"Educating for a more thoughtful world."
“Tell me a fact and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” – Indian Proverb Once upon a time at a primary school in Brighton, New York, a teacher was inspired by Habits of Read More …
“Learning can’t exist in a vacuum or silo. It needs to be connected both to why you do what you do and how you go about getting things done in your everyday work.” —Tanveer Naseer Why is it that teachers go to conferences or have school seminars, yet no Read More …
This school year, Mason City Schools has been exploring Personalized Learning. We’re growing our approach using a team of Learning Experience Designers working directly with teachers. Our design team spent time studying different thoughts on the matter, we knew that we didn’t want our PL approach to be about Read More …
“A good laugh is rather too scarce.” —Herman Melville Humour lightens up the classroom and energises learning in at least four major teaching and learning areas. Humour Primes Students’ Brains to Learn The best high school science teacher I ever came across claimed that his success was partly because he Read More …
“All knowledge is sacred, but it should not be secret.” —Susan Cooper, writer Questions about the cultural inclusivity of the Habits Of Mind were raised at the Auckland Expo when a challenge to consider the cultural dimensions of the program was put to the presenters by a Maori teacher: Read More …
So often we find students in an over-stimulated state of mind. Some of the most telltale signs and symptoms show up via inappropriate behaviors, outbursts, negative comments, and anxiety-ridden stares and actions – such as fidgety body movements, leg shaking, and clenching of fists. These visuals should raise concern Read More …
John Hattie wrote “the greatest effects on student learning occur when teachers become learners of their own teaching, and when students become their own teachers” (emphasis ours) (Hattie, 2012). Based on our combined 50+ years experience in multiple districts and states, as well as conversations with colleagues across the nation, Read More …
If you are an educator, you are familiar with the phrase, “one more thing!” It is a fair sentiment by educators describing the plethora of initiatives and different forms of accountability that often leave teachers scrambling and dealing with time-consuming work that frequently does not have a tangible impact on Read More …
It had been a tough day. After the bell rang, I collapsed into my chair and reflected on the failures of the day. The list was long. I had failed to communicate effectively with a student resulting in his mother telling me he thought I didn’t like him. I failed Read More …
Carol Flanigan is currently a kindergarten teacher at Council Rock Primary School, an International Habits of Mind Learning Community of Excellence. Carol has taught kindergarten, first and second grade at Council Rock for 26 years and has been infusing Habits of Mind in her classroom and school community for Read More …