Recent literature on learning challenges the conventional wisdom about failure. While I’ve traditionally advised my students against reading material significantly beyond their level to avoid frustration and potential aversion to reading, emerging research suggests that failure may be a powerful learning tool. This counterintuitive concept has prompted a reevaluation of how I approach the learning process, particularly in the context of reading.
While reading this research I was concurrently tutoring a fifth-grade boy who was reading well below grade level. Harry was reading Bridge to Terabithia during our lessons, and he was struggling in the beginning. We were searching for words so we could decode them. It was like a game. Harry loves sports so we turned it into a game. I equated reading improvement with sports improvement, stressing that learning to read better is hard work just like learning to hit a baseball is hard work.
This research made me feel much better about what I’d been doing with Harry.
I wanted to learn more about this concept, so I asked Claude (an AI tool) to explain it to me. Below is Claude’s answer. I’ve added comments in red.
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The concept you’re referring to is often called “learning from failure” or “failure-based learning.” This idea suggests that failures and mistakes can be powerful catalysts for learning and growth. Here are some key points about this concept:
- Cognitive engagement: When we fail, we’re often forced to critically analyze what went wrong, leading to deeper cognitive processing and understanding. When we found words to decode, Harry definitely utilized deeper cognitive processing. He was using the phonograms and spelling rules he was learning. In the beginning that takes some serious thinking.
- Memory formation: Failures tend to be more memorable than successes, which can help reinforce the lessons learned.
- Resilience building: Experiencing and overcoming failures can build mental toughness and persistence. The same thing applies in sports. Mental toughness is huge in sports!
- Feedback mechanism: Failures provide immediate and often clear feedback about what doesn’t work, guiding future attempts.
- Innovation driver: Failed attempts often lead to new approaches and creative solutions.
- Neurological basis: Research suggests that the brain may be more tuned to learn from negative outcomes than positive ones in certain contexts. Wow! This is interesting. Still, without preparing the student for dealing with failure, there is a danger of reading being a chore vs. being a joy. Hunting for words should not be the primary reading experience and probably should only be done with an adult.
- Growth mindset: Embracing failure as a learning opportunity aligns with the concept of a growth mindset, which is associated with greater long-term success. Amen!
- Real-world application: Many fields, from scientific research to entrepreneurship, rely heavily on learning from failed attempts to progress.
It’s important to note that while failure can be a powerful teacher, it’s most effective when coupled with reflection, analysis, and a willingness to adapt. Additionally, not all failures are equally valuable for learning, and excessive failure without success can be demotivating. Yep!
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Claude is my man! Meet him at https://claude.ai/. So much good information about improvement through failure. If you want to use failure to increase growth, I caution you to be careful. Stress to your child that this is a good way to improve and celebrate improvement with gusto and without hesitation.
Harry really struggled with Bridge to Terabithia in the beginning. The first time he read barely more than a short paragraph. By the end, he was reading more than a page with our hunting coming up mostly empty. Most words were very safe.
I was very happy to learn that what I’d been doing with Harry, only because we both love sports, is in fact a very legitimate strategy!
