Habits of Mind

Habits of Mind http://www.habits-of-mind.net/

    1. Habit of Mind
      1. Definition: A Habit of Mind is knowing how to behave intelligently when you DON’T know the answer; means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known: dichotomies, dilemmas, enigmas and uncertainties.
      2. Activity- Sudoku, Crossword Puzzles, Video Games- Which habits do these teach? Ladder of Metacognition- Blank Graphic Organizer, Fill it in with the order you think is correct,
        Rank 16 habits- make a top 5- discussion (Metacognition should be in the top 5 of most lists- it will bridge into skillful thinking.
      3. Reflection/ Application in class- These habits are hard to grasp teaching, but teachers do it daily. How do you/can you draw attention to the importance? What implications to these habits have later in life? in the work force? in daily life?
    2. Skillful Thinking-
      1. Definition: Skillful Thinking is the proficient and strategic application of appropriate thinking skills and productive habits of mind as needed to develop thoughtful products, such as decisions, arguments, and other analytical, creative, or critical products. It is comprised of three components: Thinking skills, Habits of mind, and Metacognition. Thinking-Based Learning p.1
        NOTE: Successful instruction in skillful thinking should be done while teaching subject matter instead of in addition to teaching subject matter.
      2. Activity- Parts of the Whole Graphic Organizer- p. 48, p.57 (follow up), Skillful Decision Making Aid Graphic Organizer- p. 104,217 (example), 235 (example)  Thinking-Based Learning.
        1. Which person would you hire for your construction company
        2. A person who could identify a hammer.
        3. A person who could define a hammer
        4. A person who could write a composition about a hammer
        5. A person who could use a computer simulation of a hammer
        6. A person who could use a hammer to drive a nail in a lab
        7. A person who could build a small structure using a hammer in concert with other tools.

      -Teaching for Tomorrow McCain p. 25

      1. Reflection/Application in class- Which skill set are you providing in your classroom? Are you aware of metacognition?

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