The Importance of the Habits of Mind

Why teach the Habits of Mind?

Young children in kindergarten through 6th grade must learn to practice “Persisting,” “Listening with Understanding and Empathy,” “Managing Impulsivity,” and thirteen other essential dispositions that will serve them in school, at home, in their community, and throughout their adult lives.

Why is animation a powerful motivator for all students?

Simply put: kids love cartoons. The CDC reports that children are spending an average of 7.5 hours a day viewing content on a TV, a tablet, or a cell phone. Most children are watching cartoons and playing video games starring cartoon characters.

Using animation in the classroom takes a dynamic that students are primed to learn from and uses it for good! Research shows that students form emotional relationships with animated characters and that students’ feelings about characters can improve their learning. 

The Habits of Mind animations are based on research on the effect animation can have on students. Instead of winding up children with frenetic content, the Habits of Mind animated stories teach powerful critical thinking and problem-solving skills to kindergarten through 6th-grade students.

You can bring the Habits of Mind animations to your classroom here.