A Habit of Mind is knowing how to behave intelligently.

A Habit of Mind is knowing what to do when we are unsure or unclear of the next step or when we DON'T know the answer.

A Habit of Mind means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known: contradictions, dilemmas, inquiries and uncertainties.

21st century learning is not about gathering information but about knowing how to act on it, knowing what questions to ask of it and being able to thinking critically about content and origin. The Habits of Mind give us the behaviours that shape effective inquiry and encourage independent learning.

The Habits of Mind:

• Persisting
  
• Managing Impulsivity
  
• Listening With Understanding and Empathy
  
• Thinking Flexibly
  
• Thinking About Thinking (Metacognition)
  
• Striving For Accuracy and Precision
  
• Questioning and Posing Problems
  
• Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
  
• Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision
  
• Gathering Data through All Senses
  
• Creating, Imagining, and Innovating
  
• Responding with Wonderment and Awe
  
• Taking Responsible Risks.
  
• Finding Humor
  
• Thinking Interdependently
  
• Remaining Open to Continuous Learning

The Habits of Mind give learners of all ages and at all stages, a framework for autonomous, lifelong learning. They show us how to behave intelligently, independently and reflectively.

Employing Habits of Mind requires drawing forth certain patterns of intellectual behaviour that produce powerful results. They are a composite of many skills, attitudes and proclivities including: