Mistakes or Opportunities for Growth?

So very often, as adults we focus on mistakes and forget the successes and the growth we experience through our mistakes. This reminds me of the amazing books that we read to the children at TIS Kindergarten, such as, “It’s okay to Make Mistakes” by Todd Parr or “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg. Our desire is to normalize mistakes as part of the learning process. By engaging children in conversations about mistakes or failures during all Units of Inquiry and how to think, using a growth mindset versus a closed mindset, allows them to think differently and value the learning process.

What are the benefits of mistakes?

Reflection
We have a chance to reflect on what/how/why we are doing in our learning and make adjustments. Reflection is an important part of learning and growing a person, as an individual learner and as a society.

Challenge ourselves
Trying out different skills sets, learning and building capacity are vital parts of the process. If we stand still, we shall never move forward.

Experience satisfaction and pride
When we really work hard and work towards a goal, there is immense satisfaction and pride. So many times we hear a child call out “I did it!” with delight and sometimes surprise.

Test theories and build understanding
Many new discoveries are made by mere accident or trial and error. Students in our Kindergarten are introduced to the Reggio Emilia approach and project based inquiry and learning. They freely explore the properties of materials, different uses, experiment  and begin to build understanding of many different concepts.

Phrases to avoid and replace with positive growth mindset phrases:

How can we normalize mistakes?

• Share mistakes you have made as child, learner and an adult.

• Point out when you make a mistake and also how you will fix it.

• Brainstorm problem solving ideas with your child. Strategize.

• Be calm when a child makes a mistake and allow time for him/her to reflect and test new ideas. (Show them their voices matter, ideas matter and you have trust in their abilities)

One of my favourite quotes from a famous children’s book called “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg is “When you think you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to create something beautiful.” This really says it all; mistakes can be beautiful and perfection is not always achievable but it is all in your attitude and desire to improve and grow. Resilience building is even more important as we move through challenging times and children can be well equipped when we build a growth mindset and culture of celebrating the learning process.

Here is a literacy list of resources to promote growth mindset, STEAM, Resilience:

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/books-activities-kids-learn-mistakes

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means

「失敗乃成功之母」是普遍成年人往往會忘掉的名言，只把注意力集中在錯誤這個點上。這讓我想起了一本我們為幼稚園學生朗讀的，來自作者Todd Parr故事書『It’s okay to Make Mistakes』或作者Barney Saltzberg的『Beautiful Oops』一書，這兩本書都是旨在讓人們把錯誤變得平常化，並使之成為學習過程的一部份。通過讓孩子在所有探索單元中談論錯誤或失敗、如何思考、並使用成長的心態（而非封閉的內心）學習以不同方式思想問題、珍惜學習過程。

錯誤的好處？

自我檢討

人們從錯誤中獲得反思做了甚麼／怎麼／為何這麼做，繼而學習及作出調整。無論針對個人學習者還是社會，自我檢討皆是體現學習及成長的重要組成部份。

自我挑戰

嘗試不同技能的過程中，主要靠學習及建設能力。若停滯不前，我們將永遠不會進步。

體驗滿意度及自豪感

當我們朝著目標努力前進時，便會獲得巨大的滿足感和自豪感。許多時候我們會聽到孩子高興地、甚至驚訝地大叫「我做到了！」

測試理論並建立理解

許多新發現均是透過偶發事件或反復試驗得來的。我們的幼稚園學生接受Reggio Emilia教育方式（此為一種教育理念，專注於學前教育和小學教育），他們藉感受探索物料、使用途徑、親身體驗，從而學習對不同事件的概念及理解。

使用積極用語，避免消極用語

如何使錯誤平常化？

• 分享您小時候、學習過程中以及成年人階段犯過的錯誤。

• 犯了錯要指出來，並且您將如何解決它。

• 與孩子以頭腦風暴的形式解決問題，制定策略。

• 當孩子犯錯時請務必冷靜，給他/她時間反思和驗證新想法。（讓他們曉得家長重視他們的意見、重視他們的想法、信任他們的能力）

我最喜歡的一句話來自作家Barney Saltzberg編寫的故事書『Beautiful Oops』當中提到的「當意識到犯錯時，請視之為一次創造美麗事物的機會」。這句話說明了錯誤可以是美麗的，人們並不能總體現出完美狀態，所有的一切皆取決於態度和對於成長的期願，更重要的是我們在渡過困難的過程中建立的心態，使孩子從中理解及學習。

請參閱以下關於促進成長思維、活動、適應力的資源：

https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/books-activities-kids-learn-mistakes

https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

https://hbr.org/2016/01/what-having-a-growth-mindset-actually-means