You know the Habits of Mind matter. You’ve seen the posters, taught the concepts, maybe even assessed them. But something’s been nagging at you.

Why aren’t your students actually getting better at them?

Why does Sophie still shut down when faced with ambiguity? Why does Liam still default to the same approach every time? Why do some of your students crumble when the formula fails?

Here’s the truth: We’ve been thinking about the Habits of Mind all wrong. And here’s what my students taught me: to them, these aren’t just habits – they’re problem-solving superpowers. The difference isn’t just semantic. When students see these as superpowers that help them solve real problems, they stop avoiding challenges and start seeking them.

Throughout this eight-part series, I’m going to show you a completely different approach- one that transforms the Habits from wall decorations into capabilities your students actually develop.

Here’s What’s Coming:

Part 1: You Can’t Predict the Future – But You Can Prepare Students for It Discover why developing the Habits of Mind isn’t just good teaching – it’s essential for preparing students for a world where the only certainty is change. We’ll explore why traditional approaches fall short and what really matters for future-proofing our learners.

Part 2: How Students Actually Get Better at the Habits of Mind Discover the Five Dimensions of Habit Development – the framework that transforms a Habit from something students use to something they own. You’ll never look at “I used persistence” the same way again.

Part 3: Why Challenge, Not Curriculum, Builds Capability See exactly why those “rich tasks” aren’t developing the Habits – and what does. Through Sarah’s classroom transformation, you’ll discover the difference between complicated and challenging, and why it changes everything.

Part 4: How to Know Which Habit to Grow: Matching Problem-Solving Superpowers to Real Problems Discover the breakthrough insight: students need to recognize which problems demand which superpowers. Learn how the Habits of Mind Learner Profile reveals whether students are truly developing their capabilities or just coasting in comfort.

Part 5: Stop Applying the Habits – Start Cultivating Them Uncover why asking students to “identify which Habit you used” might be preventing their growth. Learn how to shift from application to cultivation, from strength-hiding to vulnerability-embracing, from partial development to complete repertoires.

Part 6: The Teacher as Learning Architect Watch how Michael transforms his classroom from a place where he develops students to a place where students develop themselves. Discover the systems that enable student-owned growth.

Part 7: Making Growth Visible – How to Analyze the Habits of Mind Learner Profile** Discover the tool that reveals exactly where each student stands relative to their challenges. Learn to read the zones, interpret profile shapes, and use this diagnostic power to guide targeted development.

Part 8: From Knowing to Growing – A Toolkit for Developing the Habits of Mind Get the templates, rubrics, question banks, and protocols you need to start Monday morning. Now that you understand how superpowers develop and which problems demand them, here’s everything you need to put it into practice.

Whether you follow along weekly, dive in daily, or adapt this journey to your school’s needs, each part builds on the last to create a complete transformation in how you develop the Habits of Mind.

This Series Is For You If:

• You believe the Habits of Mind matter but struggle to develop them authentically
• You’re tired of surface-level reflection that doesn’t lead to growth
• You want your students to own their learning, not just perform it
• You’re ready to shift from teaching about the Habits to cultivating them

What Makes This Different:

This isn’t another theoretical framework or assessment rubric. It’s a practical journey grounded in real classrooms, real struggles, and real breakthroughs. You’ll follow teachers like Sarah, Rachel, and Michael as they transform their practice—and see exactly how to transform yours.

Each blog builds on the last, creating a complete roadmap from understanding to implementation. By the end, you won’t just know why the Habits of Mind matter – you’ll know how to develop them.

Note: New to the Habits of Mind? You’ll find them properly introduced in Part1, or you can [download a complete overview here]. What matters is understanding they’re not rules to follow – they’re the observed patterns of people who successfully solve problems that push them beyond their comfort zone.

Ready to Begin?

Each part provides one focused piece that challenges your thinking and provides practical next steps. No overwhelm. No information dumps. Just thoughtful, actionable insights that will change how you approach the Habits of Mind.

Because here’s what I know: Your students don’t need another poster on the wall. They need you to understand how capability really develops – and to create the conditions where it can grow.

They need you to raise the status of learning from an act to an art.

Let’s begin.

James Anderson
Author of Learnership

P.S. This series is based on years of work with schools around the world, combined with the latest research on how humans actually develop capability. If you’re ready to go deeper than surface-level Habits of Mind work, you’re in the right place. The Learner Profile tool you’ll discover in Part 7 will transform how you see student growth.