Habits & Mindsets

Students reference their teacher’s guidance in organization, study habits, character traits and values (like persistence, striving for accuracy, etc.). They have internalized these traits beyond just talking about them which has led to personal growth on the part of the student.

Introduction to Habits & Mindsets

In order to support my students in their growth both as scientists as well as future leaders, it is important that I actively incorporate the 16 Habits of Mind that give students transferable skills for succeeding in life. Specifically, I decided to focus on the habits of persistence and listening to others with understanding and empathy. Students have never experienced a full science class before they set foot in my classroom. That fact, combined with the rigorous curriculum that I create for my students, means that my scientists are often challenged in ways that forces them to deepen their thinking and apply their knowledge in new ways. Persisting through these difficulties is crucial in order for my students to find success in my science class and in their longer term goals for themselves. In addition to persistence, I wanted to support my students in growing their abilities to listen to others with understanding and compassion. Though my students are talented, intelligent, creative individuals, many of them do not always support one another in a productive way. I believe that listening to others with empathy and promoting kindness makes a classroom community strong, increases productivity in collaborative learning, helps ensure that students feel supported, and enhances their academic growth. Continuous reinforcement over time helps students internalize these habits and apply them to students' own lives outside of school.

Please proceed below to learn how I incorporate the habits of mind of persistence and listening to others with understanding and empathy in my science classroom.

Conclusions

Through repetition and reinforcement of the concepts of persistence and listening to others with understanding and empathy, over time students internalize these learnings and apply them to scenarios outside of the classroom. It is critical that students continue to practice these habits of mind such that they become second-nature to students and initiated by students, rather than by myself. Reinforcing the habit of persistence through SMART goals and weekly reflections, persistence posters and student shout outs, and Do Now and lab challenge questions helps students internalize the idea of working through difficulties in order to grow and succeed. Further, reinforcing the habit of listening with understanding and empathy through random acts of kindness, listening and empathy norms, community circles, and Mindfulness Mondays, helps students to hear one another, become more empathetic, and grow collectively as a class community. Through our distance learning platform due to the impact of COVID 19, students have begun to implement and act on these habits at home. As a transformational educator, I want to support my students in building and maintaining skills that they can apply to help them succeed both academically and in life. Persisting through challenges and listening to others with understanding and empathy are skills that, when internalized, are applicable and extremely important to create driven and compassionate future leaders and citizens.