Most of you
already know that I love celebrating a teaching, learning, leading culture that
thrives in finding and fixing mistakes. The idea of developing a culture that
celebrated finding and fixing mistakes began for me as a K-1 classroom
teacher. As a classroom teacher, I
noticed that today’s learners did not have experience in reviewing their work
to “find and fix” mistakes. They lacked practice in the process of developing
best work. How will we know if we have done our best if we did not review it
and ask, “What do I notice now that I did not notice before?” and “How can I
make this better?”
In my book, “Shift Happens:
Truisms beyond the classroom, I dedicate a chapter to the powerful practice of
being a process-oriented learner available to celebrate finding and fixing
mistakes. We live in a time of instant gratification. Answers pop up on
screens. There are no eraser fuzzies left behind or inky cross outs or a faded
hint of a digital editing trail left as evidence of the process behind what is
revealed in an instant. As lifelong learners, we must train our brains to
notice the joys of being in process of our own thinking/learning/doing
development. At times, it’s messy with lots of erasing and trying again….
However, it is in the practice of finding and fixing mistakes that we can try
harder things. We can share our questions and knowings more clearly. We can
develop new ideas. We can practice… We can practice becoming our best selves in
the work that we are doing right now.
There is no astronaut,
engineer, scientist, leader, teacher, or artist…(including the artist who
designed these erasers) that got there without developing a practice, a joy, a
resilience in finding and fixing mistakes. It is in the celebration and practiced
resilience of finding and fixing mistakes that innovation generates and
regenerates over time and space from here to there and back.
I found
these life-changing, transformative, inspirational astronaut themed eraser
Valentine’s Day cards at my local thrift store! How about that! I found them in
a place where goods are recycled, reused, and repurposed in support of the
Dakota Boys and Girls ranch whose organizational mission is to help kids become
their best selves…. Shine on! Erase on! Onward…. with love.
