Habits of Mind
Where to begin with Habits of Mind
I began my work with the Habits of Mind more than 20 years ago. It was a time when the education system was undergoing major curriculum changes. We had three “new” curriculums in five years. The “crowded curriculum” was a constant source of frustration for teachers, who felt there was too much to cover and […]
McEnroe vs Federer: A battle of Mindset
In her book, Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success, Professor Carol Dweck uses John McEnroe as an example of a person with a Fixed Mindset. I think he’s a great example for many reasons. You can’t argue with the fact McEnroe was an extraordinary tennis player. He is ranked 6th in the list of most […]
How to make hard things easy
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to make hard things easy? A way to take those things we find difficult, the things we struggle with every day, and make them simple? Fortunately, there is a way. It’s all about learning to be smarter and getting better at the Habits of Mind. Let […]
Habits of Mind: An enduring part of a changing world
The Habits of Mind were my first passion in education. This passion has endured for 20 years. I’ve spent countless hours developing Habits of Mind resources and delivering professional learning to teachers around the world. What originally drew me so strongly to the Habits of Mind was the fact they weren’t simply dreamt up by […]
Do your students “get” learning?
Students with a Fixed Mindset don’t really “get” learning. From their perspective, school isn’t about learning, it’s about discovering what they can do. These students come to class wondering whether they have the abilities required to be successful. The answer is predetermined: they are simply waiting to find out. For students with a Fixed Mindset, […]
A Growth Mindset gives you courage, not capacity
Introducing the Learning Pit 2.0 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: a Growth Mindset is not growth. A Growth Mindset is important because it is the foundation upon which growth is achieved. It is the invitation to grow. It encourages you to engage your Habits of Mind in the process of Virtuous […]
Good. Better. Best. Better.
Language matters. One of the critical lessons from research into Mindsets is that what teachers say and how they say it matters. Language acts as a Mindset Mover. The hidden and unintended messages in our language can push students along the [1]Mindset Continuum, creating either a more Fixed or Growth Mindset. So, as teachers, we […]
The three ideas every educator needs to understand. (And the one book that brings them all together!)
I believe there are three key ideas every educator needs to understand if they are going to help students thrive in the 21st century. Not that all of teaching and learning can be distilled into three ideas; there’s much more. But without these three ideas, I believe your teaching practice – and, therefore, your students’ […]
20 years with Habits of Mind: 3 Important Lessons
As Art Costa, Bena Kallick and the Institute for Habits of Mind celebrate their 25th year, I celebrate my 20th year working with the Habits of Mind. I can’t begin to adequately describe the phenomenal impact the Habits of Mind have had on my life, both professionally and personally. From my work as a classroom […]
Lesson 1: A Growth Mindset
Last week, I listed the three key lessons I’ve learnt about successfully working with Habits of Mind. This week, I want to delve into the first of these lessons. It’s a critical component, shared by all schools that have achieved long-term success with Habits of Mind. It is a Growth Mindset. A Growth Mindset has […]
