Sunday, December 7, 2025

Breaking Free from Others' Expectations

Often, when we think about making a choice for ourselves—something we genuinely want—we suddenly pause. A voice inside whispers: "What will others think?"

This hesitation is not because our choice is wrong, but because we unknowingly begin doing someone else's task.

According to Adlerian theory, task separation is crucial. Our responsibility is to make choices aligned with our values and growth; what others think is their task, not ours. When we stop mixing these, we free ourselves to choose authentically.

This idea also connects to the concept of the Gordian Knot—instead of getting tangled in unnecessary complications (like worrying about judgments), we must cut through the knot and move forward with clarity.

Another powerful insight is not attaching ourselves to outcomes. When we tie our happiness to rewards, results, or praise, the joy of the journey disappears. But when we focus on the work itself—the effort, learning, and growth—the experience becomes meaningful.

The Bhagavad Gita beautifully echoes the same wisdom:

“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन”

Do your duty, without attachment to the fruits.

Shalu Sharma 
Sunbeam English School, Bhagwanpur 

Read And Lead book reading sessions are hosted on Saturday, the 6th of December 2025, at 5:30 PM, by the Learning Forward India Foundation on Zoom

Redefining and Reimagining Education - Neelashi

This week, a community engagement project in Bhandarjood and the Arthur Foot Academy's hinterland is seeing the light of day. 

The village teachers, girls, panchayat, and schools are coming together to redefine what education can be for adolescent girls in their village. For official purposes, not disclosing the names of the organisations involved to implement this project. What we can reveal is what is coming ahead of us and what has come along so far. 

This project will bring together adolescent girls to talk about their health, empathy, self-awareness, and critical thinking, and not just 'talk' but reimagine and redefine their village's responsibility to provide girls and women with a better standard of living. The truth is that these 'life-skills' are not taught in schools or at home. 

So many girls spend their time trying to observe and assume by how adults behave around them to learn, but can we bring their voices to life? Can we make them feel safer asking these questions of their fellow village girls and women who face similar circumstances? Right now, the group has identified that this is important and needs to be thought about. 

Stakeholders have had their first round of meetings. What is coming along in this project are art sessions, reading, training, and people coming together to dialogue and meet essential stakeholders of the village to move along with them. All of this is easy to write, but more difficult on the ground. But this is the journey we are going to embark on with some schools and community members. If not this, what is education? If not about taming the fear? 


At Learning Forward Saturday, teachers discussed setting up shops in their classrooms to teach students language and mathematics. When children bring their everyday life experiences into school, they engage more, ask more, and actively participate in their own learning. 


  • Neelashi Mangal is our Training and Development Lead at Learning Forward India Foundation. Feel free to reach out to her, and we would love to have your support for our efforts to spread #JoyOfLearning, focusing on reading, reflection and building meaningful relationships #JoyOfGiving. Email her at NM@LearningFroward.org.in
  • For more about us and how we work to support schools that help young people enage society, please visit the website www.SchoolEducation.com

Saturday, December 6, 2025

Task Separation in Parent-Child Relationships


Reading from the book "The Courage To Be Disliked" and discussing Adlerian psychology's "separation of tasks" concept for improving relationships.

Key Takeaways
  • Separate Tasks to Reduce Suffering: Identify whose task an outcome belongs to (the person who receives the result) and do not intervene in others' tasks. This is the first step to lightening life's load.
  • Intervention is Egocentric Control: Forcing others to act for their "own good" is often a "life lie" used to fulfil the intervener's own goals (e.g., social appearance, control), not to help the other person.
  • Freedom Requires Rejecting Recognition: Living to satisfy others' expectations is unfree. True freedom comes from choosing one's own path, even if it means being disliked.
  • "Productive Failure" is Essential: Allowing others to fail is necessary for them to learn and build courage. Constant intervention prevents this growth and fosters a fear of challenges.

The Separation of Tasks
The core principle is to identify whose task an outcome belongs to.
Rule: The person who receives the end result of a choice owns the task.
Example: A child's studying is the child's task, as they receive the results (e.g., grades, school admission).
Intruding on another's task is the root of interpersonal conflict.
This is not non-interference (indifference); it is offering support only when requested, respecting the other's autonomy.

Applying the Principle
Parent-Child: A parent's worry over a child's choices is the parent's task. The child is not living to satisfy parental expectations.
Workplace: A boss's unreasonable anger is the boss's task. The employee's task is to do their work without lying, not to seek the boss's approval.
Belief: Believing in someone is one's own task. How that person acts is their task. Pushing one's wishes without this separation becomes "stalker-like intervention."

The Gordian Knot: A Metaphor for Change
The "Gordian Knot" anecdote illustrates the need for a radical approach to complex relationship problems.
Conventional Method: Trying to "unravel" the knot (e.g., using conventional social thinking) is slow and ineffective.
Adlerian Method: "Cutting" the knot (e.g., separating tasks) is a direct, revolutionary act that creates freedom.
Result: This creates a necessary "moderate distance" in relationships, which is essential for healthy interaction and mutual respect.

The Desire for Recognition vs. Freedom
The Youth argues that living to satisfy others' expectations is easier and provides a guide for life.
The Philosopher counters that this is an unfree way to live, driven by a fear of being disliked.
Trying to please everyone is a "life lie" that leads to continuous stress and self-deception.
Conclusion: Separating tasks is not egocentric; intervening in others' tasks is. True freedom comes from choosing one's own path.

Next Steps
  • Gurdeep: Share the Kindle bookmark and Otter.ai takeaways in the WhatsApp group.
  • All: Reflect on the concept of "separation of tasks" in personal relationships.
  • All: Consider the balance between maintaining boundaries and nurturing relationships.
  • All: Explore ways to communicate and collaborate without getting caught in cycles of expectation and judgment.
  • All: Research "Productive Failure" to deepen understanding of experiential learning.
AI-generated content thanks to Fathom AI.

Learning Forward Saturday

Quick recap

The meeting focused on teaching English language skills to students through various classroom activities, including verb usage, silent letters, and interactive exercises. Brinda and Neelashi discussed plans for future teaching sessions and agreed to meet in Delhi to coordinate further activities. The group also covered teaching methods and classroom enhancements, emphasising the importance of creating engaging learning environments and proper English language instruction.

Next steps

  • Brinda and Neelashi: meet next week to plan future Saturday sessions
  • Brinda: show Neelashi around the school in Noida on a weekday, including the prep section and skilling academy
  • Sakshi: Share photos of classrooms with well-designed classroom libraries for the Learning Forward Saturday group
  • All teachers: create classroom library corners with age-appropriate children's stories and books
  • All teachers: Set up word walls in classrooms for vocabulary revision
  • Teachers: Use the Learning Forward Saturday group to ask questions and share lesson plans with each other

Summary

Teaching Plans and Collaboration Meeting

Brinda discussed plans to teach Damsharaz and related activities to students, focusing on verbs and adverbs. She and Neelashi agreed to meet in Delhi next week to plan further Saturday sessions and potentially visit the school in Noida. Brinda introduced Reena, the principal of Arthur Foot Academy, and other participants to the group. The conversation ended with a discussion on respecting each other and following guidelines for teaching practice.

