baruch

Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations Use what you learn What does this remind you of? Learn from past mistakes Use meaning from a previous experience to apply it to a new situation Recall similar problems Access prior knowledge Look back to learn how to look forward. L Thomas Holdcroft

Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision Be Clear! Become specific Communicate accurately when speaking and writing Support your statements with explanations and evidence Avoid over generalising Use correct names What we dont understand, we dont possess. Johan Wolfgang von Goethe

Gathering Data through All Senses Hands on, activity based Use all sensory pathways- smell, taste, move, hear, see, touch, visualise and verbalise Do it! Experiment and experience Arts and music improve mental functioning Tell me and Ill forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and Ill understand. Native American Proverb

Creating, Imagining and Innovating Try a different way! Examine alternative possibilities Generate new ideas Be open to constructive criticism and take risks Think outside of the square Be original! Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein

Responding with Wonderment and Awe Have fun figuring it out! Have passion for what you do Enjoy your learning Be fascinated by the world Have a positive attitude Find beauty and be intrigued Show your enthusiasm Be optimistic The great man is he who does not lose his child-heart. Mencius

Taking Responsible Risks Be adventurous Dont always stay in your comfort zone Draw on past knowledge and take an educated risk Is the risk worth taking? Challenge yourself without behaving impulsively Take a chance Youll always miss 100% of the shots you dont take. Wayne Gretzky

Finding Humour Laugh ! Have a sense of humour Look on the bright side Be able to laugh at yourself Initiate humour Appreciate others humour Be fun to be around Be cheerful and positive The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed. Sebastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort

Laughter is Good for You!

The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir Miss Charlene Mason sang "I Will Not Pass This Way Again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict. The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience. During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit

Thinking Interdependently Work together! Develop group and social skills Contribute to the group Learn from and with others Co-operation and collaboration Sharing ideas and the work load Being sensitive to the needs of others Achievement is a we thing, not a me thing, always the product of many heads and hands. J.Atkinson

Learning Continuously Learn from your own experiences Search for new and better ways Strive for growth and improvement Make use of opportunities to learn Be open to new learning and ideas Show an eagerness to learn Dont be afraid to admit what you dont know Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. Henry Ford

Useful websites: Books

HOM are dispositions that individuals possess to varying degrees. These may be developed by designing learning activities that require students to use their HOM. There are 5 dimensions to the development of HOM: 1. Exploring meaning (What / Understanding) 2. Expanding capacity (How) 3. Increasing Alertness (When & Where) 4. Extending value (Why) 5. Building commitment (Self assess/ self direct)

Remember only a few dimensions are likely to be considered in any given unit of work. The handout contains examples designed: to stimulate your thinking Are not prescriptive Lacking content learning outcomes

Each dimension is independent, although may overlap, and may be developed independently. Not intended to represent any sort of sequence or hierarchy.

Examples of how HOM have been included in teaching & learning

Recommended that integration into the curriculum and teaching be taken up and developed in future MS and PS staff meetings.