Learning & Leading With Habits of Mind

of knowledge. Students show evidence of increased interdependence in
group work and discussions when they focus on analysis, synthesis, and
evaluation. Their language reflects their desire to understand how others
are thinking and to keep making sense out of the problem or text. They
offer interpretations and hypotheses to the group, and at the same time,
they build on other people’s ideas. They often can be heard saying,
“When I see this, it makes me think this is what is happening. What do
you think?”
Students showing evidence of this habit monitor the equality of
group participation. They show concern for all members of the group,
and they are aware of classmates who are isolated or excluded from the
work. We hear them say things like “We haven’t heard from Rick yet” or
“Tess hasn’t had a chance to speak.” They help each other learn to ensure
that all members of the group contribute to the task and succeed. Stu-
dents demonstrating this habit not only contribute to but also learn from
the group: “You really helped me see.. .” or “Thanks for showing me
how to... .”

Remaining Open to Continuous Learning

The value of the average conversation could be enormously

improved by the constant use of four simple words: “I do not

know.”

—André Maurois

Although it is human to defend our biases, beliefs, actions, and knowl-
edge, it is also human to transcend the protective instinct by tapping into
the courage to learn and change. For students who have developed this
habit, the encounters, events, and circumstances of life in school and
community become invitations to improve themselves by remaining open
to continuous learning. As Ethyl Barrymore observed, “It’s what you learn
after you know it all that counts.”
Students who have developed this Habit of Mind use feedback. They
always assume that there is more to learn. We see them ask the next set of
questions after a conclusion, ask for peer feedback, and seek new
resources to modify their knowledge. They realize that to get anywhere

188 Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind