“Education is a discipline that requires perseverance – with the encouragement and expectation for students to finish well and do their best work.”  - South City Community School

I loved this quote so much, I thought I would share with everyone. As an educator, I often find it challenging to manage the often conflicting goals of teaching perseverance versus creating a caring and safe environment for students to learn in. Woodland’s teachers do a good job of creating classroom environments where students feel they can take academic risks and are not afraid to struggle. Problem solving and critical thinking skills are strengthened the most when there are high expectations and students are encouraged to finish well, do their best work and learn from mistakes, struggles, and sometimes even failure.  

I truly believe that one of the most valuable lessons any school can teach its students is the ability to encounter challenges, struggles, and difficulties and then to persevere and problem-solve their way to a solution. As all adults know, that is life. It may be a difficult situation at work or it may be a relationship challenge. Life can often be a series of setbacks, losses, and trials. It is in those moments that we “grow” the most.

For students, those trials come in the form of academic challenges and relationship difficulties. As a parent and educator it is very difficult to see a child struggle, cry, or even fail but I would submit that those are the opportunities when we can help our children the most. The questions of “what did you learn from?”… or “what will you do differently next time?” can change a student’s perspective on learning, school, and life. 

Many schools across the country have moved away from traditional grading practices for this very reason. It is not the grade at the end of day that really matters and demonstrates a child’s growth. It is the process and learning that takes place along the way. A child’s success is in the process, not the product, with the end goal of developing a hard-working, persevering, and confident adult.