Lilja Lions

Most of us grew up believing that mistakes were something to avoid. A paper covered in corrections or an incorrect answer often felt like failure. Today, we know much more about how children learn.

At Lilja, we want our students to see mistakes differently.

Mistakes are not signs that a child isn't capable, they are signs that a child is learning.

When students make a mistake, pause to think about it, receive feedback, and try again, their understanding becomes stronger than if they had gotten the answer right the first time. In fact, some of the most meaningful learning happens after students realize their first idea didn't work.

That's why you may hear your child talk about teachers asking students to explain incorrect answers, revise their writing, or compare different ways of solving a math problem. These conversations aren't about pointing out what students did wrong, they are about helping students understand why something works.

Our goal isn't for children to avoid mistakes.

Our goal is for children to become learners who aren't afraid of them.

Researchers call this the "testing effect" and "productive failure." Studies have shown that when students attempt challenging work, make mistakes, and then receive timely feedback, they remember new learning longer and transfer it more successfully to new situations than students who are simply shown the correct answer first.

Neuroscientists have even observed increased brain activity immediately after people recognize they've made an error. That moment of realizing "I thought this...but actually..." is when the brain is especially ready to learn.

Educational researcher Jo Boaler reminds us:

Mistakes are expected, respected, inspected, and corrected.

When classrooms treat mistakes as opportunities instead of failures, students become more willing to take risks and persist through challenging learning.

You may notice your child describing experiences such as:

• Teachers asking, "Who solved this a different way?"

• Students discussing incorrect answers respectfully.

• Revising writing multiple times after feedback.

• Solving a problem, then explaining why another answer doesn't work.

• Crossing out work and trying a new strategy.

• Celebrating when someone notices an error because it helps everyone learn.

Your child may also hear teachers say:

• "Let's figure out what this mistake is teaching us."

• "Mistakes help us grow."

• "Convince me."

• "Tell me why you changed your thinking."

• "What evidence supports your answer?"

These conversations help students develop confidence, reasoning, and resilience.

Children often become frustrated when they make mistakes because they worry about disappointing adults.

One of the most powerful things families can do is normalize mistakes in everyday life.

When your child makes a mistake:

Instead of:

• "Be more careful."

Try:

• "What did you learn from that?"

• "What would you do differently next time?"

• "Everyone makes mistakes when they're learning."

Share your own mistakes.

For example:

"I made a mistake at work today. I had to fix it, but I learned something that will help me next time."

When children hear trusted adults talk openly about mistakes, they learn that errors are part of growth, not something to fear.

Kindergarten

• Did you make a mistake that helped you learn today?

• What did you try again today?

• What was something tricky that got easier?

Grades 1 & 2

• What mistake taught you something new?

• Did someone else's idea help your thinking?

• What did your teacher help you figure out today?

Grade 3

• When did you change your mind today?

• What feedback helped you improve?

• What mistake are you proud you kept working through?

Grade 4

• How did today's mistake help you understand something better?

• When did you realize your first strategy wasn't the best one?

• What did revising your work teach you?

Books & Movies

Kindergarten

📚 Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg

📚 The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett

🎬 Meet the Robinsons ("Keep Moving Forward")

Grades 1 & 2

📚 The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

📚 The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

🎬 Inside Out

Grade 3

📚 Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak

📚 After the Fall by Dan Santat

🎬 Big Hero 6

Grade 4

📚 Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

📚 The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

🎬 Cool Runnings

One of Lilja's core values is Perseverance, and perseverance is built one mistake at a time.

This month, we encourage you to celebrate progress instead of perfection. Ask your child what they learned from something that didn't go as planned. Together, we can help children understand that mistakes are not the end of learning, they are often where the best learning begins.

Thank you for partnering with us as we continue to create a school where every child feels safe to take risks, ask questions, and grow.

The Great Door Decor Challenge was a wonderful opportunity to bring our Core Values to life and celebrate the creativity, collaboration, and determination of our students. We hope these displays sparked conversations at home about trying new things, learning from challenges, and celebrating progress along the way!

The Lilja PBIS Team