Habits of Mind

The Grande Innovation Academy believes each scholar should incorporate the “Habits of Mind” into their approach when it comes to their education. The “Habits of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems. When people are faced with dilemmas or life uncertainties, we draw from certain patterns of intellectual behavior. When we draw upon these intellectual resources, the results that are produced are more powerful, of higher quality, and of greater significance than if we fail to employ those intellectual behaviors.

Sticking to the task at hand; Follow through to completion; Can and do remain focused.

Take time to consider options; Think before speaking or acting; Remain calm when stressed or challenged; Thoughtful and considerate of others; Proceed carefully.

Pay attention to and do not dismiss another person’s thoughts, feeling and ideas; Seek to put myself in the other person’s shoes; Tell others when I can relate to what they are expressing; Hold thoughts at a distance in order to respect another person’s point of view and feelings.

Able to change perspective; Consider the input of others; Generate alternatives; Weigh options.

Being aware of my own thoughts, feelings, intentions, and actions; Knowing what I do and say affects others; Willing to consider the impact of choices on myself and others.

Check for errors; Measure at least twice; Nurture a desire for exactness, fidelity & craftsmanship.

Ask myself, “How do I know?”; develop a questioning attitude; Consider what information is needed, choose strategies to get that information; Consider the obstacles needed to resolve.

Use what is learned; Consider prior knowledge and experience; Apply knowledge beyond the situation in which it was learned.

Strive to be clear when speaking and writing; Strive to be accurate to when speaking and writing; Avoid generalizations, distortions, minimizations, and deletions when speaking, and writing.

Stop to observe what I see; Listen to what I hear; Take note of what I smell; Taste what I am eating; Feel what I am touching.

Think about how something might be done differently from the “norm”; Propose new ideas; Strive for originality; Consider novel suggestions others might make.

Intrigued by the world’s beauty, nature’s power, and vastness for the universe; Have regard for what is awe-inspiring and can touch my heart; Open to the little and big surprises in life I see others and myself.

Willing to try something new and different; Consider doing things that are safe and sane even though new to me; Face the fear of making mistakes or of coming up short and don’t let this stop me.

Willing to laugh appropriately; Look for the whimsical, absurd, ironic, and unexpected in life; Laugh at myself when I can.

Willing to work with others and welcome their input and perspective; Abide by decisions the work group makes even if I disagree somewhat; Willing to learn from others in reciprocal situations.

Open to new experiences to learn from; Proud and humble enough to admit when don’t know; Welcome new information on all subjects.