Educational Buzzwords: Habits of Mind

I've heard the term "Habits of Mind" thrown around quite a bit in the last year or so. This approach is really not new, just a slightly different pathway to get to the same place. "Habits of Mind" is all about teaching our students problem solving. Let's face it, our students come to us with less and less "stick-to-it-ness" with each passing year. These video game babies are accustomed to immediate gratification, and have no coping skills when it comes to problem solving. "Habits of Mind" is all about teaching students how to proceed when they don't know the answer. It's about dealing with the idea that there might not be a right or wrong answer, and yet we still want them to think critically and do some problem solving. There are 16 work habits that should be actively taught to children. In this approach, teachers pose a challenging question, problem, scenario, or task and give students the time to actually tackle the issue at hand. I have actually been doing this type of teaching in my classroom for the last five years, but didn't know that I should be calling it "Habits of Mind." I actually used John Wooden's Pyramid of Success for the basis of this type of instruction and it has served me well. I even have a product in my Teachers Pay Teachers store that uses this approach which teaches the students the skills they will need to be successful with the Common Core Standards and leads them to effective student driven goal setting. Not an easy task! If you are interested in this, check it out.

HERE COMES COMMON CORE! But that was a sidebar! On to "Habits of Mind!" What I find fascinating, is how easily these two tie into each other. Let me show you: There are 16 habits of mind:

1. Persistence - which is the same thing as Wooden's Determination.

We all know that students need to be able to work at a problem, and stick with it even when the going gets tough. But let's face it, this is what they just aren't any good at!

2. Managing Impulsivity - which is the same thing as Wooden's Self-Control. I would add patience here as well.

3. Listening to Others using understanding and empathy - Wooden's Friendship and Loyalty

Listening without judging, placating, or jumping in with stories about yourself or advice without getting the whole message. That's pretty tough, even adults struggle with this!

4. Think Flexibly -

look at things from multiple perspectives.

5. Metacognition - Think about thinking.

How did you get this answer?

6. Accuracy & Precision - Wooden's Alertness

Pay attention to the details!

7. Questioning and Posing Problems - This would require Wooden's Confidence. 8. Apply past knowledge to new situations. (prior knowledge) Wooden's Skill 9. Thinking and Communicating with clarity and precision - Wooden's Cooperation

Avoid vagueness, abstractions, and absolutes (Always, never, all, everyone)

10. Gather data through all senses - Wooden's Alertness

11. Creating, Imagining, Innovating -

This is the ultimate goal, isn't it?

12. Responding with wonderment & awe - Wooden's Enthusiasm

Student choice in topics, format, learning pathways

13. Responsible Risk-Taking - Wooden's Action

Failure is just a means to achieving the goal

14. Finding Humor in unusual ways - Wooden's Poise 15. Interdependent Thinking - Wooden's Team Spirit (Multiple sources of information) 16. Continuous Learning - Revisiting old ideas (Revision) - Wooden's Skill If we actively teach these habits to our students, they will meet greater success in the classroom and in life. This is true "College and Career Readiness."

What would this look like in the classroom? Good, thought provoking questions require "wait time." You must be patient and give it to your students. First of all, you must be willing to allow "struggle time." Effective effort is a lifeskill, and there should be no quick and easy solutions to these problems. But with that said, you don't want to allow too much frustration. Teachers should prompt student thinking to move students along. Never give the students the answer, but hints and cues will keep the thinking progressing and the students will have more of a chance at perseverance. Think, Pair, Share is an effective approach, but it is important that with this collaboration ultimately every pupil will respond. Use thumbs up, whiteboards, or any other method to hold ALL students accountable to the thinking.