The modern educational landscape demands more than just academic knowledge. To truly prepare students for future challenges in careers, further education, and personal life, educators must focus on developing essential skills known as "habits of success." These skills include self-direction, collaboration, communication, and a growth mindset. As highlighted by Eliot Levine in his work with the Aurora Institute, these habits are not innate but can be cultivated through deliberate educational practices.
What Are Habits of Success?
Habits of success encompass a range of skills and mindsets necessary for lifelong learning and effective participation in work and civic life. Often referred to as "transferable skills," they are applicable across various contexts—from collaborative projects in school to professional environments post-graduation. The National Research Council defines deeper learning as the ability to apply learned knowledge to new situations, a process that is closely tied to these habits.
The Importance of Habits of Success
The significance of habits of success is evident in the growing trend among schools to create a "Portrait of a Graduate," which includes both academic knowledge and essential skills. A recent survey found that 86% of parents believe learning life skills at school is as important as academics. Research supports this view, showing that noncognitive factors like academic mindsets and social skills significantly impact academic performance and life outcomes.
Frameworks for Habits of Success
Several frameworks have been developed to guide educators in promoting habits of success. Notable among them are the CASEL Five framework for social-emotional learning and the Building Blocks for Learning framework by K. Brooke Stafford-Brizard. These frameworks provide structured approaches to developing essential skills within educational settings.
Developing Local Frameworks
Schools and districts can customize existing frameworks or develop new ones based on local priorities. This process often involves creating "crosswalks" that map proposed frameworks onto existing standards or profiles of graduates. For instance, Chicago Public Schools have developed adaptive competencies that align with their graduate profiles and state standards.
Promoting Habits of Success
Effective promotion of habits of success requires systematic strategies that provide opportunities for practice, support, and reflection. These strategies include both direct instruction focused on specific habits and embedded learning within broader academic activities.
- Direct Instruction: Activities that directly address habits of success help establish a common language and purpose among students and educators.
- Embedded Learning: Deeper learning activities like project-based learning provide authentic contexts for developing these skills.
Resources for Promoting Habits
A wealth of resources is available to support educators in promoting habits of success. These include detailed frameworks like the Essential Skills and Dispositions and practical guides such as CASEL's SEL Assessment Guide.
Assessing Habits of Success
Assessment plays a crucial role in supporting student growth in habits of success. Performance assessments, self-assessments, peer feedback, and observations are all valuable methods for evaluating these skills. Importantly, assessments should prioritize formative feedback to foster continuous improvement.
Grading and Reporting
The approach to grading habits of success should focus on providing meaningful feedback rather than high-stakes evaluations. This ensures that assessments serve as tools for growth rather than barriers to student engagement.
Conclusion
The development of habits of success is integral to preparing students for the complexities of modern life. By leveraging comprehensive frameworks and strategic promotion methods, educators can cultivate these essential skills in students across diverse contexts.
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