Classroom Knitting Activity Session

The meeting focused on a classroom activity involving 11 participants, with Neelashi emphasising the importance of keeping cameras on during the session. Brinda guided participants through various activities, including knitting, and encouraged them to practice and perform simple tasks as guests. The discussion included instructions in Hindi and English, with participants engaging in activities like knitting and stitching, and Brinda requesting a repetition of the word "knitting" for clarification.

Silent Letters in the English Language

The group discussed silent letters in English, focusing on words such as "know" and "knowledge." Brinda explained how silent letters can change the pronunciation and meaning of words. The participants practised identifying and pronouncing silent letters in various words. The conversation concluded with Brinda encouraging the group to volunteer and take action, while also mentioning something about Rinajikari and Bhartikha.

English Verbs for Daily Actions

The meeting focused on teaching English verbs related to everyday actions. Brinda guided the participants through examples of verbs like "making roti," "rolling chapati," and "applying lipstick," emphasising correct usage and pronunciation. Participants practised using these verbs in sentences, with Brinda providing feedback and encouragement. The session aimed to improve English language skills by reinforcing verb usage and sentence structure.

Verbs and Adverbs Practice Session

The class practised identifying and using various verbs in context, with Brinda guiding students through actions like dancing, writing, and eating. Students were asked to remember the verbs they learned, which included knitting, making, dancing, cooking, writing, eating, closing/shutting, and applying makeup. Brinda explained the difference between adjectives and adverbs in describing actions, using examples like "cooking nicely" versus "cooking like an expert."

Enhancing Classroom Learning Techniques

The meeting focused on teaching methods and classroom activities, with Brinda and Neelashi discussing the importance of creating a library corner in classrooms and using interactive activities, such as guessing games, to enhance learning. They emphasised the need for teachers to revise key words and sounds in English, particularly through phonetic methods. They highlighted the correct use of capital letters for proper nouns and at the beginning of sentences. The session also covered creating word walls and the importance of teachers learning alongside their students to better understand phonetic sounds and teaching techniques.

AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy.

Understanding Learning Through Productive Failure - Ravi Prakash


Topic – Summary of the Chapter "Remaining Learning" from the Book Productive Failure by Manu Kapur

Introduction
The chapter "Remaining Learning" from Manu Kapur's book Productive Failure highlights that learning is not limited to memorising information. Instead, it is a complex process influenced by environment, experience, memory, prior knowledge, and the context in which learning is applied.

1. Learning and Memory
The chapter explains that human learning is deeply connected to the way our memory works.
We often forget things because our memory depends on retrieval—the ability to recall information when needed.

Forgetting, however, is not always negative.

Through retrieval practice—recalling information repeatedly—both memory strength and long-term retention improve.

Thus, forgetting can actually support learning when students practice recalling and applying what they have learned.

2. Role of Prior Knowledge
Another important idea in the chapter is the role of prior knowledge.
Sometimes we fail to understand new concepts because we lack the foundational knowledge required to connect or make sense of the latest information.
When there is no meaningful link between old knowledge and new learning, the learning remains incomplete.

This shows that understanding can only occur when new ideas build on what the learner already knows.

3. Importance of Context and Transfer
The chapter also highlights the concept of transfer—the ability to apply learned knowledge in new situations.

A transfer is successful only when the context in which learning takes place and that in which it is applied are similar.

If the learning and application environments differ too much, it becomes difficult for learners to apply what they have learned.
Therefore, learning must be connected to real-life or relatable situations to ensure successful transfer.

Conclusion
The "Remaining Learning" chapter emphasises that learning is a holistic process shaped by memory, retrieval practice, environment, prior knowledge, and context. It teaches us that effective learning is not about remembering everything, but about understanding how information connects, how it is applied, and how it is retained over time.

This chapter is extremely valuable for understanding the psychology of learning and for helping teachers design more meaningful learning experiences.

Topic – "Effect" from the Book Productive Failure by Manu Kapur

Introduction
The chapter titled "Effect," from Manu Kapur's book Productive Failure, explains the strong connection between human knowledge and the effect of that knowledge. The chapter emphasises that learning is not only a cognitive process but is also profoundly influenced by emotions, interest, motivation, and engagement.

1. Relationship Between Knowledge and Effect
The chapter highlights that knowledge and effect work as complementary factors in learning.
Mental processes such as thinking, memory, reasoning, and analysis become active while understanding any concept.

However, the depth and quality of learning depend strongly on emotional factors such as interest, desire, motivation, and engagement.

Thus, effective learning requires both cognitive and affective involvement.

2. Problem-Solving and the Cliffhanger Effect
The chapter explains that when individuals attempt to solve a problem, they try multiple strategies.
Often, they fail to reach the correct solution, creating a sense of incompleteness or a cliffhanger.
This sense of incompleteness increases curiosity and motivates the learner to try again.

This repeated effort leads to deeper and more meaningful learning, which is the core principle of Productive Failure.

3. Role of Interest, Emotion, and Motivation
Using examples from TV advertisements, the chapter shows that emotions and interest play a crucial role in attracting individuals to any task.

When a person performs an activity with genuine interest, enthusiasm, and motivation, their performance and learning outcomes improve significantly.

Conclusion
Chapter 5, "Effect," is highly valuable for understanding human behaviour, learning about psychology, and the process of problem-solving. It shows that learning is not just about gaining knowledge, but also about curiosity, motivation, emotional engagement, and repeated attempts. Productive Failure brings these elements together to foster deeper, more meaningful learning.

Topic – The Role of Awareness in Productive Failure

Introduction
Productive Failure is a learning design in which students are first encouraged to attempt challenging problems on their own before receiving instruction. This approach helps learners recognise the limitations of their existing knowledge and naturally prepares them for deeper learning. In his book, Manu Kapur highlights awareness as one of the most significant mechanisms of Productive Failure.

Concept of Awareness
According to the chapter, awareness is a state in which students realise that their current knowledge, understanding, or strategies are not sufficient to solve a given problem.

This realisation leads students to understand that they need to learn more, their existing strategies are incomplete, and they require guidance or additional information to move forward.

When students recognise they cannot fully solve the problem, it awakens a strong desire to learn, reflect, and seek new knowledge. This awareness prepares them to absorb the teacher's explanations more attentively and meaningfully.

