My grandson is beginning to walk. He takes about ten steps and then falls down. He crawls over to the nearest table/chair and gets up again. He does not get discouraged about failing to walk many steps. He walks some more and falls down again.
How do we help our students to not get discouraged about their failures? Do we use the “fail forward” mentality that a failure is simply an indication that we tried something that did not work and now we can try something that can work? A mistake is an opportunity to learn. When students see their answers and work as work in progress, they are more willing to take chances and move forward. When we do not criticize them but help them to see how to improve, we encourage them to see failures as stepping stones as opposed to stop signs.
How do you show your students that learning from mistakes is a sign of growth?
My book, Formative Assessment: Responding to Students, is available through Eye-on-Education.
Education with Technology Harry G. Tuttle 