What are Habits of Mind?
Habits of Mind are a set of thinking tools and strategies that are used by people who are found to behave intelligently.  Asking the question,  “What behaviors indicate a fast and effective thinker?” a man named Art Costa, set out on a quest to identify the characteristics of those who are good problem solvers.  First developing a list of 12 attributes in 1991, the list has now grown to include 16 Habits of Mind.  This list will continue to grow as more attributes are identified. 

The South Lyon School District actively uses the Habits of Mind in the classrooms to encourage students to not just reproduce knowledge they learn, but to produce it.  The strategies assist students in developing a critical stance to looking at their assignments and teach students that they can not only have the information, they can act on it and apply the knowledge in new ways.  The purpose of Habits of Mind is to get students in the habit of behaving intelligently.  To instill thinking patterns that will allow them to creatively and effectively solve problems both in and outside of the classroom that will lead to productive outcomes. 

The Habits of Mind are powerful tools that families can actively use at home to continue the learning process.  This area of the website will give links to resources both on and off the Internet that can assist with developing Habits of Mind.  As a family, you can encourage the use of these thinking tools by encouraging your child to think independently and critically and by encouraging them to employ Habits of Mind on a daily basis. 

Interested in learning more about the Habits of Mind?  These are resources you may find helpful to explore the topic further. 

• Institute for Habits of Mind Website
• Definitions of Each Habit of Mind
• General Information About Habits of Mind
• Teaching Habits of Mind At Home
• Mini Courses for Families on Ways to Incorporate Habits of Mind
• Characteristics of People with Habits of Mind
• How Families Can Promote Critical Thinking

Teaching Persistence
Teaching children persistence is important as they are bound to face obstacles that are challenging throughout their lives.  A child who is persistent is one who sees a task through completion, remains focused, looks for alternative ways to meet goals when stuck, and sticks with things without giving up easily.  To learn more about teaching children persistence, check out these resources.

• Teaching Young Children Persistence
• Short Video on Teaching Persistence
• What Adults Can Do To Build Persistence

Learning to Manage Impulsivity
Teaching children to manage impulsivity means helping them to learn to take their time and think before acting.   The focus of this Habit of Mind is to encourage children to learn to remain calm and thoughtful.   To learn more about teaching children to manage their impulsivity, please review these resources. 

• Learning about Managing Impulsivity
• Example of a Lesson for Teaching Children to Manage Impulsivity
• Teaching Children Self-Control

Teaching Your Child to Listen
Teaching children to listen with understanding and empathy is an important Habit of Mind.  It encourages children to understand others and to make a strong effort to perceive another person’s point of view and/or emotions.   This is not only a skill that will help them to think critically, but also to develop social skills and compassion.

• Teaching Children Empathy
• Ways to Teach Empathy Skills
• Building Respectful Relationships and Modeling Empathy

Learning to Check Work for Accuracy
Teaching children to strive for accuracy means encouraging them to check their work again and again.  Children are encouraged to always do their best, to set high standards for themselves and to find ways that they can constantly improve.  For more information on this Habit of Mind, check out these resources. 

• Learning to Strive for Accuracy
• The Habits of Mind and Striving for Accuracy
• Example of Student Self-Assessment that Includes Checking for Accuracy

Thinking Flexibly and Creatively
Thinking flexibly and creatively involves looking at things another way.  This Habit of Mind encourages children to change their perspectives, think of alternatives to problems and consider several options.  For further information on developing this Habit of Mind, please see these resources. 

• Examples of Activities that Encourage Flexible Thinking
• Thinking Flexibly Information and Link to Activities
• Thinking Flexibly

Learning to Use all the Senses
Gathering data by using all the senses encourages students to learn to pay attention to the world around them.  Using their sense of taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight can offer new perspectives for solving problems and can lead to the development of new knowledge.  For more information, please see these resources. 

• Why using all the Senses for Learning is Important
• Helping Children to Learn to Use Their Senses
• Habits of Mind Learning Through All Senses

Questioning
This Habit of Mind encourages children to have a questioning attitude.  Children are encouraged to know what data is needed and develop questioning strategies to produce those data.  They take an interest in learning and are constantly finding problems to solve.  For further information on this Habit of Mind, please review these resources. 

• Questioning and Posing Problems
• Questioning and Posing Problems Information
• Building Questioning and Communication Skills

Teaching Meta-cognition
Meta-cognition means thinking about your own thinking.  This Habit of Mind encourages children to beware of their own thoughts, strategies, feelings and actions and how their thoughts influence others.  For more information on how you can help develop your child’s meta-cognition, please see these resources. 

• Building Metacognition
• Short Video on Metacognition
• Learning About Reflective Questioning

Precision of Language and Thought
This Habit of Mind encourages children to be clear and to strive for accurate communication, both written and oral.  It helps to promote communication that is not over generalized, distorted and overly exaggerated.  Please see the resources below for further information on teaching precision of language and thought. 

• Using Riddles to Teach Precision
• Teaching Clear Communication

Using Appropriate Humor
Using appropriate humor means being able to laugh at oneself and knowing not to laugh at others.  This Habit of Mind encourages children to find the unexpected delights in day to day living.  For further information on this Habit of Mind, please check out the resources below. 

• Finding Humor
• Encouraging Your Child's Sense of Humor
• Instilling an Appropriate Sense of Humor in Children