Role of Awareness in the Teaching–Learning Process
Teachers can effectively leverage this awareness to create more profound, more meaningful learning experiences. For example, students are given complex problems to attempt on their own.

While struggling, they identify gaps in their understanding.

When the teacher later provides structured guidance, students understand and retain it much better.
This entire process promotes reflective thinking, analytical skills, and deep conceptual understanding.
Thus, learning becomes more lasting and meaningful rather than superficial.

Conclusion
In Productive Failure, awareness acts as a powerful mechanism that drives students toward genuine learning. Manu Kapur's emphasis on awareness shows that when students recognise their limitations, they become more motivated to learn and engage deeply with new ideas.

Awareness not only helps students understand what they do not know but also encourages them to actively seek knowledge and improve their thinking.

Submitted by:
Ravi Prakash
Sunbeam Gramin School

Learning Through Productive Failure in Grade 1 – Swati Tripathi

 Tiny Bridge Challenge – Class 1

Experiment in Productive Failure –

In our class, we tried a very small experiment to see if struggling before teaching can help children learn better.

  1. The Task-

Children were shown two chairs with a gap between them and a toy car. The task was simple: “Build a bridge so the car can cross without falling.”
At first, the children worked in pairs for five minutes without any instructions. Many bridges fell down. Some children stacked blocks into tall towers, some made only one side, and some gave up quickly.

  1. A point of change -

After this, I gathered the class and asked, “What happened when your bridge fell? What can we change?”
Then I showed one small idea—making the base wider and supporting both sides.
Second Try
The children went back to build again. This time, most bridges held the car. Children added more supports, used tape, and tried different shapes.

  1. Observation -

Before the tip, only 3 out of 18 bridges worked. After the tip, 12 out of 18 bridges held the car.
A child explained, “It worked because I made two big walls and put blocks across.”

  1. Overall lesson-

When children were first allowed to struggle, they explored more ideas. After a short teaching moment, they improved much better and could explain why their bridges worked.
This small classroom experiment shows how Productive Failure can be applied even with 7–8-year-olds. Instead of just theory, the activity gave us real data, quotes, and photos that can be shared and repeated by other teachers.

From Confusion to Clarity: Exploring Verbs in Grade 1 

जब मैंने अपनी कक्षा में “Verb/क्रिया” का विषय शुरू किया, तो मैंने सीधे पढ़ाने के बजाय बच्चों को स्वयं खोजने का मौका देना पसंद किया। Productive Failure के विचार से प्रेरित होकर, मैंने सोचा—अगर बच्चे पहले struggle करें, guesses लगाएँ और खुद सोचकर उत्तर खोजें, तो उनका सीखना गहरा और मज़बूत होगा।

Activity 1: What is happening?

मैंने बच्चों को कई तस्वीरें दिखाईं—दौड़ता हुआ बच्चा, खाती हुई बिल्ली, कूदती हुई लड़की, लिखता हुआ बच्चा। फिर मैंने पूछा: “तुम बताओ, इन तस्वीरों में क्या हो रहा है?” बच्चे अलग-अलग जवाब देने लगे: “ये भाग रहा है!” “ये खा रही है!” “ये कूद रही है!” कमरे में हलचल थी, हँसी थी और ढेरों guesses थे। कुछ बच्चों ने सिर्फ वस्तुओं पर ध्यान दिया, जबकि कुछ “action” पकड़ने लगे। Confusion तो था, पर curiosity भी उतनी ही थी।

Activity 2: Sorting Game

(सही और गलत को खुद पहचानना)
मैंने शब्दों के कार्ड मेज पर फैलाए—boy, apple, run, jump, table, eat, swing, girl। फिर कहा: “जो शब्द कुछ करने को बताता है, उसे इस टोकरी में डालो।” बच्चों ने trial and error से कार्ड्स चुने। कई बार वे noun भी उठा लाते, फिर खुद ही कहते—“Arre! Ye toh koi kaam nahi batata.” यहीं confusion learning में बदलने लगा।

Activity 3: Tools for Clarity

(अब अवधारणा स्पष्ट करना)
जब बच्चों ने काफी खोजबीन कर ली, तब मैंने बताया—“Verbs वो शब्द होते हैं जो किसी भी action या काम को बताते हैं—run, eat, play, jump…” अब उनकी आँखों में समझ की चमक थी। जो बातें पहले उलझी हुई थीं, वे अब बिल्कुल स्पष्ट हो गईं।

Activity 4: Action Time

(सीख को अनुभव में बदलना)
मैंने कहा, “Jis action ka naam main kahoon, woh karo!” — Jump! — Clap! — Walk! — Laugh! बच्चे उछल-कूद करने लगे और हर action को क्रिया के रूप में पहचानने लगे। उनकी clarity अब और मज़बूत हो चुकी थी।

Learning Outcome

इस प्रक्रिया से बच्चों ने सीखा—Verb वह शब्द है जो किसी action को बताता है। Verb वाक्य को जीवंत बनाते हैं। Confusion से clarity खुद होती है जब बच्चों को खोजने का मौका मिले। Productive Failure ने फिर साबित किया कि संघर्ष सीखने में बाधा नहीं, बल्कि उसे मजबूत बनाने का रास्ता है।

Swati Tripathi
Sunbeam Gramin School

Sunday, November 30, 2025

The Importance of Regular Practice in Building Strong Concepts - A Study on Student Performance Improvement- Faizan Ahmad

Introduction

Regular practice is one of the most important habits that helps students build strong
concepts and improve their academic performance. When students practice regularly, they
develop a better understanding of topics, remember information longer, and become more
confident in solving problems. In this assignment, we will explore how regular practice
helps students learn better, what stops them from practising, and what methods work best
for improvement.

Background of the Study
In Indian schools, especially for Class 9 and Class 10 students preparing for board exams,
many students struggle with weak concepts and poor marks. A big reason for this is that
students do not practice enough during the learning process. They often wait until exams
are near before starting to study seriously. This habit creates stress and anxiety.
Students today face many distractions like mobile phones, social media, and games, which
take away their study time. Teachers and parents see that students who practice daily score
better marks and understand topics more clearly than those who study only before exams.
However, many students don't realise the true power of regular practice. They think
studying for long hours just before exams is enough.
But research shows that when students practice a little bit every day, they learn better and
remember longer. This method is called "spaced learning" or distributed practice. Students
who follow this method get better results in exams, feel less stressed, and develop a real
interest in the subjects they study.

