My 6th grade physical science class recently completed their year end roller coaster project. This is one of my favorite projects each year. Students combine their understanding of forces and Newton’s Laws to create a paper coaster with the goal of incorporating as many “point earning” elements as possible. While I do love a good coaster, this project does not earn the position as one of my favorite because it focuses on roller coasters. It earns this position because of the challenges it creates for my students to work through as they complete the task.

After construction and testing, students are then given the opportunity to share what they learned in a written report. Part of the report ask students to reflect on the challenges that they faced and how they overcame them. Each year I hope that students will take away much more than just the fun of the project. A teaching success includes a student that gains the understanding that learning and success often comes through trial and error. It is a process.

“We get smarter by making errors.”- Caleb

Once again, my students did not let me down. The quote above greeted me as I read through a report. “We get smarter by making errors.” – followed by an explanation of how learning from his group’s mistakes had set him up to make better decisions going forward. While many students became frustrated, got angry or chose not to embrace the opportunity to learn, this student recognized the opportunity to become a better roller coaster engineer, and a stronger science student. He chose to learn from the mistakes; he chose to use the errors to his advantage.

Learning From our Errors

This idea connects directly with our faith. Life will be full of challenges. Sometimes we handle those challenges well; other times we error in our response and end up making mistakes. How do we see those moments? Do we allow frustration to grip our thoughts? Do we let anger blind our view? Or do we take the mistakes and use those to “get smarter”? Do we use the error to our advantage to become stronger in our faith and closer to the God that created us?

I would encourage you today to not get lost in the frustration of mistakes. While life would probably be easier if errors are avoided, there is opportunity to learn in the midst of the challenge. Ask God to show you how to learn from the challenge.

” A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;  “- Proverbs 1:5