Blog #66 – IT IS ALRIGHT TO MAKE MISTAKES
Teachers need to accept that it is alright to make mistakes. Although we try to be meticulous in the lessons we present, there are going to be occasions where errors are made. Your reaction to those situations will have an impact on students. Reacting with poise is important. Admitting your mistake is important. Using humor on occasion is helpful. Students need to see that even teachers make mistakes.
Teachers need to be respectful of when students make mistakes. They should not ridicule students. Teachers should not be sarcastic. This behavior will send the wrong message to students. Teachers should treat students the way they would like to be treated. They should treat students with respect. Whether it is a teacher or a student making a mistake, time should be taken to determine why the mistake occurred. Those occasions when errors are made are the best times to reinforce the need to check work being done. If there is a way that the solution to a particular problem can be checked for accuracy, it is a teacher’s responsibility to illustrate the method.
Make students aware that everyone makes mistakes. Although we may take every precaution to eliminate them, mistakes will happen. Learning how to move forward after a mistake has been made is important. Making mistakes is an opportunity to learn and improve. This lesson is one that we should apply to everything we do. No matter what career we choose, mistakes will occur. Depending on the job we have, mistakes can be catastrophic. That is why we need to master everything related to the work we do and take all precautions to make mistakes less likely. We need to do the best that we can in everything that we do.