What is Regular Practice and Why Does It Matter
Regular practice means studying and solving problems a little bit every day, not just
studying hard once or twice a week. It means doing homework on time, solving extra
questions, and reviewing what you learned in class regularly.
Regular practice matters because:
• It helps the brain store information in long-term memory
• It builds confidence when solving questions
• It reduces exam anxiety and stress
• It helps students find weak areas and improve them
• It improves thinking skills and problem-solving ability

How Regular Practice Helps Students Learn Better
When students practice regularly, many good things happen. First, practising the same
concept many times helps the brain understand it deeply. Second, when a student practices
daily, they spot their mistakes early and can correct them. Third, regular practice builds a
learning habit and makes studying feel normal, not boring. Finally, students who practice
daily often feel ready for exams and score better marks.
Teachers have noticed that students who solve practice questions every day perform much
better in exams compared to students who don't practice regularly. Regular practice also
helps students become faster in solving questions, which is very important in timed exams.

Common Problems That Stop Students from Practising
Several things stop students from practising regularly:
• Laziness and lack of motivation: Many students feel too lazy to study every day
• Too much distraction: Mobile phones and games take away study time
• Feeling bored: Solving the same type of questions feels boring to many students
• Lack of proper guidance: Some students don't know which questions to practice
• Pressure and fear: Some students fear making mistakes and avoid practice

Ways to Make Practice Better and More Effective
Here are some simple but powerful methods that help students practice better:
• Make a study schedule: Plan fixed times for study every day
• Start with easy questions: Begin with simpler questions and gradually move to
harder ones
• Keep mistakes in a notebook: Write down your mistakes to learn from them
• Take short breaks: Study for 25–30 minutes, then take a 5-minute break
• Practice different types of questions: Don't repeat only one type of question
• Ask teachers for help: When stuck, ask teachers instead of giving up
• Review what you learned: Read through your notes again after some days

[Results and Benefits of Regular Practice]
Students who follow the habit of regular practice see clear results. Their marks improve,
they understand concepts better, and they feel more confident. They also report feeling less
stressed during exams. Moreover, regular practice helps students develop good learning
habits that help them throughout their lives, not just in school.

Suggestions for Teachers and Parents
Teachers and parents can help students practice regularly by:
• Giving homework that is meaningful and not too much
• Praising students when they practice regularly
• Creating a study-friendly environment at home and school
• Helping students understand why practice is important
• Making practice sessions fun and interesting

Conclusion

In conclusion, regular practice is very important for learning and improving marks. When
students practice every day, even for a short time, they learn better, remember longer, and
feel more confident. By understanding the benefits of practice and removing the obstacles
that stop them, students can develop strong concepts and achieve better results. Regular
practice is not just about passing exams—it's about building a foundation for lifelong
learning.

By Faizan Ahmad
Sunbeam School Varuna

Freedom and Interpersonal Relationships


Read And Lead
To read and discuss Adlerian psychology concepts from The Courage to Be Disliked.

Key Takeaways
  • New Reading Process: Screen-sharing the book via read.amazon.com is now standard. This ensures everyone is on the same page, eliminates the need for physical books, and improves focus.
  • Adler's Three Tasks: Life's core challenges are Work, Friendship, and Love. Love is the most difficult, requiring treating partners as "equal personalities" to avoid the distrust and control that destroy relationships.
  • The "Life Lie": People create excuses (e.g., disliking someone) to avoid these tasks. This is a failure of courage, not a moral flaw, and is rooted in a self-chosen lifestyle rather than past trauma (teleology vs. aetiology).
  • Rejecting Recognition: Seeking external validation is a trap that forces one to live for others' expectations, suppressing one's "I-ness." True freedom comes from self-validation and the "separation of tasks."

Process Update: Screen-Sharing
  • Problem: Physical books create friction (different page numbers, bookmarks, dual-screen juggling), hindering group focus and excluding participants without a copy.
  • Solution: Screen-share the book via read.amazon.com.
  • Rationale: This ensures everyone is on the same page, simplifies navigation, and removes the need for physical books.
  • Training: Sandeep guided Gurdeep through the process, demonstrating how to use the in-browser Kindle reader and its chapter navigation menu.
Adler's Three Life Tasks
The book's core concept: life's three unavoidable interpersonal tasks.
1. Work: A relationship with no workplace compulsion.
2. Friendship: A relationship difficult to initiate or deepen.
Key Insight: Depth and distance are more valuable than the number of acquaintances.
Action: Change yourself first; others will adapt.
3. Love: The most difficult task, divided into two stages:

Love Relationships:
  • Problem: The closeness of love can lead to restriction and jealousy.
  • Adler's View: Restriction is a manifestation of distrust and control.
  • Solution: Treat partners as "equal personalities" to foster a calm, natural state of freedom.
  • Parent-Child Relationships:
  • Problem: A non-optional relationship ("rigid chains") that is fundamentally harder than a love relationship ("red string").
  • Action: Face distressful relationships directly; avoidance is the worst option.
The "Life Lie" & Courage
  • Concept: People invent pretexts to avoid life tasks, shifting responsibility to others or the environment. Example: Disliking someone is a goal chosen before finding their flaws, as a way to prevent an interpersonal relationship.
  • Rationale: This is a failure of courage, not a moral flaw.
Adlerian Psychology: A "psychology of use" (teleology), where one chooses a lifestyle, not a "psychology of possession" (aetiology) determined by the past.

The Desire for Recognition
Problem: The Youth's parents' expectations created pressure and a desire for their recognition.

Adler's View: The desire for recognition is a trap that must be denied.

Mechanism: It stems from "reward and punishment education," where one acts appropriately only for praise.

Consequence: This leads to living for others' expectations, suppressing one's "I-ness."

Solution: True freedom comes from self-validation and the "separation of tasks," a concept to be explored next.

Group Reflection
Shalini: Freedom is the absence of needing external validation.
Latha: The need for validation can stem from uncertainty, but it also creates a dependency that fuels inferiority.
Minakshi: Both inferiority and superiority complexes arise from seeking external validation. Self-validation is the key to confidence.
Sandeep: A child learns to walk alone, not for validation. This natural process is often conditioned by adult reactions.

Community Updates
Yesterday's Session: A "brewing knowledge set" session with Dr Manu Kapoor was highly successful.
Potential Collaboration: Dr Kapoor may partner with Learning Forward to improve teaching and learning systems.
Community Model: Learning Forward and the Good Schools Alliance are community-driven, with participants joining for shared purpose, not salary.

Next Steps
All: Reflect on the nature of freedom and the "separation of tasks."
All: Read the newsletter and review the show notes for the Dr Manu Kapoor video.
Group: Continue reading from the "Separation of Tasks" section next session.

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Learning Forward Saturday


ACTION ITEMS ✨

Run wrapper-label activity w/ Class 4; report to Neelashi next session

- Gulabee (2)

Run shop activity w/ Class 4; share photos w/ Neelashi

- Mamata devi

Run shop activity w/ Class 1; share photos w/ Neelashi

- Saroj

MEETING SUMMARY ✨

Review recent teaching experiences and introduce a new, immersive activity.

