A very common misunderstanding is that just a few “gifted ones” are naturally bright in the classroom. Along with this is the belief that the rest of us are doomed to fall behind in tougher subjects in the classroom. However, clinical research shows that this is far from the case. Every student is excited about learning something new. The pressures of the classroom cause some students to learn in a teacher’s manner, which may not do justice to the way that student learns. “The myth that our brains are fixed and that we simply don’t have the aptitude for certain topics is not only scientifically inaccurate; it is omnipresent and negatively impacts not only education, but many other events in our everyday lives,“ writes Jo Boaler, author of Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead and Live Without Barriers.

 

The first step is to understand that as a young person, your brain is always changing. Even students who are labeled as learning disabled can be completely rewired after intensive one-on-one counseling. 

 

The widespread belief is that when a student answers a question correctly they have a thorough understanding of the subject. However, the opposite is often the case. Getting problems that are outside of the sphere of understanding for students causes the brain to work harder and imprints new knowledge into the cerebrum. When teachers encourage students to struggle and students give themselves permission to make mistakes, it can be incredibly freeing for both.

 

Recognizing that answers and concepts can be reached through more than one means is a great way to reinforce that children can and have the ability to learn tough and complicated subjects with ease. Finding and developing your own way to learn and retain information will be a journey, but with the tools available and their access, you too can find a means to learn and develop more efficiently.