Thinkers Toolbox

Habits of Mind

Art Costa, who developed Habits of Mind said:

"Habits of Mind are the characteristics of what intelligent people do when they are confronted with problems, the resolutions of which are not immediately apparent."

They are a composite of many skills, attitudes and proclivities including:

• Value: Choosing to employ a pattern of intellectual behaviors rather than other, less productive patterns.
• Inclination: Feeling the tendency toward employing a pattern of intellectual behaviours.
• Sensitivity: Perceiving opportunities for, and appropriateness of employing the pattern of behaviour.
• Capability: Possessing the basic skills and capacities to carry through with the behaviours.
• Commitment: Constantly striving to reflect on and improve performance of the pattern of intellectual behaviour.
• There are 16 Habits of Mind:

1. Persistence
2. Managing impulsivity
3. Listening to others - with understanding and empathy
4. Thinking flexibly
5. Thinking about our thinking - metacognition
6. Striving for accuracy and precision
7. Questioning and posing problems
8. Applying past knowledge to new situations
9. Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision
10. Gathering data though all senses
11. Creating, imagining and innovating
12. Responding with wonderment and awe
13. Taking responsible risks
14. Finding humour
15. Thinking interdependently
16. Learning continuously