Key Takeaways

Active learning is effective: Teachers shared successful activities using manipulatives (math balls), real-world objects (English wrappers), and spontaneous "teacher moments" (a butterfly for Hindi).

Behaviour management requires empathy: understanding a child's home environment (e.g., a grandfather's language) is key to addressing disruptive behaviour constructively rather than through punishment.

"The Shop" activity integrates subjects: A new role-play activity was introduced to teach math (money), English (vocabulary), and Hindi (writing) through a single, engaging experience.

Topics

Weekly Activity Review

Teachers shared recent successes, highlighting the power of active learning.

- Gulabee (Class 4, English)

Activity: Collected wrappers to list product info (price, dates, slogan).

Insight: A disruptive Class 1 student was using language learned from a grandfather. The teacher's empathetic response fostered cooperation.

- Mamata (Hindi)

Activity: Used a live butterfly ("Titalia") to teach a poem, turning a spontaneous moment into a lesson on observation and vocabulary.

- Sunita (Class 1, English & UKG, Math)

English: Used animal masks and role-play to teach vocabulary and movement.

Math: Used balls as manipulatives to teach number concepts (e.g., 3 + 2 = 5), proving more effective than abstract methods.

- Saroj (KG)

Insight: A student memorised a complex Sanskrit slogan, demonstrating a high level of observation and active learning.

Behaviour Management & Teacher Role

  • Circle Time: A strategy was introduced to address misbehaviour by asking, "Why did you do it?" This prompts reflection and respect, shifting the dynamic from punishment to understanding.
  • Teacher as Facilitator: The teacher's role is to guide students, not just deliver content. This was demonstrated by Sunita's "What's in my hand?" game, which built student engagement and observation skills.

New Activity: "The Shop"

A multi-day role-play activity was introduced to integrate subjects through a fun, real-world scenario.

Setup (Days 1–4):

Students bring simple, inexpensive items from home (e.g., kitchen utensils, toys).

Students form groups to set up "shops" with their items.

Role-Play (Day 5):

Each student receives play money (e.g., ₹50).

Students act as customers and shopkeepers, negotiating prices and making purchases.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Math: Money management, addition, subtraction.
  • English: Vocabulary ("How much?"), singular/plural ("a ball" vs. "two balls").
  • Hindi: Writing and drawing about the shopping experience.
  • Teacher Role: Facilitate the activity, guide interactions, and ensure learning objectives are met.

Next Steps

  • All Teachers: Implement "The Shop" activity this week.
  • All Teachers: Share photos and experiences from the activity in the next session.
  • Gulabee: Report back on the wrapper-collecting activity.
  • Rahima: Test the "What's in my hand?" game.

Jugaad meets Productive Failure


Brewing Knowledge Friday
Discussing the principles and application of Productive Failure with author Dr Manu Kapur.

Key Takeaways
  • Productive Failure (PF) is a design philosophy, not a student trait. It prepares the mind for instruction by activating prior knowledge and revealing gaps through initial struggle, leading to deeper learning and transfer.
  • Teacher design is the primary challenge. The two hardest phases are Activation (creating tasks that invite intuitive ideas from all learners) and Assembly (deconstructing student ideas to build the correct canonical solution).
  • AI is a tool, not a replacement for effort. For novices, AI can create an illusion of performance without learning. It is most effective for experts who can critically evaluate its output.
  • PF uses safe, low-stakes failure to prevent high-stakes failure. The goal is to build deep capabilities through initial struggle, which reduces the chance of failure when it truly matters (e.g., a surgeon on a patient).
The Problem: Learning Poorly from Good Instruction

Dr Kapur's research began by addressing the problem of students learning poorly despite effective direct instruction.

The core insight: The first step in learning something new should not be being told the answer.
This idea was counterintuitive 25 years ago and took two years to publish, highlighting the difficulty of challenging academic paradigms.

The Solution: Productive Failure (PF)

PF is a design philosophy that prepares the mind for instruction.

Gardener Analogy: Direct instruction is like throwing seeds on unprepared ground. PF is like tilling the soil, fertilising it, and sowing seeds in a structured way. The same rain (instruction) yields a much better crop (learning).

Core Principle: Struggle before instruction leads to deeper conceptual understanding and better transfer of learning.

The PF Framework: The Four A's
1. Activation: The teacher's most critical design task. Create problems that invite students' intuitive ideas, even from low-knowledge learners.
2. Awareness: The failure-driven protocol reveals knowledge gaps, showing students what doesn't work.
3. Affect: Awareness of gaps builds motivation and engagement to bridge them.
4. Assembly: The teacher's second major challenge.

Lego Analogy: Deconstruct student ideas into components.

Identify functional "Lego blocks" (valid parts of a solution).

Use these blocks to build the correct canonical solution, rather than simply dismissing all student attempts.
Implementation & School Culture

Time Constraints: PF is an efficiency equation (output/input). While it may take longer, it yields 3x the effect on deep learning and transfer learning.

Teacher Mindset: Act first, and the mindset will follow.

Scaling PF:

Long-Term Commitment: Requires 3–5 years to achieve economies of scale and build culture.
Community Design: Teachers can collaborate to design tasks for different topics, sharing the workload.

School Culture:
Strategy: "Pockets of innovation" are more effective than top-down mandates.
Rationale: Build a groundswell of evidence and peer conviction. Healthy systems can tolerate criticism.

PF & AI Tools
AI as a Tool: AI is only as good as its design.
Current AI Tutors: Most provide instant answers, undermining PF by removing the cognitive effort essential to learning.

Future AI Tutors: Can be engineered to facilitate PF by:
Designing problems that follow PF principles.
Providing component-based consolidation.

Personalising learning effectively.
Learning vs. Performance:

Learning Zone: Requires intentional cognitive effort. If a tool does the effort, performance may be high, but learning is low.

Expert Zone: AI can boost performance for experts who can critically evaluate its output.
PF & Indian Context: "Jugaad"

Jugaad: A situational improvisation capability born from uncertainty and resource scarcity.
Connection to PF: The India edition of the book includes a new chapter titled "Jugaad meets productive failure," which provides a methodological framework for this cultural capability.

Environmental Influence: The same individual can be flexible at home (e.g., fixing a power outage) but rigid in school, demonstrating that the environment, not the person, drives the behaviour.
PF & Fear of Failure

Nuanced Definition of Failure: PF distinguishes between different types of failure.

Productive Failure: Low-stakes failure during initial learning.
Purpose: To build deep capabilities that reduce the chance of high-stakes failure later.

Examples: A surgeon practicing on a simulation, not a patient.

Unproductive Failure: High-stakes failure (e.g., exams) or failure due to laziness or incompetence.

