32 Habits That Make Thinkers

by Terry Heick

The difference between students and learners is something we’ve discussed before. On the surface it’s a matter of tone and compliance, but it also has to do with purpose–why are they learning? How much of themselves are invested in the process? And does it lead to personal change, or mere performance?

So below are 32 habits–or strategies, actions, or behaviors–that can lead to that critical shift that moves students from mere students to learners who are able to think critically for themselves. Key themes? Patience, scale, and perspective.

32 Habits That Make Thinkers

1. Doesn’t always seek to please others

2. Are charismatic listeners

3. Can learn from anything

4. Ask “Why?”

5. Are comfortable with uncertainty

6. Write for their own understanding, not performance

7. Value questions over answers

8. Think laterally, endlessly connecting this to that, here to there

9. Use divergent thinking

10. Can move back and forth from micro to macro thinking

11. Read for pleasure

12. Look for patterns

13. Study the nuance of things

14. See every situation as something new, because it is

15. Ask what they’re missing or haven’t considered

16. Playfully reframe and/or improve questions

17. Relate humility to learning

18. Can instantly separate fact from opinion

19. Resist confirmation bias (analyze then draw conclusion)

20. Don’t follow crowds

21. Articulate their own thinking without prompting (often creatively)

22. Design learning pathways effortlessly–they just go

23. Socialize thinking for collaboration rather than approval

24. See learning as inseparable from living

25. Reflect for analysis rather than judgment

26. Use emotion to catalyze their intellect

27. See situations from multiple perspectives

28. Play with ideas–and the complexity within the mundane

29. Think with simplicity about simple ideas, and simply about complex ideas

30. Demonstrate insatiable curiosity for something

31. Seek to be both rational and ridiculous in their thinking

32. Show patience (by “dwelling with” questions, texts, or problems)

Adapted Image attribution flickr user nasagoddardspaceflightcenter; 32 Habits That Make Thinkers

http://www.teachthought.com/learning/32-habits-that-make-thinkers/

Wow chuch service seems to drag by at a snails pace when you are in a hurry to get home to watch the Kansas Jayhawks play their next game.

SOL Day 21 Random Thought

Spring Break reading for my adult self
Dr. Sleep and SK causing insomnia
or is it the stress?
wanting a new house, owe too much
upside down.
overcoming addictions
2nd grade teacher my kids school kills gf and self
close to home
this is the splatter of life
fishing, calmness, small town living
feeling ok
really getting to know and care for and love your students
can males teachers do this without fear
taking time to stop & reflect and think about life means slowing down
slowing down, slowing down.
Testing today does not allow this
daughter feeling stress with homework over spring break,
super admitted it's a game he doesn't like, but has to play
so is he admitting kids best interests being pushed aside
find the happy medium?
laughing is angelic, small things are superb
zooming in to the heart of the matter,
looking at every minute details, taking in the splatter of life.

Slice of Life Day 3

I was reviewing my notes from my reading groups this morning to send out my weekly reports to classroom teachers and  became quiet concerned about the number of errors students are making on High Frequency words. The totality of words they do not seem to know when reading aloud in the mist of a sentence or paragraph is astounding. They can often reread the word correctly if I tap on it or ask them to reread the whole sentence. When rereading the whole sentence they do not appear to even notice that they made the error before. A majority will read the word correctly in isolation. This I feel could be caused by teaching so many words using flashcards or as spelling words in isolation. Kids need to be immersed in real reading more, and errors need to be correctly instantly whenever possible. Also kids need to be held accountable for listening to their reading. They have to be actively aware of what they are saying and be able to notice and self correct errors. I wonder how much of this problem is caused by the erosion of correct grammar, and use of different types of slangs, and specialty language. Oral language has always been slightly different from written, but with the use of social media and texting correct grammar and the structure has been lost. Students have to be able to read with accuracy, academic language texts especially with the implementation of the Common Core. The strategy of listening for the correct structure of language is being eroded when kids are not held accountable with what some call the small errors that do not effect comprehension, or that some feel are not that significant. They are left to grow bigger if never corrected and become a habit. Kids do notice them on some level and have to work twice as hard when trying to comprehend the text when these are left uncorrected(unless it has become a habit). The structure of language does matter.

Slice of Life
I am thinking I will have to start wearing some kind of body armor when driving with the family now. They have discovered the joys of Slug Bugging, and Cruiser Bruisering when spotting a VW Beetle or PT Cruiser. It has gotten very violent. Once in a while my youngest will end up in tears because her older sister hits to hard. Although I suspect she could handle it when she wants to.  If you are not familiar with this childhood ritual which sometimes follows you into adulthood, it is wear you lightly tap anyone within reach when spotting the above mentioned vehicles saying "Slug Bug Black No Bug Back" or "Cruiser Bruiser Red No Bruiser Back" before anyone else smacks you. It gets very intense when you trying to drive and avoid being hit and hit everyone else.  I tried stay out of this drama, but you can easily be sucked in. I guess the competitive spirit in me was just to much to resist, bruises or not. A little Family competition is always fun!

Old Strategies with the New Buzz Words "Close Reading"
The free posters are really neat!
https://services.blimessaging.com/201208/viewaswebpage/viewaswebpage.aspx?unqid=4562621e-878a-e311-bd25-000c29ac9535

Free Posters for Close Reading

Dear Troy, Our new teacher poster and our classroom posterwill help you understand what close reading looks like in the elementary and middle school classroom, and give you practical strategies for incorporating close reading practices. Download the teacher poster and classroom poster today, and feel free to share them with your colleagues! Sincerely, WeAreTeachers & Pearson ReadyGEN