Professor Arthur Costa, Emeritus Professor of California State University, Sacramento, defines sixteen types of intelligent behaviour called ‘Habits of Mind'. These habits will aid students to perform well in school and everyday life as they encounter life's challenges. Habits of mind encourage thinking skills essential to all school activities and lifelong self-directed learning. Towards the end of 2006 a number of staff attended a workshop on Habits of Mind and this year we are adopting a whole school approach towards using the Habits of Mind throughout the school in all classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. The Habits of Mind are introduced to children along with the ‘Thinking Hats’. Together the ‘Thinking Hats’ and the ‘Habits of Mind’ make up our approach to the ‘Thinking Curriculum’ at St Clare’s.
Throughout 2007 we will be focusing strongly on Habits of Mind and one of our ideas is to build a ‘Habits of Mind Garden’ in the three new garden beds adjacent to the undercover sail cloth area. We plan to grow plants that identify in some way with each of the 16 habits.
Professor Arthur Costa maintains that a critical attribute of intelligence is not only having information but also knowing how to act on it.
Read here about the ‘Habits of Mind’ that contribute to this intelligence.
© Catholic Education Office Wollongong 2008
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