Habits of Mind

At Waseca Intermediate School we are always looking for ways to teach students to be independent in their learning.  Learning objectives are created from standards and instruction is provided.  The student learning is assessed and plans for further instruction or extension are created. 

This year at Waseca Intermediate, we will be using Costa and Kallick’s “16 Habits of Mind” to create a learning culture that allows students to self-reflect on their personal journey.  These habits are important in the 21st century learning environment today’s  students are a part of.  

These habits do not create new content to add on to what they are doing, but rather ways to currently reflect on how they approach their learning.  The habits will be embedded in the learning environment of Waseca Intermediate School.  

The 16 Habits of Mind are listed below:

1. Persisting
2. Managing Impulsivity
3. Listening to Others with Understanding & Empathy
4. Thinking About Our Thinking (Metacognition)
5. Thinking Flexibly
6. Striving for Accuracy & Precision
7. Questioning & Posing Problems
8. Gathering Data Through All Senses
9. Thinking & Communicating with Clarity & Precision
10. Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
11. Creating, Imagining and Innovating
12. Responding with Wonderment & Awe
13. Taking Responsible Risks
14. Finding Humor
15. Thinking Interdependently
16. Learning Continuously


Waseca Intermediate learners will begin to understand more about the habits that come natural to them in their learning.  They will also begin to address how they can add habits to their approach to learning that will help them today and well into the future.