M is for Mistakes

M is for Mistakes.

Mistakes. I always thought they were bad. Growing up I avoided mistakes like the plague. I hid them, even lied about them when I was little.

But as I have grown into an adult and began homeschooling my children I realized that mistakes are to be celebrated. They are a sign that you are trying to learn. When you make a mistake, you are showing that you are making an effort and that it is not easy for you.

The best part is when you see your child pass through the mistake phase and sail into mastery. It doesn’t matter what the subject is. It could be conquering spelling or multiplication tables. The more mistakes your child makes, the more he must learn to persevere and dedicate himself to understanding and finally mastery.

And that is why I think mistakes are not to be hidden away behind your bed. They are a good sign. You tried, and you will try again until you understand. Through the process you gain some humility and self confidence that you would never have without all those mistakes.

So the next time your child makes a mistake, instead of getting out the red pen to mark the question wrong, wouldn’t it be better to sit down with her and say, “Wow you did a great job until you got to this spot here! Why don’t we work through it together and I will show you how to get past that mistake. Then you can try again by yourself and I know if you keep at it you will master this in no time!”

How do you deal with mistakes in your homeschool?