Studio Habits of Mind

This page will explain and support the rational and practices of using studio based work habits as part of teaching and learning in the art program. Students are expected to perform in specific, measurable ways every day in a studio based learning environment. These actions and behaviors are not only critical for learning in the art rooms but are crucial to success in life, work and, many other social settings.

Art students earn an H.O.M. grade every two weeks. These expectations center around ten specific areas. Students who follow these actions every day are often the ones who earn the highest grades in the class, however, H.O.M. can also allow a student who may not have the best art skills the opportunity to earn a higher overall grade because of the learning habits they display every day. Click here for the Studio Habits of Mind document if you want a clear explanation of what the H.O.M. expectations in our art classes are. These ten areas are observed every day for every student.

Habits of mind is not a new idea. Click here for the Mass. Art Education HOM document developed by the Harvard Project Zero project. Click here for Harvards School of Education, Project zero descriptions for 8 Studio Habits of Mind.Need more? Click here for a great article in the Boston Globe about what skills art teaches - info about the authors below.

Click here to view a Habits of Mind Video about the book "Studio Thinking" - the real benefit of studio based learning.  The authors of this book are below.

Ellen Winner is a professor of psychology at Boston College. Lois Hetland is an associate professor of art education at the Massachusetts College of Art. Both are also researchers at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-authors, with Shirley Veenema and Kimberly Sheridan, of ``Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education," published this month by Teachers College Press.