Weekly Values Focus - Resilience

Week 5: Footscray West students understand that mistakes are part of learning 

At Footscray West, we understand that mistakes are part of learning. We rarely get everything right the first time, and making a mistake does not mean we are bad at something. Mistakes give our brains an opportunity to stop, think and learn something new. When something does not go the way we hoped, resilience helps us manage our emotions and keep moving forward.

We can respond to mistakes by taking a breath, staying calm and thinking about what happened. Maybe we made an error in a maths problem, forgot an important part of our writing or made the wrong choice during a game. Instead of becoming upset with ourselves, we can use positive self-talk such as, “It’s okay to make mistakes,” “What can I learn from this?” or “I can try again.” Taking a moment to manage our feelings can help us think clearly about what to do next.

We can also reflect on our mistakes and use them as opportunities to improve. We might ask ourselves, “What happened?”, “What could I do differently next time?” or “What did I learn?” Sometimes we need to practise a skill, ask for help or try a different strategy. We can also show kindness when someone else makes a mistake by reminding them that everyone makes mistakes and encouraging them to keep going.

Next week, let’s try to see mistakes as part of the learning journey rather than something to be embarrassed about. When something goes wrong, can you pause, manage your emotions and think about what you can learn? Can you show resilience by having another go? 

Remember, mistakes do not stop our learning, they can actually help us grow!