This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure.
It’s no wonder that some students grapple with a desire for perfection and hold a strong disdain for making mistakes. Let’s face it, mistakes don’t feel good. Failing to reach a goal can elicit discomfort and feelings of frustration, anger, sadness, disappointment, and fear. The resulting anxiety may stem from an immediate fear for safety or the risk of harm, or from a competitive drive (with oneself or others). Whatever the root cause, most people can agree that mistakes aren’t generally celebrated or revered in our society. So, what can we do to help our students embrace their mistakes and reframe failures as opportunities for growth? How can we help them discover the benefits of making mistakes?
When students are only reinforced for correct answers, we inadvertently mold them into people who are afraid to make mistakes. In addition, the likelihood that students will take risks drops significantly due to their fear of failure. After all, who wants to risk trying something new and failing when easy success is safer and more praiseworthy? Students generally won’t seek out challenging activities if they fear classmates, parents, or teachers will perceive them as inadequate or stupid. We want our students to take risks and tackle challenging tasks. We want them to feel confident that it’s not the outcome, but instead their effort that defines success. Teachers can do this by encouraging and praising students for their drive, perseverance, motivation, and effort (more information on effective praise is available here). In this way, students will be more likely to take healthy risks and accept their mistakes. Accepting mistakes alone doesn’t give us the whole picture, though. Let’s take this a step further and explore the benefits of making mistakes!
A negative outcome decreases the likelihood that a student will repeat the same behavior(s) in the future. Their learning comes from analyzing the situation and choosing a different course of action when faced with similar circumstances. As teachers and parents, it is wise to allow children to make mistakes. As adults, we’ve already done, and will continue to do, our own learning. When we consciously (or unconsciously) save our children from making mistakes, we rob them of an opportunity to grow.
Take this scenario, for example. A student forgets their homework and faces a failing grade. Yes, it’s devastating for the child (and perhaps even more devastating for the parent). In the long run, does it benefit the child more if the teacher allows the student to call home and request that the parent bring the homework OR should the teacher require the student to accept the failing grade? If your own child called you to bring their homework to school, would you do it? Here’s the dealio, friends… when children are young, the stakes are LOW. Your child is not going to lose his/her job by virtue of forgetting their homework. Their grade on an elementary school report card is not going to affect their college choices. Allow children to experience natural consequences when the stakes are low so that when the stakes are high, the lesson has already been learned. Fostering this independence at a young age is a gift that will last for the rest of the child’s life!
If a child wins every single, solitary basketball game she ever plays, success is the expectation. That endless success loses its meaning, and hence, the intensity of the reward becomes muted. When students repeatedly experience loss and failure, the success that follows a boatload of hard work and dedication tastes better than a hot fudge sundae! No, really! Watch an underdog team win a championship. There’s nothing better (unless, of course, you’re rooting for the opposing team).
When a child knows there are inherent benefits to making mistakes, it naturally takes the pressure off. In some cases, the relief from high pressure might allow the child to hone their focus on achieving the goal. Without anxiety and fear of failure, the child can use 100% of their brainpower and attention to complete the task successfully. This new outlook allows children to gain perspective and reframe their thinking: if I succeed, my mission is accomplished; if I fail, I learn something new about how to tackle the situation in the future.
A beneficial side effect of allowing children to make mistakes is the development of foresight, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Students will be able to take themselves through a mental maze of “If this, then that…”. For long-term success, this is more effective than a preachy adult telling them what to do.
Would you believe me if I told you that students who are allowed to make mistakes show improved information retention? This study, conducted by Nate Kornell, Matthew Hays and Robert Bjork at U.C.L.A. (2009) demonstrated that people retain information better and longer when they fail to retrieve the correct information on the first try.
The implications and applications for teachers are far-reaching. When teachers give students extended time to answer a question before providing the answer, learning is enhanced. Better yet, if the child attempts the question and fails, information retention is even higher. Do you require students to preview the comprehension questions before reading new information? If you do, ask them to attempt an answer to each question now! Chances are, they won’t be able to answer the questions before reading the content, but according to this research, retention among students who make a failed attempt will be higher.
The best time to teach students about the upside of making mistakes is when they actually make one. Even though real-world examples and teachable moments are the most effective approach, you can plant the seeds and weave these concepts into your daily teaching routines and activities. My favorite picture book for teaching students about making mistakes is called The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett (if you are interested in the literature unit materials for this book, click here).
Exposing students to growth-mindset concepts is also invaluable for helping them understand the inherent advantages of making mistakes. If you’d like more information about growth mindset concepts, you can read these blog posts. You can also check out these teaching posters, certificates, literature companions, and more.
I am Kirsten Tulsian, an elementary educator with 18 years of experience as a teacher and counselor. My passion lies in empowering students to discover their inherent brilliance through the use of engaging, rigorous, and meaningful activities. I look forward to connecting with you!