Teacher's Role: Re-norm struggle as a natural part of learning. Model this by sharing personal struggles and framing them as necessary for growth.

Next Steps
  • Collaborate to design PF tasks, sharing the workload.
  • Model productive struggle for students and parents.
  • Read the new "Jugaad Meets Productive Failure" chapter in the Indian edition of the book.
  • Khushieee (Grade 8 Student): Read the chapter on designing PF for self-learning.

How High-Confidence Error Correction Leads to Improved Learning Outcomes – A Critical Review - Amit Mittal


Introduction

Error correction is an essential part of the learning process. However, the way errors are corrected can have a significant impact on learning outcomes. This review explores the concept of correction–awareness error learning, which involves correcting errors with high confidence. We discuss the theoretical framework, empirical evidence, and practical implications of this approach.

Theoretical Framework
Correction–awareness error learning is based on the idea that errors are an essential part of the learning process. When learners are aware of their errors and are confident in their ability to correct them, they are more likely to engage in deeper processing and develop a more robust understanding of the subject matter. This approach is grounded in cognitive psychology theories such as cognitive load theory and self-efficacy theory.

Cognitive Load Theory:
This theory states that learning is influenced by the amount of mental effort required to process information. Errors can increase cognitive load, but high-confidence error correction can help reduce this load and promote learning.

Self-Efficacy Theory:
This theory suggests that learners’ confidence in their ability to perform a task influences their motivation and learning outcomes. High-confidence error correction can enhance self-efficacy and support learning.

Empirical Evidence
Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of correction–awareness error learning. For example, one study found that learners who received high-confidence error correction showed improved learning outcomes compared to those who received low-confidence error correction. Another study found that correction–awareness error learning led to better retention and transfer of learning.

Study Findings:

  • Error Correction Type: High-confidence
    Learning Outcome: Improved learning outcomes

  • Error Correction Type: Low-confidence
    Learning Outcome: Decreased learning outcomes

Error Correction Strategies
Educators can use several error correction strategies, including explicit correction, implicit correction, and self-correction.

  • Explicit Correction involves directly correcting the learner’s error.

  • Implicit Correction involves providing feedback that allows the learner to correct the error independently.

  • Self-correction encourages learners to identify and correct their own errors.

Benefits of High-Confidence Error Correction
High-confidence error correction offers several benefits, including improved learning outcomes, increased self-efficacy, and reduced anxiety. When learners are confident in their ability to correct errors, they are more likely to take risks and engage in deeper processing.

Challenges of Implementing Correction–Awareness Error Learning
There are several challenges associated with implementing this approach, including the need for educators to be trained in these strategies, the possibility that learners may become frustrated or demotivated, and the requirement for ongoing assessment and feedback.

Practical Implications
The findings of this review have several practical implications for educators and learners. Firstly, educators should focus on providing high-confidence error correction, as it can lead to improved learning outcomes. Secondly, learners should be encouraged to take an active role in the error correction process, as this can help them develop a growth mindset and improve their self-efficacy.

Conclusion
In conclusion, correction–awareness error learning is a promising approach to improving learning outcomes. By correcting errors with high confidence, learners can develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter and enhance their performance. Both educators and learners can benefit from this approach by prioritising high-confidence error correction and actively participating in the correction process.

Submitted by:
Amit Mittal
Sunbeam School Varuna

Rising Through Productive Failure: A Teacher’s Journey of Learning, Resilience, and Classroom Transformation- Vadehi Shahi


Assignment 1

A Journey Through Weather and Seasons: An Experiential Learning Story

My name is Vaidehi, and as an EVS teacher for Class 2, I always look for new ways to make learning meaningful and joyful for my students. This year, I faced a special challenge when we began the chapter Weather and Seasons. Many of my students, especially the lower-average and below-average learners, found the topic confusing. Words like “atmosphere,” “weather changes,” and “seasons” felt too abstract for them. Their puzzled faces made me realise that reading from the textbook alone would not help. I needed to find a more engaging path.

That was when I decided to use the power of experiential learning. Instead of explaining everything inside the classroom, I thought—why not bring the children closer to the concept itself? So, one fine morning, I gathered my Class 2 students and took them to the science lab. Their eyes lit up the moment they entered. For many of them, it was the first time experiencing the lab in this way, and the excitement itself became the beginning of deeper learning.

Inside the lab, I introduced them to a 3D model of the atmosphere. The colourful layers, the arrows showing wind movement, and the tiny sun model instantly caught their attention. I explained, slowly and visually, how the sun heats the earth, how air moves, and how clouds form. Instead of simply listening, the children could see and touch what we were talking about. This shifted the learning from imagination to experience.

Next, we spoke about weather changes—sunny, rainy, windy, cloudy, and cold days. I connected each type of weather to something they had personally felt: the warm sun on their face during assembly, the cool breeze of winter mornings, the sound of raindrops on the classroom window. Their little heads nodded eagerly as they realised they already understood weather—they just needed the words for it.

To make the topic even more engaging, I gave them a simple but exciting task: a weather survey. Armed with small worksheets, they asked teachers, helpers, and even senior students about the weather that day—Was it hot? Was it windy? Did it look like it might rain? This activity helped them observe, think, and record information like real young scientists. The sense of responsibility made them feel proud and involved.

Finally, we connected all these experiences to seasons. I explained how changes in weather over months create the seasons we know—summer, winter, monsoon, and spring. Suddenly, the chapter made sense to them. Their confusion turned into curiosity, and their curiosity turned into confidence.

The transformation was beautiful. Students who earlier struggled to answer even simple questions were now eagerly explaining weather types, giving examples, and sharing their observations. By the end of the week, the same children who once hesitated now felt empowered.

This experience reaffirmed my belief that when children experience learning, they understand it deeply. Through a simple visit to the science lab, a hands-on model, and a fun survey, the topic of Weather and Seasons turned into a memorable learning journey for my Class 2 students.

Assignment 2

Riding Both Boats: A Story of Strength, Struggle, and Self-Discovery

There was a time in my life when everything felt heavy. My personal life and my professional responsibilities seemed to pull me in two different directions, each demanding more than I thought I had to give. I often felt as if I were standing with one foot in each boat, both drifting apart, and I feared that at any moment, I would lose balance and fall into the water. Those were the vulnerable moments—moments when I questioned my own strength, my choices, and even my ability to continue being the teacher I wanted to be.

My role as a teacher had always been a source of joy. The bright smiles of my students, their doubts, their excitement for small activities—these things filled my day with purpose. But life outside the classroom was not always so predictable. Personal challenges would arrive without warning, leaving me overwhelmed. I began to doubt whether I could continue giving my best to the children who looked up to me. The fear of failing in both spaces started to cloud my confidence.

But somewhere within that chaos, I found a quiet moment of clarity. I realised that balancing life does not mean choosing one boat over the other. It means learning how to stand strong, even when the waves get rough. So instead of withdrawing, I began taking small steps. I allowed myself to breathe, to slow down, and to understand that it was okay to struggle. I reminded myself that every person—teacher or not—faces seasons of difficulty, and this was mine.

Slowly, I built a new rhythm. I learned how to manage my responsibilities with compassion for myself. I created boundaries where needed and gave myself permission to rest. On days when the weight felt too heavy, I leaned on small victories—a well-taught lesson, a student understanding a difficult concept, a quiet moment of peace at home. These became my stepping stones.

And something beautiful happened. As I began to steady myself, I realised that my struggles were shaping me into a stronger, more empathetic teacher. My students unknowingly became my motivation. Their innocence reminded me that every day was a new beginning. Their trust in me strengthened my belief that I could overcome my challenges—not by being perfect, but by being present.

Over time, I learned to ride both boats with confidence. I survived the imbalance, not by choosing one over the other, but by learning how to navigate both with grace. The failures I once feared became lessons. The vulnerabilities I hid became sources of resilience.

Today, I stand stronger—not because my life is perfect, but because I learned how to move forward even when it wasn’t. I continue to be an amazing teacher for my students because I now understand that strength is not the absence of struggle, but the courage to rise through it.

Assignment 3

The Day the Project Failed: A Story of Empathy in the Classroom

It was supposed to be a simple class project—something fun, creative, and exciting. My students had worked for days to prepare a small model for our EVS chapter. They were proud, hopeful, and eager to show their work. But on the morning of the presentation, something unexpected happened. The model they had built—so carefully and lovingly—collapsed right before the show. Pieces broke, colours smudged, and the room fell into stunned silence.

Some children froze. Others began to cry. A few blamed each other. In that moment, it wasn’t just a project that had failed—it was their confidence.

As their teacher, I could see how deeply this affected them. So instead of scolding or rushing to fix the model, I gathered them in a circle. I spoke softly, reminding them that failure is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of learning. I asked them how they felt, and one by one, they opened up: “I’m scared,” “I’m sad,” “I worked so hard,” “Now everyone will laugh.” Listening to them made me realise that this wasn’t a lesson about EVS anymore—it was a lesson about life.

I told them a simple truth: “Everyone fails. But what makes us strong is how we hold each other when something breaks—whether it’s a model or a heart.”

Slowly, I encouraged them to look around at their classmates. I asked, “Who needs help right now?” Immediately, small hands reached out to comfort the ones who were crying. One child brought tissues, another held a friend’s hand, while someone else picked up the broken pieces gently. In that moment, the classroom transformed—not into a place of disappointment, but into a space filled with empathy and sympathy.

Together, we rebuilt the model—not perfectly, but beautifully. Every child contributed something, and every child felt important. When the project was finally ready, they didn’t present it as a neat, flawless model. They presented it as a story of teamwork, courage, and kindness.

To my surprise, that imperfect project received more appreciation than any perfect one could. Parents and teachers could see the emotion behind it—the unity, the support, the resilience.

But more than any applause, what stayed with me was the transformation in my students. Through a moment of failure, they discovered the power of standing by each other. They learned that mistakes don’t define us—our response to them does. And from that day on, I knew that I wasn’t just teaching EVS—I was helping shape hearts that cared.

Assignment 4

From Doubt to Triumph: My Journey of Turning Failure Into Strength

When I look back at my first year of teaching, I remember it not as a smooth beginning, but as a storm I had to survive. I entered the school with enthusiasm, dreams, and a heart full of hope. I believed I would instantly connect with every child, master every lesson, and impress every colleague. But reality walked in like an unexpected guest.

My classes didn’t always go the way I planned. Activities I thought were creative ended in confusion. The Worksheets I designed didn’t match the students’ levels. Some children struggled, some grew restless, and some simply didn’t respond. And slowly, whispers began drifting through the staff room—soft at first, then louder.

“Maybe she isn’t ready.”
“She’s trying, but she’s not performing well.”
“She needs more experience… maybe teaching isn’t her thing yet.”

Each comment felt like a small stone added to my heart. I began doubting myself. I questioned my ability, my efforts, and even my decision to become a teacher. I felt like I was walking alone through a corridor filled with eyes that judged before understanding.

But one evening, after a particularly difficult day, I sat alone in my empty classroom. The children’s drawings on the wall were slightly crooked, the chalk dust settled on my table, and the silence felt heavy. And yet, something inside me whispered, “You didn’t come this far to give up here.”

That day, I made a decision:
If I am failing, I will learn.
If I am falling, I will rise stronger.
I will not give up—because my students deserve a teacher who fights for them.

So I began observing my failures closely—not with fear, but with curiosity.

I studied where my lessons broke.
I understood which students needed more support.
I noticed when they got bored, overwhelmed, or confused.
I spoke to students individually. I listened—really listened—to their struggles.

And then, I transformed everything step by step.

I changed my teaching methods from textbook-based to activity-based.
I added stories, role-plays, games, demonstrations, and real-life examples.
I experimented with charts, puppets, 3D models, and hands-on learning.
I spent extra time with slow learners, breaking the topic into smaller pieces.
I replaced pressure with patience, and correction with compassion.

And something amazing happened.

The same students who once looked lost started raising their hands.
The same children who hesitated began answering confidently.
They smiled more, participated more, and began seeing learning as joy—not burden.

One day, during a class activity, a child looked up at me and said,
“Ma’am, you make learning easy. You’re my favourite teacher.”

At that moment, every failure felt worth it.

Slowly, my colleagues began noticing the change too.
The teacher they once doubted was now the one students connected with the most.
The teacher whose lessons were once questioned was now receiving appreciation.

Assignment 5

Finding Success in Every Failure: A Teacher’s Perspective

Failure, whether in personal life or professional life, is often seen as a setback, but it can become one of the most productive turning points in our journey. As a teacher, I have learned that every failure carries a message—an opportunity to reflect, adjust, and grow. When we move in the right direction with clarity and purpose, failures do not stop us; instead, they guide us toward better decisions and stronger outcomes. They teach patience, resilience, and the courage to begin again.

In my professional life, moments of struggle in lesson planning, classroom management, or student engagement have pushed me to innovate. Each unsuccessful attempt has helped me understand my learners more deeply and refine my teaching methods. Personally, too, failures have strengthened my ability to balance responsibilities, manage emotions, and stay grounded.

By modelling this mindset for my students, I help them see that mistakes are not reasons to give up but stepping stones to success. I encourage them to analyse their errors, try new approaches, and believe in their potential. When children understand that failure is part of growth, they develop confidence, empathy, and perseverance.

