Mistakes Are Opportunities for Reflection

I can make better choices chair
Originally uploaded by cambodia4kidsorg.

Marnie Webb asks "Why don’t we think mistakes are a part  of excellence?

I think in our culture we tend to view someone who has made a mistake as being "dumb."  Maybe it has something to do with our upbringing or our educational experience.  We were not taught at an early age that "reflection" is a good thing, let alone how to do it.  The message was that a mistake is an opportunity for shame, not an opportunity to reflect on how to do something better.

I'm hoping schools are different these days.  My son's school is.  His kindergarten classroom has something called the "I can make better choices chair."  The kids sit in it and think about what they did and how they could do it better.   It isn't a  punishment or timeout chair, they are just trying to teach the kids to be reflective and that our "mistakes" are good learning moments.

Comments

[marnie webb]

But I think mistakes are also. Well, a good part of the process. Not just something that we shouldn't have done. But something that helps choose from many paths and move ahead.

[Jana]

can you tell me more about the "i can make better choices" chair?