Talk to your students about math:

• strengths, stretches, fears, previous experiences

• individually, in small groups, as an entire class

• not just during math class

Enable students to own their current level of understanding:

• Have students share math successes and failures openly in class

• Annex the idea of hiding struggles

• teach students to accept each others understanding of math, while encouraging peers to continually improve

• expect diversity and celebrate all growth

If you can help students release their hidden struggles in math openly and with classroom support and acceptance in a non-judgemental way, the class is ready to support each other along their math learning journey. When this happens, you now have all learners primed for your year.

Take the time to share your own strengths and struggles:

• Plan a lesson and rocked teaching to the class? Share that with them!

• Can't do a push-up to save your life? Share that with the class!

• Mess up a math lesson in front of the class, or get confused while teaching it? Tell the class that you're still learning!

• Trying a new math strategy or manipulative? Let them help you judge it's usefulness...or if you're feeling daring...have them rate your instruction with it!

My standard go-to struggle story is about my spelling! It doesn’t take long for my students to realize I’m not a great speller. It rears its ugly head as I write on the whiteboard, or project my typing on the screen in front of the class.

I’m honest with the class and let them know one of my weaknesses is spelling. I tell them that they are asked to politely and respectfully help me by teaching me how to spell those words I’m unsure of or get wrong in front of them.

The teachable moment is not in my learning how to spell, but in my students seeing that I’m ok being a poor speller in front of them, and that it’s ok to help me as long as it’s done respectfully and without judgement.

This is what I want my students to understand…it’s OK to struggle at school because we all have our strengths and weaknesses. I embrace mine, and they can too.

The flip side is that I’m passionate about math, and they know it’s an area of strength for me. My students often compliment the way I teach math and how it helps them get better at it. They rarely dwell on my poor spelling, although those who love writing, and to whom spelling comes naturally, will admit it’s fun to help find and fix my mistakes.