Habits of Mind

Inspira Kids Early Learning Centre is the First Preschool chain in Australia with Habits of Mind™

At Inspira Kids Early Learning Centres, our emergent curriculum is based on the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework and encompasses the internationally renowned framework, Habits of Mind™.

Adopted by top schools in the US, UK and Singapore, Inspira Kids is the first early learning centre in Australia to offer Habits of Mind to preschoolers.

Habits of Mind is an established intelligent thinking framework developed in the US. It comprises a set of thinking dispositions which relate to life-related skills and provides individuals with skills to help them in real life situations. This is through developing strategies to think quickly and responding using awareness to gain a positive outcome.

At Inspira Kids Early Learning Centres, these are taught and learnt through 12 habits, with the aim to develop confident, self-directed learners and active contributors.

The 12 Habits of Minds – identified by Professor Arthur Costa and Dr Bena Kallick –  taught in the Inspira Kids Early Learning Centres are:

Listening with Understanding and Empathy

Making an effort to perceive another’s point of view and emotions through devoting mental energy to another person’s thoughts and ideas.

The children will develop the ability to listen with an understanding of the message conveyed and show empathy after sensing the feelings of the speaker

Gathering Data Using All Senses

Gathering data through taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight.

The children will develop the skill of using all senses to gather for problem-solving and discovery

Persiting

Persevering in task through to completion.

The children will develop the attitude and skill of completing goals by remaining focussed and using different ways to reach goals.

Managing Impulsivity

Taking time to think before decision making and acting

This habit helps the children develop the technique of remaining calm, thoughtful and deliberate in all situations.

Thinking Interdependently

Being able to work together with others, including those who may think and act differently.

The children will develop the skill of working in a team

Creating, Imagining and Innovating

Generating new and novel ideas.

The children develop the skills to generate ideas and apply them to problem-solving

Striving for accuracy

Checking and finding ways to improve constantly

The children learn how to check their work and identify how to make improvements to it

Applying Past Knowledge

Using what was learnt in both familiar and new situations

The children apply the skills and knowledge that have been learnt to both situations.

Questioning and Problem Posing

Having a sense of curiosity and finding problems to solve.

The children develop the skill and attitude of using questions to solve present and future problems.

Thinking Flexibly

Being able to change perspectives and alternatives, and consider options.

The children develop the skill to see different viewpoints on a situation and to generate a wide range of options

Finding Humour

Being able to use humour to manage situations.

The children develop the ability to use humour, such as laughing at ourselves, to relieve stress or embarrassment and to use humour to make a point.

Metacognition

Being aware of your own thoughts, strategies, feelings and actions. The children will develop the skills to become aware of and manage their thoughts and how to process these.