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- Only 1 in 3 Teachers Allow Students to Learn from Failure
Only 1 in 3 Teachers Allow Students to Learn from Failure
But mistakes and mess have rizz.
Read time: 2 minutes and 4 seconds
We think we used “rizz” right, but, if we didn’t — that’s okay.
Mistakes happen. And that’s a good thing.
We don’t always hit the mark right away, and neither should our students.
We know what you’re thinking. What about their grades? What about test scores? If they’re getting it wrong, they aren’t learning!
That’s where you’re getting it wrong.
It’s nice to see our students nail the right answers straight away. It makes us feel like they’re comprehending the material really well — but, in reality, that’s not what we want.
We want them to get it wrong. 🤯
Because the answer isn’t what matters. We want them to learn how to get to the right answer.
And that process can only be taught by letting students make mistakes.
Messy minds, bright futures: Embracing the mess and letting go of perfectionism
While the vast majority of teachers agree that mistakes are learning opportunities, a 2022 study found that only 1 out of every 3 teachers runs a failure-friendly classroom.
So, if we agree that students should make mistakes and learn from them, why aren’t we creating environments that embrace that?
A nasty 13-letter word: Perfectionism.
The aesthetics of our clean classrooms, the silence from the doorway, the perfect scores, the quick understanding, the compliments from our peers and administrators…
Throw all of that out of the window. 🪟
It may feel nice and picture-perfect, but it isn’t helping your students.
Honestly, that picture-perfect expectation may be increasing their anxiety surrounding mistakes (meaning they’ll make less, and learn less because of it).
Instead, make a mess. Let your students lead the way. Assign a project with the bare minimum of rules and guidelines. Watch them pull every book off of the shelf, grab every bit of the art supplies, get loud and excited, and take the wrong path while finding answers.
Most importantly — watch them make mistakes and learn how to find the answers.
Remember to lead by example. Don’t forget to embrace your own mistakes, too.
Especially with middle and high school students, we’re going to make mistakes (and get embarrassed).
Tell your students they have “rizz” and ask them what “skibidi” means (and please tell us when you find out). Talk about TikTok trends and dances. Find ways to level with them — and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way.
P.S. We want to hear from you! Respond to this email and let us know what topic you’d like to see us break down next. How can we help you make this the best school year yet?