Learning Focus
December 2020 | Focus: The Productive Struggle
The Productive Struggle
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!
What is the difference between a Fixed Mindset and a Growth Mindset?

How You Can Support Your Child’s Distance Learning In the PTA's Our Children article, How You Can Support Your Child’s Distance Learning, Douglas Fisher & Nancy Frey discus the importance of productive struggle and how to best support your child(ren) during remote learning. It's a must read for parents who want to understand how to help without hindering learning. | Harnessing the Power of Productive Struggle Math can be difficult for children at times. However, according to Ellie Cowen in her Edutopia article, Harnessing the Power of Productive Struggle, "teaching that struggling is part of learning math encourages creativity and builds authentic engagement and perseverance." Through this read, Ellie provides insight into why math lessons are structured a certain way and why productive struggle matters. | Growth Mindset in Early Learners Young children naturally lean toward the growth mindset as they are curious about their environment and explore and learn through all of their senses. They learn through trial and error, and incidentally as well as through modeling and teaching. Do you want to promote a Growth Mindset in your child(ren)? Check out this practical guide from the University of Nebraska on how to build a Growth Mindset in Early Learners. |
How You Can Support Your Child’s Distance Learning
Harnessing the Power of Productive Struggle
Growth Mindset in Early Learners
Growth Mindset Books to Share with Kids
Parents, here is a list of amazing books related to growth mindsets for any age:
- Bubble Gum Brain by Julia Cook
- Thanks for the Feedback, I Think by Julia Cook
- I Knew You Could: A Book for All Stops in Your Life by Craig Dorfman
- Making a Splash – Growth Mindset for Kids by Carol Reiley
- Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It By JoAnn Deak
- A Walk in the Rain with a Brain by Edward Hallowell
- My Day Is Ruined! A Story Teaching Flexible Thinking by Bryan Smith
- Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn for Kids by John C. Maxwell
- When Pigs Fly by Valerie Coulman
- Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty