Tag Archives: Habits of Mind
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 […]
Lesson 2: A whole-school approach
I have had the great pleasure of working with many schools that have seen the Habits of Mind flourish in their communities over many years. Not only have these schools embedded the Habits of Mind, they have sustained them. Unfortunately, not all schools have sustained their work. For many, the Habits of Mind have become […]
Lesson 3: Development of the Habits of Mind
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve shared my most important insights into how to succeed with the Habits of Mind. This week, I want to get to the heart of what the Habits of Mind are all about: Learning to Behave more Intelligently. When Art Costa first described what would become known as the […]
It’s not as simple as “Praise Effort”
Praise is a powerful thing. It has the potential to motivate, guide and support a student’s learning. But it can also derail it. When our praise is focused on outcomes and abilities (“You’re so clever!”, “You’re a real natural at this!”), it contributes to the development of a Fixed Mindset. Students with a Fixed Mindset […]
