Habit of Mind
Habits of Mind is about knowing how to behave intelligently and respond effectively to uncertainty or dilemmas. It provides children of all ages a framework for autonomous learning, critical thinking and effective inquiry. The framework was developed by Dr Arthur Costa, Emeritus Professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento, and Co-Director of the Institute for Intelligent Behavior in El Dorado Hills, California.
It includes the following 16 habits:
Persisting
Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision
Managing Impulsivity
Gathering Data Through All Senses
Listening With Understanding and Empathy
Creating, Imagining, Innovating
Thinking Flexibly
Responding with Wonderment and Awe
Thinking About Thinking (Metacognition)
Taking Responsible Risks
Striving For Accuracy
Finding Humor
Questioning and Posing Problems
Thinking Interdependently
Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
Remaining Open to Continuous Learning
Benefits for Young Children
Young children can benefit from Habits of Mind, as we find that children will be able to better focus on the task at hand or manage distractions. They will also be more confident when confronted with difficulties, and ask good questions that allow them to go about solving problems. They also become skilled at socializing and end up working with different people. Eventually, they grow into independent learners who are well prepared for their future in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (V.U.C.A) 21st century world.
