There are many reasons to allow learners to struggle in class. It helps them gain problem-solving skills, deepen their understanding of content, and improve their confidence. If you try to help them every time they encounter a difficult question or challenge, they will not learn how to solve a problem for themselves. Instead, they will learn how to persevere and get to that lightbulb moment. Let them struggle in class, and watch them flourish in confidence!
Motivation
In order to help unmotivated learners, teachers must do more than simply lecture them. They must educate the public about the importance of motivation in education and influence policymakers. It will take years of study, hard work, and thick skin, but doing nothing will only reinforce a system that punishes and deprives learners of motivation. There are many ways to motivate learners, and the following are a few of them.
Contracting with students is a motivating teaching technique that involves a learning agreement between student and teacher. It involves providing opportunities for independent thought and enables students to be engaged in the learning process. This method is especially valuable in teaching nonmajors, who lack laboratory experience and motivation. In “Scientific Laboratory Instruction for Nonmajors,” David L. Adams outlines practical solutions for building introductory science laboratories for nonmajors.
Using interests to motivate students is a powerful way to tap into intrinsic motivation. Try to incorporate the student’s favorite hobby into a unit. While language arts may be the easiest subject to spark interest, other subjects may take more effort to engage learners. By involving students in their daily schedule, parents will have more incentive to help their kids succeed. Students should also be allowed to design their own learning environment. Involving students in the decision-making process will encourage students to keep their heads up and get on with the learning.
In addition to rewarding learners for doing the work, teachers should also create a clear learning objective for each student. Setting high expectations for students will inspire them to work hard and achieve the objectives. Setting goals and assessing their performance each day will provide them with a clear purpose and give them a sense of accomplishment. Students should be reminded of these goals every day to keep them motivated throughout the day. In addition to setting daily goals, teachers should set a “goal of the day,” which should be visible and referenced often.
Learning from experiences taught by experts can improve motivation. By teaching students how to learn, students are able to build their self-esteem and be more willing to engage with academic tasks. By identifying specific strategies for learning, instructors can help struggling students succeed. In addition, they can develop a learning plan that lays out specific strategies to complete tasks, such as note-taking, reviewing for exams, and taking responsibility for their actions.
Persistence
There are many different strategies for facilitating productive struggle. Sometimes, students need more help than others. In those cases, the standard response is to separate students and teach them at lower levels. But this doesn’t allow for productive struggle. In such cases, an alternative reading strategy may be useful: layering meaning. This approach involves providing the student with scaffolding for productive struggles. Ultimately, this helps the student learn to move beyond passive behavior.
When allowing students to struggle is a good thing for them. It gives them the chance to try something they may not have previously attempted. This allows them to develop confidence and sense of accomplishment. The struggle is not a sign that the student isn’t learning or doesn’t have the right skills. Sometimes, it simply means that the student is dealing with tricky questions. The students define themselves based on their ability to overcome problems.
When allowing students to struggle is essential, it is an important way to create a supportive environment. By encouraging persistence, educators can encourage students to experiment with new ideas and provide assistance as needed. For example, a maker activity in which participants connect small wooden dowels required a rubber band helped Emma overcome her struggle. The facilitator stepped in and demonstrated the proper way to use rubber bands, which allowed Emma to move past her struggle and move on to the next step.
Productive struggle is when students are challenged, but not overwhelmed. It involves students pushing themselves to the limit of their knowledge, enabling them to use different strategies. This allows students to develop their growth mindset and confidence as they attempt new concepts. In addition, productive struggle promotes deeper understanding of mathematics by reducing the student’s dependence on “spoon-feeding” answers. So when and how to let learners struggle? In this article, I will discuss some of the best practices in fostering productive struggle in students.
Materials
In a context where it is possible to make mistakes, materials for letting learners struggle can have positive effects. Struggles can be personal or social. They can relate to the topic or learning moment and are useful in fostering agency and ownership of ideas. Games can be an effective way to help struggling students understand challenging material. Moreover, by presenting the content in a variety of media, these games encourage the students to explore different ways of processing the content.
One famous quote was posted over the whiteboard in my third grade classroom. Although laminated and seldom referred to by students, I always liked the way it represented a deeper meaning. Students seemed to be happier and more focused when they encountered struggle. This quote emphasized the importance of struggle and helped to create an environment in which struggling was welcome. However, if you are not willing to let students struggle, you may be destroying their learning.
For struggling readers, extra textbooks are an excellent idea. These extra textbooks allow struggling readers to study the content and prepare for end-of-unit assessments. By offering extra resources, teachers can ensure that struggling students do not lose focus on the content and can pay attention to the learning process. However, it is important to note that struggling readers require extra support and attention. If they receive too much attention to the reading material, this can create a heap of assignments that are either missed or overdue. It can become extremely frustrating for the students and the teachers alike.
Feedback
The key to fostering student learning is to allow students to struggle. Students need the opportunity to stretch their thinking to succeed. If they can’t solve a problem on their own, it will take longer for them to achieve mastery and confidence. When and how to let learners struggle can help students achieve this goal. But how do you do this? Here are some tips to help you let your students struggle. Read on to learn how to effectively use this method.
Remember that productive struggle is essential for student growth. It fosters mastery and comprehension, and it encourages students to develop a growth mindset. It also reduces student dependency on the teacher for answers. Traditional mathematics teaching has led to a lack of student interest and a dislike of math. In contrast, productive struggle fosters students’ creativity, promoting mastery and understanding. Students benefit from a range of strategies and alternatives and reduce their dependence on the teacher to give them answers.
When and how to let learners struggle is crucial for student engagement. Teachers should provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their reasoning and to celebrate diverse ways of thinking. When and how to let learners struggle can help students build confidence and creativity. For more tips, read Annie Murphy’s article When and How to Let Learners Struggle. There’s a good chance that you’ll find something helpful in it. You can use her book and other tools as a starting point.
When and how to let learners struggle depends on the student’s level of readiness. The teacher can provide guidance and assistance for the student, but they can also step back and let them work it out without any guidance. Providing alternate starting points is also important. For example, Susan likes to read. She checked out lots of books from her local library. Using her metacognitive guide, she identified two to four points of difficulty in the text and worked through them with a partner.
While the value of productive struggle can’t be overstated, it is crucial to remember that all struggle is not equal. Some students’ effort isn’t productive unless it is directed towards solving the problem. Using the worked example effect demonstrates that showing a student how to solve a problem is more effective than letting them try to solve it on their own. Ultimately, the goal of the teacher is to increase student engagement and motivation.
About The Author
Mindy Vu is a part time shoe model and professional mum. She loves to cook and has been proclaimed the best cook in the world by her friends and family. She adores her pet dog Twinkie, and is happily married to her books.