Ø    What are Habits of Mind?

 Habits of Mind are productive mental dispositions or ways of thinking that support learning and success at difficult tasks (Marzano 211).  By studying and practicing Habits of Mind, students learn about intelligent behaviors that can be applied when students face problems or uncertainties.  Categories and examples of Habits of Mind are listed below:  

Self-Regulation
· Being aware of your own thinking
· Planning
· Being aware of necessary resources
· Being sensitive to feedback
· Evaluating the effectiveness of your actions
· Perseverance

Critical Thinking
· Being accurate and seeking accuracy
· Being clear and seeking clarity
· Being open-minded
· Restraining impulsivity
· Taking a position when the situation warrants it
· Being sensitive to others’ feelings and level of knowledge

Creative Thinking
· Engaging intensely in tasks even when answers or solutions are not immediately apparent
· Pushing the limits of your knowledge and abilities
· Generating, trusting and maintaining your own standards of evaluation
· Generating new ways of viewing a situation” (Marzano 213)
 

Ø    Why are Habits of Mind important in a thinking-centered curriculum? 

Learning and consciously using productive Habits of Mind is at the very heart of a thinking-centered curriculum.  When students consistently demonstrate productive mental habits as they approach academic assignments, for example by consistently seeking clarity and accuracy, they learn more from those assignments.  When Habits of Mind are internalized they can be applied to any situation.

 Ø    What are the characteristics of instruction that address Habits of Mind?

• Students are introduced to the appropriate Habits of Mind that can enhance success in specific disciplines and tasks.  

• Teachers model specific Habits of Mind when they are teaching new skills and content and explaining new projects and tasks.

• Students are asked to reflect on which Habits of Mind would help them with particular classroom tasks and how effectively they have used specific Habits of Mind to complete projects or tasks.

 Ø    If you would like more information…
 

Literature and Research Base:

 Costa, Aruthur, L and Bena Kallick.  Activating & Engaging Habits of Mind. Virginia: ASCD, 2001

 Marzano, Robert, Debra Pickering, and Jane Pollock. Dimensions of Learning.  Virginia: ASCD, 2001.

Related Links

http://www.habits-of-mind.net/ 

http://www.essentialschools.org/pub/ces_docs/about/phil/habits.html

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr200.htm