Learning & Leading With Habits of Mind

Many teachers use the Habits of Mind as a way to organize students’
portfolios. For example, the portfolio can be sectioned with folders, each
labeled with a Habit of Mind. Students choose work based on their best
example of whatever habit they’re focusing on at the time. They place
the work in the portfolio in the appropriate file, and they reflect on why
they chose that particular piece and what it should say to the reader of the
portfolio.
Students can coach one another through peer conferences as they
build these portfolios. One teacher we know asks students to read the work

206 Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind

FIGURE 11.9

Rubric for Group Cooperation

Level of Work

4

3

2

1

0

Group Criteria

Demonstrates interdependence. Shows contributions from

all members. Shows indicators of cooperation and working

together, compromising, and staying on task.Welcomes

disagreements as learning opportunities. Completes task

with accuracy and within time limits. Listens to others’ points

of view. Shows evidence of paraphrasing, clarifying, and

empathizing.

Reaches agreements through arguing and debate. Shows evi-

dence of some paraphrasing and clarifying. Sometimes strays

from task. Shows evidence of some members remaining silent

or refraining from participating.

Demonstrates some off-task behavior. Rushes to complete

task in the most expedient way because of time limits. Argues

or encourages members to get task over with.

Demonstrates little on-task behavior. Argues and shows

disinterest.

Shows chaos. Does not complete task. Engages in put-downs.

Reduces group size because of members leaving. Complains

about having to participate in task.

Source: Tamalpais Elementary School, Mill Valley, California.