I am an educator who will make mistakes. I'm afraid to make mistakes and hate for others to see them, but I hope to lose that fear an instead embrace and learn from my mistakes so that my students can do the same.
But making mistakes is such a powerful way to teach/learn! Two of my most vivid memories in third grade were when I confidently went up to the board to show my work and how I got to the answer, only to be showed up by one of my peers (and even worse -- a peer who wasn't in gifted and talented!) I think a lot of identity (maybe most of it for a lot of kids) is formed from what type of student you are in school, and if kids aren't allowed to make mistakes throughout their primary and secondary schooling, they will form an identity that doesn't allow for mistakes. These students will back away from challenges as they get older.
I think that making mistakes is often a fear we all have on a regular basis. It's important to realize that everyone makes them. My mom told me that on the last day of school this year in her 3rd/4th grade class, one of her students wrote her a letter saying that she loved it when my mom made mistakes because it was so funny. The key to making light of a situation like my mom is to be able to laugh at yourself and brush it off. Students are intimidated by teachers and because of that they feel more comfortable when they realize their all knowing teacher isn't perfect either. You can be a wonderful role model for your students by making mistakes with grace. They will realize its okay and sometimes even a little humorous.
I am right there with you Amy! Although I am terrified of making mistakes in front of students, I know it will happen, and the sooner I become more okay with accepting that fact the faster I can move on. One of my favorite analogies for failure, and not being afraid of failing is hitting in baseball. A good hitter is considered someone who has a .300 batting average, in a hundred at bats the would get thirty hits, and yet this batter is still glorified for their gift of hitting. We as student teachers will soon realize that even our mentors will make mistakes, and like Olivia said, making mistakes is the best way to learn! Great post!
But making mistakes is such a powerful way to teach/learn! Two of my most vivid memories in third grade were when I confidently went up to the board to show my work and how I got to the answer, only to be showed up by one of my peers (and even worse -- a peer who wasn't in gifted and talented!) I think a lot of identity (maybe most of it for a lot of kids) is formed from what type of student you are in school, and if kids aren't allowed to make mistakes throughout their primary and secondary schooling, they will form an identity that doesn't allow for mistakes. These students will back away from challenges as they get older.
ReplyDeleteI think that making mistakes is often a fear we all have on a regular basis. It's important to realize that everyone makes them. My mom told me that on the last day of school this year in her 3rd/4th grade class, one of her students wrote her a letter saying that she loved it when my mom made mistakes because it was so funny. The key to making light of a situation like my mom is to be able to laugh at yourself and brush it off. Students are intimidated by teachers and because of that they feel more comfortable when they realize their all knowing teacher isn't perfect either. You can be a wonderful role model for your students by making mistakes with grace. They will realize its okay and sometimes even a little humorous.
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you Amy! Although I am terrified of making mistakes in front of students, I know it will happen, and the sooner I become more okay with accepting that fact the faster I can move on. One of my favorite analogies for failure, and not being afraid of failing is hitting in baseball. A good hitter is considered someone who has a .300 batting average, in a hundred at bats the would get thirty hits, and yet this batter is still glorified for their gift of hitting. We as student teachers will soon realize that even our mentors will make mistakes, and like Olivia said, making mistakes is the best way to learn! Great post!
ReplyDelete