Think of it this way. Very few people get on a bike the first time and simply ride. We use training wheels, or have someone hold the seat and coach us along the way. Yes, we may fall a few times, but with perseverance and practice we eventually go gliding down the street. School is no different. Like riding that bike, learning at school is full of productive struggle. Productive struggle comes from developing strong habits of mind, such as persistence, thinking flexibly, gathering data, and taking responsible risks.

You can help your child understand that productive struggle in necessary for learning and for establishing a growth mindset. At the outset of learning something new, not knowing the answer immediately should be expected. When your child is struggling with a new concept, the key is to encourage him to persevere and not get discouraged if his initial strategies don’t work. The best way to help your child is to ask him what he knows and how he knows it. From there, just like riding that bike, it becomes about trying different strategies until one works.

This month's Learning Focus is on the power of the productive struggle and how to support your child when the going gets tough!