How do we teach students about growth over perfection? I love to use picture books to help open students to the possibility that mistakes are part of growth. When we are learning something new we are not going to immediately understand or get something correct all the time. I feel like this is often more of a math issue than a literacy one. Writing has the built-in idea that we will rewrite or create drafts. Dr. Amanda Jansen, formalized the idea of rough draft thinking or mathing in her book Rough Draft Math. When we take the idea of rough draft thinking and the ideas behind growth mindset we can build powerful activities for students to participate in all year long.
I am always worried about the growth mindset fake-out that can happen at the beginning of the school year. We give students opportunities to collaborate, try new things, make mistakes, and then a week or so later we start “real school” where we penalize students for making mistakes or getting a wrong answer. I am currently reading Power Up Your Math Community and love how the authors have put together ideas to keep community and learning at the forefront (author Holly Burwell will be on this season of Math 4 All).
If you are building your resources to use to discuss growth over perfection and how we deal with mistakes, I am including a list of some of my favorites. What are some that I am missing? Share in the comments below!
This book has limited text, but the pictures tell the whole story! I have used this when teaching art to middle schoolers and all ages for math and literacy.
I love to have students begin with and “opps” and see what they can create from there.
This one is for the student who is always striving for perfection. This book helps students realize that perfection is its own type of trap.
Can a story (your life) be perfect? Or is it the messiness that makes it interesting?
I was lucky enough to meet the authors at NCTE in Boston this past year. They mentioned they love using this in math class.
I have all the books in this series, but this is my favorite.
I use this book ALL the time! I particularly love the stop motion available on YouTube done by an elementary school.
The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by the same author is also a great one to use here!
And yes, I am about to order The Most Magnificent Idea and The Most Magnificent Team
There is so much to love about this book! I love to use it in combination with other books about courage and perseverance (see next book).
Jabari Tries is a great continuation of the theme and allows more time with this adorable character!
This is a great nonfiction selection to use! Every time I read it to kids they want to go and look him up.
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