Habits of Mind
Habits of Mind has become a buzz word associated with Common Core Standards and the focus on reasoning skills beyond content memorization. The ELA and Mathematics standards themselves have "habits" built in that add a layer to our standards we have not had to face before.
In the Common Core math standards, habits of mind are reflected in the “standards of mathematical practice.” In the ELA area, they are reflected in an introductory discussion of “the capacities of a literate individual.” Habits of mind encompass a range of skills that are critical both to academics but also to success in work and life.
The 16 Habits of Mind (written about by Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick in 2008) focus on how successful people respond to problems and make sense of their world. Fostering these habits in our students will help them beyond answering multiple-choice questions and give them the skills necessary to tackle any complex and difficult task with confidence. It's also important to reflect upon our own intellectual habits as we tackle new issues in education and collaborate the most effectively with our peers. Not only should we take steps to improve our own weak habits, but utilize the strengths of others to accomplish the most good.
"Educational outcomes in traditional settings focus on how many answers a student knows. When we teach for the Habits of Mind, we are interested also in how students behave when they don't know an answer. The Habits of Mind are performed in response to questions and problems, the answers to which are not immediately known. We are interested in enhancing the ways students produce knowledge rather than how they merely reproduce it. We want students to learn how to develop a critical stance with their work: inquiring, editing, thinking flexibly, and learning from another person's perspective. The critical attribute of intelligent human beings is not only having information but also knowing how to act on it." (from Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind Edited by Arthur L. Costa & Bena Kallick)
In the Common Core math standards, habits of mind are reflected in the “standards of mathematical practice.” In the ELA area, they are reflected in an introductory discussion of “the capacities of a literate individual.” Habits of mind encompass a range of skills that are critical both to academics but also to success in work and life.
The 16 Habits of Mind (written about by Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick in 2008) focus on how successful people respond to problems and make sense of their world. Fostering these habits in our students will help them beyond answering multiple-choice questions and give them the skills necessary to tackle any complex and difficult task with confidence. It's also important to reflect upon our own intellectual habits as we tackle new issues in education and collaborate the most effectively with our peers. Not only should we take steps to improve our own weak habits, but utilize the strengths of others to accomplish the most good.
"Educational outcomes in traditional settings focus on how many answers a student knows. When we teach for the Habits of Mind, we are interested also in how students behave when they don't know an answer. The Habits of Mind are performed in response to questions and problems, the answers to which are not immediately known. We are interested in enhancing the ways students produce knowledge rather than how they merely reproduce it. We want students to learn how to develop a critical stance with their work: inquiring, editing, thinking flexibly, and learning from another person's perspective. The critical attribute of intelligent human beings is not only having information but also knowing how to act on it." (from Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind Edited by Arthur L. Costa & Bena Kallick)
Convinced you're ready to employ some of these habits? Embark on your journey by exploring each habit and then move on to implementing in your own classroom. Let your climb to the top begin!