Intellectual Character: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Get It

by Ron Ritchhart

What does it really mean to be intelligent? Ron Ritchhart presents a new and powerful view of intelligence that moves beyond ability to focus on cognitive dispositions such as curiosity, skepticism, and open mindedness. Arguing persuasively for this new conception of intelligence, the author uses vivid classroom vignettes to explore the foundations of intellectual character and describe how teachers can enculturate productive patterns of thinking in their students. Intellectual Character presents illustrative, inspiring stories of exemplary teachers to help show how intellectual traits and thinking dispositions can be developed and cultivated in students to promote successful learning. This vital book provides a model of authentic and powerful teaching and offers practical strategies for creating classroom environments that support thinking.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Parenting, Philosophy, Professional Development

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Ron Ritchhart is currently a Senior Research Associate at Harvard Project Zero where his work focuses on such issues as teaching for understanding, the development of intellectual character, creative teaching, making students' thinking visible, and most recently the development of school and classroom culture. Ron's research and writings, particularly his theory of Intellectual Character and framework for understanding group culture through the Cultural Forces, have informed the work of schools, school systems, and museums throughout the world. His current research focuses on how classrooms change as teachers strive to make thinking valued, visible, and actively promoted in their classrooms.

Reviews

[Lawrence Linnen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ron taught in the Denver area and is a leading researcher in math education.

The fact is that most schools today do not try to teach for intelligence. Rather than working to change who students are as thinkers and learners, schools for the most part work merely to fill them up with knowledge. Although some may see intelligence as a natural by-product of schooling, in reality the curriculum, instruction, and structure of schools do little to promote intelligence and may even impede it in some cases (p. 7).

[Biogeek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to read education books without the experience being colored by the realization that any sane and useful ideas in education will soon be adopted and ruined by battalions of school administrators. Even as I read Richart's ideas and wondered how these would translate in the classroom, I could also predict them being misappropriated by those who have been away from classrooms for too long.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

hire teachers who care more about learning than 'teaching', period.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic! Great pedagogical philosophy. I’ve got the feel good stuff down. This has me confident in a more thoughtful classroom!

[Shana Elbrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most readable and fulfilling educational books I've read in some time. Often, I find that my "professional" reading is one or the other--readable OR helpful. This one managed to be both, perhaps due to its organization--the author followed several "everyday" teachers and used their case studies to present his points. There were some excellent teachers in the mix, but there were also some that needed and wanted to improve. Each of them had a strength, though, which was great to see. I loved many of the practical things Ritchhart presented, such as sample lessons, things to hang in your room, questions to ask to establish "thinking routines," and examples of research and literature that supported his advocacy for "intellectual character" in the classroom. Overall, I would recommend it to any teacher or educator seeking to elevate their practice and their students.

[Shana Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most readable and fulfilling educational books I've read in some time. Often, I find that my "professional" reading is one or the other--readable OR helpful. This one managed to be both, perhaps due to its organization--the author followed several "everyday" teachers and used their case studies to present his points. There were some excellent teachers in the mix, but there were also some that needed and wanted to improve. Each of them had a strength, though, which was great to see. I loved many of the practical things Ritchhart presented, such as sample lessons, things to hang in your room, questions to ask to establish "thinking routines," and examples of research and literature that supported his advocacy for "intellectual character" in the classroom. Overall, I would recommend it to any teacher or educator seeking to elevate their practice and their students.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than any other, this book succeeded in defining the model of teaching to which I aspire. After defining Intellectual Character, Ritchhart challenges me to reflect on my practice, deeply and comprehensively, to examine how I interact with students, how I plan, how I structure my day, how I approach critical topics/content...and how those myriad choices enculturate intellectual character--or not. As the dozens of tape flags littering the pages testify, this book is my compass that I read and re-read repeatedly to help me regain my bearings when I sense I am off course in my practice. If you are looking for a "how-to" book on visible thinking, get Ritchhart's Making Thinking Visible. If, however, you are aching for serious reflection about the underlying "why" of visible thinking, Intellectual Character: What It Is, Why It Matter, and How to Get It is your book.

[Melissainau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book both interesting and informative. It seems to me that teachers & teaching students could learn a great deal from it, but I didn't feel that it was irrelevant to me as a parent. That said, it didn't answer my questions about individual, non teacher-led learning, but nor did it promise to. I wish my younger daughter's teachers used the models & styles presented here.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ritchhart has written a powerful exploration of what it means to teach for thinking. While the book reads a bit like a dissertation that was turned into a book in parts, the ideas are ultimately practical explorations of what our schools should be teaching for.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic view of how education should really be done.

[Mary Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a teacher, read this book! It's excellent and should be required reading in all teacher prep programs.

[Krista Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to get you thinking. A little long winded with some of the examples and explanataions but overall it spoke to the type of learner/teacher that I want to be!