Learning Habits - Habits of Mind
Art Costa is an American professor who developed the concept of Habits of Mind. Essentially, the theory of Habits of Mind is that there are 16 'habits' that the most successful people are able to employ when necessary - the ability to employ these habits as required enables them to ACHIEVE! There is a huge amount of literature out there about the concept of Habits of Mind, but as a school, we use it to help our students to develop the characteristics they need to be successful, deep and independent learners.
In all lessons, teachers and students will engage with the idea of Habits of Mind at some point. It might be that the most important habit for that lesson is discussed in order to encouarge everyone to consider how best this habit can be demonstrated effectively. By raising the awareness of all about the importance of these habits, our students have the potential to develop them fully during their time at Sedgefield Community College.
In all lessons, teachers and students will engage with the idea of Habits of Mind at some point. It might be that the most important habit for that lesson is discussed in order to encouarge everyone to consider how best this habit can be demonstrated effectively. By raising the awareness of all about the importance of these habits, our students have the potential to develop them fully during their time at Sedgefield Community College.
Developing Habits of Mind across the school
In order to help our students to recognise the Habits of Mind that it would be most beneficial for them to develop, we provide students and their parents with learning targets linked to the 16 Habits of Mind on three occasions during the year. We have identified what these 16 habits are likely to mean to our students in practice in the classroom and have then idenitfied 32 tangible ways in which our students can act upon these. This is just one of the ways in which we look to help our students to develop the habits that will help to make them outstanding lifelong learners.