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Teachers have a wide range of strategies they use to
promote reflection. Along with the key understanding of
the learning package, girls also reflect on Habits of Mind
used. Strategies are shared at department meetings so
balance having a structure but also diversity. Student
reflections are collated in learning log books.
Learning package example -
innovation
The innovation learning package is an inquiry unit that
Year 7 students carry out to achieve key achievement
objectives related to innovation in the learning areas of
English, Science, Visual Art, Drama and Social Studies. Figure 1-Beatrix Potter Question Boxes
The big idea is knowledge versus imagination; which Year 9/10 Examples
is the most important? Through tuning in activities The following is an example of how Habits of Mind were
girls looked at different inventors before moving into included in a Year 9 English class within the context of a
discussion about innovation. It was at this point the novel study around Star Girl.
class through their visual art links and a general interest
in reading ask the question: is an artist and an author In this context the teacher posed problems, raised
the same as a scientist or inventor in regards to being questions and then posed dilemmas and paradoxes for
an innovator? From this key question we focused our the girls to explore as part of the novel study.
inquiry onto Beatrix Potter. Part of the students’ learning involved identifying and
While finding out and sorting information is where articulating ways in which Star Girl reacted to the issue of
the girls begin to use gather data and thinking and conformity. By doing this the teacher believed the girls
communicating with clarity and precision. As a class would deepen their understanding of Habits of Mind and
they developed a question bank to focus on Beatrix which Habits were most useful in both their responses
Potter as an innovator. Students collected information to literature and also in how Star Girl responded to
and used their focus questions to frame note-making to challenges. Using a character from literature like Star
make meaning of their ideas. Girl was the perfect motivation for the girls to reflect on
themselves.
In going further or thinking interdependently the girls
used key skills in visual art and drama to further enhance
their understandings. In visual art the focus was on How are habits of mind introduced?
water colours, and in drama hot-seating so girls could Running alongside the application of Habits of Mind in
step into the role of Beatrix Potter. Critical friends the curriculum design is the explicit teaching of each
would use hot-seating to check each other’s level of Habit. At this level the school has a focus on each Habit
understanding. for a fortnight. The new Habit is introduced at a whole
For making conclusions the girls used their new learning staff briefing and supplemented with a resource bank
to develop a question box. Each question would have of ideas, quotes and journal writing ideas designed to
a summary that the girls would share through drama. go across all learning areas and levels. Students also
The questions all linked back to the key idea around in Year 7 and 8 play a role in educating the school by
innovation. All question boxes had links to Habits of introducing the new Habit of Mind in Assembly. The
Mind. school newsletter will also have reference to the Habit
of Mind, and Principal Awards are linked directly to
In the final stage of taking action girls had to be creative students showing use of relevant habits.
in the way they shared their final conclusions with others
in a living museum. In Years 7-10 weekly goals are set relating a Habit
of Mind into the steps needed to achieve that goal.
Habits of Mind in this example occurred on multiple Students also select a quote to help them focus the
levels. Setting of the inquiry framework, learning Habit of Mind at an emotional level.
intentions, success criteria and student goal-setting were
all linked by Habits of Mind. Students were engaged Year 7 and 8 classes will also supplement the above with
in learning as it was their interest that drove the inquiry activities like Habit of Mind heroes journal writing, visual
and the cognitive anchor of what is more important. language activities like showing Habits through symbols,
Knowledge or imagination develop a rich learning photos and cartoons. Habits of Mind are built into New
context to engage multiple Habits of Mind. Students Entrants’ Day, Open Night, outdoor education events
were using the language of learning in a significant and community breakout.
context. Classroom teachers make use of current events and
characters in English work as another means of providing
content as a vehicle to encourage students to use the
language of learning and to become independent in
using Habits of Mind. Having layers of ways we include
Habits of Mind in our classrooms helps us to ensure that:
28 • Habits of Mind International Expo, Melbourne / Auckland October 2007