Our teaching of intelligent behaviors went beyond being a strategy or a new
methodology. For Queen Elizabeth School, Habits of Mind became a way of
looking at what was going on in and out of our school. Habits of Mind empowered
individuals to be responsible problem solvers. They moved the emphasis in
teaching and learning away from teachers and allowed students the chance to grow
and learn through their own initiative. On a surface level, we recognized that the
bulletin boards, the at-home projects and the relevant children’s literature all
contributed to the successful development of the students’ understanding. We also
acknowledged the power of common vocabulary in enhancing our supervision
strategies that gave a structure to our lessons and empowering students with what
they considered “adult” words. However, the effect that was least expected and the
most appreciated was the sense of community that was established through our
research project. The meeting of teachers through the learning circles allowed them
to appreciate each other’s strengths and learn from each other’s ideas. Having a
common focus for our professional development often drew people together in
conversation that allowed for more sharing of ideas. The extended community was
also drawn into the excitement of our project as parents and other professionals
requested more information through presentations and round table discussions.