Elementary teachers can help students feel confident tackling big goals by encouraging them to focus on getting a little bit better every day.

Students will get stuck. It’s an inevitable and important part of the learning process. But without the ability to work through a cognitive roadblock, students may simply give up and forfeit progress entirely.

How the Model Works to close math gaps

The vocabulary in the framing of a question or prompt can be a hurdle that trips up learners from the very beginning. One solution is to ask students to rephrase the question in their own words, using language and terminology that they have a strong grasp of.

If they’re still finding themselves at a cognitive dead end, a simple pause may be the best next step. While it may seem counter-productive to a student who feels as though they’re falling behind, an explicit pause can break the cycle of unproductive thinking.

Communicating the Purpose to Families and Students

Adding a writing step to this common classroom practice helps teachers ensure that every student is getting the opportunity to think deeply about a question.

Classmates can also lend a hand. Rather than asking for the right answer, students should use their peers as sounding boards and challenge each other to reflect on where and how they’ve gotten stuck.

Similarly, try to nix the words “I’m done” in the classroom. Encourage a more reflective way to wrap up a task or problem, asking students to circle back on the work they’ve just completed with the prompt, “How can I solve this another way?”