Problem-solving is a skill, but all students need experience working on problems in an individualized way. Rather than be subjected to a specific curriculum, the classroom should be a place where students feel comfortable experimenting and learning to work with others.However, as I have discovered with students in various classrooms throughout our county, there is a lot of fear of failure that plagues many of our students. One common theme is students wanting to “fail” but wanting to get an A. In order to increase their chances of success, I have found that students need to understand that no one else is judging them and that there is nothing wrong with making mistakes.In today’s culture, students are expected to be independent and do things on their own. They must be able to work independently on a project; if they are not, it shows weakness. A lot of students don’t have an internal voice that says they are capable. They’re often only pushed by teachers to do a certain project or to be the leader of a group.The only way to get out of this bind is to introduce a small failure into the student’s world.When I ask students to participate in problem-solving activities, my mission is to set them up for success. For example, they must all gather their materials and be able to show that they have everything they need for the project. I also have students set a time limit on how long they want to work on the project, and if they need a break, they can work on something else for the time being. Students must also understand that there will be mistakes, and I will go back through the project at least three times.I am not looking for perfection; the idea of getting an A is to learn from the experience and move forward. Every time I go back, I have students look at the project with a different eye. I have had students admit their mistakes and take ownership of their mistakes. I am truly witnessing a change in students who feel comfortable with the idea of sharing their mistakes.Students now have an opportunity to explore, play and learn. They are learning to build confidence in solving problems, and that skill is very important.
