Providing productive struggle in 7th grade math helps students learn how to handle things out of their comfort zone. They learn that one way to extend their learning is to take risks and be willing to make mistakes. Providing my students with challenging math problems promotes collaboration, thinking outside of the box, and finding ways to use their math skills to problem solve. When students engage in productive struggle, they become more responsible for their learning, develop perseverance, and accept that making mistakes is part of learning.
