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Learning that making mistakes is a natural and helpful part of the learning process.
Have you ever felt like your brain had a 'glitch' when you got an answer wrong? What if that 'glitch' was actually your brain getting stronger and smarter?
A mistake happens when something doesn't go the way we planned. It might feel a little bit 'yucky' at first, like a stubbed toe. But in our brains, a mistake is like a flashing yellow light. It tells us, 'Slow down! Let's try a different path.' When we make a mistake, our brain grows new connections. It is like building a bridge. The first time you try, the bridge might fall. But each time you try again, you use stronger wood and better nails. Mistakes are not 'the end'; they are just the beginning of a new way to try!
1. You are trying to spell the word Cat. 2. You write 'Kat' on your paper. 3. You look at it and realize it doesn't look like the word in your book. 4. You remember that the letter can make the 'k' sound too. 5. You erase the 'K' and write a 'C' instead. You just used a mistake to learn!
Quick Check
When you make a mistake, what is it telling your brain to do?
Answer
It tells your brain to slow down and try a different path or a new way.
Nobody is born knowing how to ride a bike or read a book. We all start at zero. If we were perfect the first time, we wouldn't actually be learning anything! We would just be doing what we already know. Scientists found that people who embrace mistakes actually learn faster than people who are afraid of them. Think of a mistake as a Learning Tool. It is a clue that helps you solve the puzzle of how to do something right. Instead of saying 'I can't do this,' try saying 'I can't do this yet!'
1. You try to pour juice into a cup but you pour too fast. 2. The juice spills on the table. 3. Instead of getting upset, you think: 'I poured too fast and the bottle was too heavy for one hand.' 4. You get a towel to clean it up. 5. Next time, you use two hands and pour very slowly. The spill taught you a better way to pour!
Quick Check
Why is it better to be 'not perfect' when you start something new?
Answer
Because mistakes help us learn faster and show us how to solve the puzzle of learning.
When we make a mistake in class, like missing a math problem, we can use the Three-Step Fix. First, Pause: Take a deep breath so you don't feel frustrated. Second, Look: Find exactly where the 'oops' happened. Did you add when you should have subtracted? Third, Adjust: Try a new strategy. For example, if you are solving and you accidentally say , don't just give up. Use your fingers to count back: . By adjusting, you found the right answer and trained your brain!
1. You are building a block tower. It falls down every time it gets to blocks high. 2. Pause: You take a breath and don't knock the blocks over. 3. Look: You notice the bottom block is a small triangle, which is hard to balance on. 4. Adjust: You decide to use a big, flat square block for the bottom instead. 5. You build it again, and this time it reaches blocks high!
What is a mistake actually?
If you solve and get , what is the best thing to do?
True or False: Your brain grows new connections when you work through a mistake.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, try to remember the three steps: Pause, Look, and ____? (Hint: It starts with an A!)
Practice Activity
Today, find one mistake you made (like a wrong drawing or a spilled toy) and see if you can turn it into something new or use a different way to fix it!