Learning requires (more than) a little vulnerability. There is no serious version of learning that eliminates the possibility of being wrong. This is why Doug Lemov’s work on a Culture of Error is so important. The goal is to establish a classroom where errors can be surfaced, examined and corrected because students understand that being wrong is a normal and productive part of getting better. Unfortunately, dual competing cultures of Perfectionism and Opting Out are prevalent in childhoods today, and these can undermine our attempts to foster growth and persistence. It’s critical to remember that being wrong isn’t the opposite of learning. Very often, wrong is part of the journey towards right.

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