A worksheet gets crumpled and thrown away. Tears start over one small error. A student refuses to even begin because they’re afraid of getting it wrong.

I’m sure you’ve seen this in your classroom.

In this episode, I explain what’s really going on when students struggle to handle mistakes, and how to support them in a way that helps them move forward.

You’ll hear how these reactions often stem from anxiety, perfectionism, or a lack of growth mindset, and why simply telling students “it’s okay” isn’t enough in the moment.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• the common reasons students react strongly to mistakes, including fear of failure, comparison, and lack of persistence
• how to reframe mistakes as learning opportunities using simple, consistent language
• why it’s important to explicitly teach growth mindset, persistence, and emotional regulation outside of those difficult moments
• practical ways to respond in real time when students cry, shut down, crumple their work, or refuse to start
• how to support different types of reactions with specific strategies (like using fix-it tape, offering breaks, or reducing the workload)
• ways to build emotional regulation skills and give students language to express frustration appropriately
• how to stay consistent while still being flexible in how students show their learning
• special considerations for students who are learning English and may be afraid to take risks with language

I also share real classroom scenarios and what she would say or do in each situation, helping you see how these strategies play out in practice.

If you have students who shut down, avoid work, or get overwhelmed by mistakes, this episode will give you practical tools to support them while still keeping expectations in place.

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Related Episodes:

• Kickstart the New Year with Growth Mindset Strategies ~ Ep. 115
• Teaching Students to Persevere ~ Ep. 20
• Strategies for Teaching Emotional Regulation and Handling Extreme Outbursts ~ Ep. 55
• Strategies for Teaching English Learners ~ Ep. 31
• Teaching Problem-Solving Skills with Young Students ~ Ep. 57

Resources:

• Fix It Tape (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• Growth mindset books: (Amazon Affiliate Link)
• Social Emotional Lessons
• Class Dojo - Growth Mindset

Connect with Zeba:

• Instagram - @kindergartencafe
• Facebook - @kindergartencafe
• Website - www.kindergartencafe.org
• Tik Tok - @kindergartencafe

Mentioned in this episode:

SEL Challenge

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