Failing Forward: Why Mistakes are the Best Lessons

Hi Reader!

Have you ever watched a student completely shut down after making a mistake? You know the moment—their shoulders slump, their pencil drops, and they let out an exasperated “I can’t do this!”

We’ve all been there. And let’s be real—we’ve felt that way too! But here’s something incredible: brain research shows that making mistakes actually helps us learn more than getting it right the first time.

This week on the podcast, we’re flipping the script on failure and talking about:
✔ Why mistakes help the brain grow (science-backed, not just feel-good talk!)
​ ✔ How to build a classroom culture where students embrace challenges instead of avoiding them
​ ✔ Simple strategies to help students bounce back from setbacks and develop grit

💡 One quick shift to try today:
​ Next time a student says, “I can’t do this,” respond with: “You can’t do it… yet. What’s one thing you can try?”

🎧 Want more strategies? Tune in to this week’s episode: Click here to listen!​

🚀 And if you want to give your students tools to reflect on mistakes and turn them into learning moments, grab my FREE Growth Mindset Classroom Guide! Download it here.​

Let’s turn mistakes into breakthroughs! Hit reply and tell me—what’s one mistake that led to an unexpected success for you?

See you next week!