I enjoyed this weeks readings on why mistakes are important. The value of them is crucial in the process of learning and understanding the what is being taught. The teacher has to do a good job at setting up the environment of the classroom to make children feel comfortable with making mistakes. It is only natural for people get upset or embarrassed when they are wrong but if the teacher structures the lessons, their teaching, and the the norms of the class to encourage mistakes and learn from them, then students will get more out of what is being taught. One way to address making mistakes and solving them is to let students work together to help each other out. There were multiple examples throughout the readings when children were allowed to work together and communicate between each other to help understand and find an awesome to the question. It can be difficult for teachers to step back and let the students take control for part of the lesson, and even though it might be time consuming, it can have a great outcome. Allowing students to reason why an answer may be right or wrong takes their learning to a whole new level. Students who help others to understand will learn the material better and may be able to teach it in a way that other students will understand it more. Holding whole group discussion and allowing the class to answer each other questions can really help the teacher understand who is thinking what and who is struggling and who is striving. Mistakes are healthy components to build students awareness. They are the difference between a student learning the material to understanding the material.
One way that a teacher can be ready to take on students mistakes and their process of learning is through TTLP. It is important that teachers prepare their lessons and be ready for anything. Using Thinking Through a Lesson Protocol enables teachers to be really think about their lesson before hand and be prepare for how students will take on the lesson. I liked how this type of lesson planning has teachers think about how students will preform and create questions that will help guide their type of learning through the lesson. The article stated how it helps teachers become a better facilitator. I agree because being a good facilitator starts before you are in the role to lead, it starts with the amount of preparation and thought you put in before taking on the role. I can see where other teachers are coming when they said it takes a lot of time. This type of lesson planning might be one that is more of a thought process rather than a written out technique. It maybe something to just add to the steps teachers take while creating their lesson plans that take just teaching the lesson to a whole new level.
