Habits of Mind: Midyear Reboot

This weekend's reading and research led me to a short, habits of mind discussion with my students today.  The premise was that the potential for what they can learn and achieve is limitless, and achievement requires that they employ optimal learning strategies.

I encouraged my students to follow these strategies:

• Before starting a project/job, ask yourself, "What is the job at hand?"

• Think: What tools, people and information will help me complete the job?  Access those people, tools and information to get the job done.

• Ask questions.  Lots of questions.

• Embrace failure as that's the stepping stone to success. (I shared Blakely's story about how her dad would give the children high-fives when they failed.)

• Do your best.

• Work with positivity and kindness.

• Effective effort.

• Don't give up.

What I liked best about this meeting was the fact that students really understand that success is within their reach, and that success doesn't just belong to a few.

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