Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines struggle as making strenuous or violent efforts in the face of difficulties or opposition. This doesn’t sound like something that would happen much in a classroom. I mean, violence is definitely not something I’d wish to see in a classroom. However, the reality is that struggle is an integral part of being a student.
For the sake of clarity, I should tell you, that the type of struggle that I’m referring to is productive struggle. The difference here is that productive struggle is where a student is actively engaging with a problem to push their understanding. Rather than facing a difficult situation and turning towards frustration and stagnation, which is how I’d describe unproductive struggle. Productive struggle is what can allow a student to take steps toward growth and understanding. This is because it builds resiliency, deepens understanding, and encourages a growth mindset.
Undoubtedly, not every student who enters your classroom is going to come ready and excited to struggle. It can be so discouraging to feel not smart enough, drowning in assignments, or even inferior to peers. But these are all very real and common feelings to be felt as a student. As a teacher, it is your job to help your students through these moments. Not by lessening their workload or giving them an easy way out, but rather by encouraging them to lean into a productive struggle mindset.
One impactful way to help students foster a productive struggle mindset is by setting an example for them. After all, you are their teacher, their authority, someone they should be looking up to and learning from. Let your students in on the workload and struggles that may be on your plate, but model resiliency. Show them that even when your responsibilities pile up, you can still push through it. When you have a lot of grading to do, lessons to plan, or research to publish. Share this with your students, but also share that you’ll push through it despite the struggle it may produce.
One other really important part of helping students foster a productive struggle mindset is creating a failure-friendly classroom that focuses on process over product. According to research done by Georgia State University, the fear of failure ranks among the worst fears that the country endures. I think one of the reasons this can be exemplified in education is because it is merely the beginning. Education is the beginning step that is meant to set you up for success in the future. I know as a student myself, struggling in the classroom has placed an exorbitant amount of doubts about my personal capabilities and chances of success in my future. Which can be so heavy and discouraging in an environment that isn’t failure-friendly.
Having teachers who support failure with grace and provide guidance in times of need is imperative to growing a productive struggle mindset. Acknowledging that homework assignments and lessons are a time of learning and ultimately failing. When these failures happen to your students, let them. Don’t jump in to rescue your students. Let students find the motivation to figure it out, ask for help, and try again. This is when both academic and intellectual growth will transpire in students. Remember, learning cannot be done without starting at a base level with little to no understanding. Failing is bound to happen, and that’s okay. It is important that students are told and shown that failure is part of growth and should be applauded when handled the correct way. That being, handled with resiliency and embrace instead of frustration and stagnation.
Struggle will happen. It should happen. As an educator, it is your job to model a productive struggle mindset to your students and foster a failure-friendly classroom so that your students are set up for success despite the struggle that you might induce in their lives.
By Ava Werning
References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/struggle
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