Integrating & Sustaining Habits of Mind (Habits of Mind, Bk. 4)

Noted educators Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick maintain that a critical attribute of intelligence is not only having information but also knowing how to act on it. The habits of mind that contribute to this intelligence are

$ Persisting $ Managing impulsivity $ Listening with understanding and empathy $ Thinking flexibly $ Thinking about thinking (metacognition) $ Striving for accuracy $ Questioning and posing problems $ Applying past knowledge to new situations $ Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision $ Gathering data through all senses $ Creating, imagining, innovating $ Responding with wonderment and awe $ Taking responsible risks $ Finding humor $ Thinking interdependently $ Remaining open to continuous learning

In the first three volumes of Habits of Mind: A Developmental Series, the authors described these 16 behaviors (Book 1), presented strategies for activating and engaging them (Book 2), and offered assessment techniques (Book 3). In Book 4, they explain how communities, departments, teams, school districts, and school faculties can integrate the habits of mind into the school culture and sustain them.

Practitioners also contribute their insights and strategies. Curtis Schnorr and Thommie DePinto Piercy describe how their school brought a vision of the habits of mind to life. Deborah Hansen shows a staff development model for infusing the habits into her district's culture. Other chapters offer a wealth of practical tips.

Staying the course in the midst of a chaotic environment is not easy. Schools need an anchor. Because they transcend content, programs, and disciplines, the habits of mind are such an anchor.