In this way, both teacher and students move forward—stronger, wiser, and ready to achieve their best life.

Language Learning Through Productive Failure: A Comparative Study Across Five English Concepts - Gurpreet Kaur

Research 1: PF for Abstract Nouns

Topic: Identifying Abstract Nouns (Concepts/Feelings)
This study investigated whether Productive Failure (PF), in which students attempt a complex problem before instruction, leads to a deeper conceptual understanding of abstract nouns than Direct Instruction (DI).

Methodology and Comparison Strategy
Class 3 students were divided into two groups. The PF Group was first given a creative challenge: write a short story where the main characters were non-physical concepts or feelings (e.g., sadness or bravery). They were not taught the definition of abstract nouns first, forcing them to struggle and activate prior, often fragmented, knowledge. The DI Group received the formal rule ("A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea") and examples before starting a similar practice activity. Three days after both groups received instruction, the core comparison was made using a Conceptual Understanding Post-Test. This test asked students to categorise a mixed list of words (e.g., chair, courage, dog, fear) and, crucially, to explain the difference between words they could touch and words they could only feel or think about.

Expected Finding
It is expected that the PF Group will score significantly higher on the conceptual test and provide clearer, more accurate explanations. This finding would support the idea that the initial struggle and effort to represent non-physical entities primes the students' minds, allowing them to better assimilate and anchor the formal definition of "idea" (abstract noun) during the subsequent instruction phase.

Research 2: PF for Prefixes
Topic: Using Prefixes to Change Word Meaning
This study explores how students' initial attempts to create new words using affixes—their Representations and Solution Methods (RSMs)—when struggling in a Productive Failure (PF) setting, help them learn the formal rules of prefixes better than those given Direct Instruction (DI).

Methodology and Comparison Strategy
Class 3 students were again divided into two groups. The PF Group was presented with a list of base words (e.g., happy, connect, view) and challenged to completely change each word's meaning by adding a small part to the beginning or end. They were asked to record their invented words and the reason for the change (e.g., "I made it rehappys because I want to be happy again"). They received formal instruction on prefixes (un-, re-, dis-) afterwards. The DI Group was explicitly taught the rules for common prefixes before engaging in practice exercises. The core comparison was the Analysis of Student-Generated RSMs. Researchers focused on the PF Group's initial "failed" solutions, coding them for variety (i.e., how many different invented prefixes were used) and for the demonstration of conceptual features (e.g., the idea that adding something to the front changes the meaning, even if the actual prefix used was wrong).

Expected Finding
The PF Group is expected to generate a wider range of unique, though often incorrect, prefixes and reasoning in the initial phase. This wide range of attempts demonstrates a greater activation and differentiation of prior knowledge—they are actively exploring the concept of affixation. This rich, error-filled background primes them for the later instruction, allowing them to map the formal rule (e.g., re- means "again") onto their own invented concepts, leading to superior long-term retention compared to the DI Group.

Research 3: PF for Sentences
Topic: Simple vs. Compound Sentences (Using Coordinating Conjunctions)
This study investigated whether struggling to combine simple sentences into more complex ones in a Productive Failure (PF) setting leads to better long-term transfer of knowledge—the ability to apply the learned rules in new situations—compared to learning the rules directly (Direct Instruction, DI).

Methodology and Comparison Strategy
Class 3 students were split into two groups. The PF Group was presented with two short, related sentences (e.g., "The boy was hungry. He made a sandwich.") and challenged to combine them into one longer and better sentence. They were not given the rule for coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so), forcing them to invent their own, often suboptimal, joining methods. They received the formal instruction on conjunctions later. The DI Group was first taught the rules and the full list of conjunctions before practising. The core comparison was a Knowledge Transfer Test (Far Transfer) given two weeks after instruction. This test presented students with entirely new paragraphs that required combining sentences in various contexts (e.g., showing contrast, cause-and-effect) that were structurally different from the training material.

Expected Finding
The PF Group is expected to achieve significantly higher scores on the Far Transfer Test. Because the students in the PF group initially had to wrestle with the conceptual function of combining two separate ideas, they are better able to understand and apply the appropriate conjunction based on the meaning relationship between the two clauses in a novel situation. The DI Group, having focused more on the procedural memorisation of the conjunctions, may struggle more when the context of the transfer problem is different from their initial practice.

Research 4: PF for Adjective Order
Topic: Adjective Order (Opinion, Size, Age, Colour, etc.)

This research investigated whether forcing students to invent their own adjective order (Productive Failure, PF) and then explicitly comparing these failed attempts to the correct rule enhances their mastery of the canonical ordering through better Comparison and Assembly of their initial failed solutions (RSMs).

Methodology and Comparison Strategy
Class 3 students were divided into two groups. The PF Group was challenged to describe an object (e.g., a table) using four or five given adjectives (e.g., beautiful, small, old, wooden) and instructed to write them down in the order that "sounds best" before the noun. This task forces them to activate a linguistic pattern they know exists but for which they lack the formal rule, leading to varied and suboptimal RSMs. In Phase 2, the teacher deliberately used the students’ incorrect orders to contrast them with the established canonical order (Opinion → Size → Age → Material). The DI Group was simply taught this ordering rule and then practiced it. The core comparison was an Assembly Assessment following Phase 2, where students were scored on how well they could articulate why their initial, arbitrary orders were less effective than the expert order.

Expected Finding
The PF Group is expected to demonstrate a superior conceptual understanding of the rule's logic—not just memorising the sequence. Because they actively compared and assembled their own fragmented ideas against the formal rule, they can better explain the reasoning behind the order. For example, they may be better at correcting a peer's deliberately wrong order (e.g., "wooden small beautiful table") than the DI Group, indicating that the initial struggle helped them internalise the organisational principle.

Research 5: PF for Narrative Main Idea
Topic: Identifying the Main Idea / Theme of a Narrative
This research aimed to determine if the initial struggle to define the "Moral of the Story" in a Productive Failure (PF) setting enhances students' procedural fluency in accurately distinguishing the abstract theme from a concrete plot summary, compared to a group receiving Direct Instruction (DI).

Methodology and Comparison Strategy
Class 3 students were split into two groups. The PF Group read a short, slightly complex fable and, without any prior instruction on "theme," worked collaboratively to write a single-sentence "Moral of the Story." They were expected to fail productively by often producing a sentence that summarised the plot events instead of identifying the universal theme. The DI Group was explicitly taught the difference between a plot summary (what happened) and a theme (the universal lesson) before practising. The core comparison was a Procedural Fluency Post-Test administered shortly after instruction. The test required students to read five new, simple stories and, for each, correctly select the one true Theme from four multiple-choice options that included common distractors like plot summaries and minor details.

Expected Finding
The PF Group is expected to outperform the DI Group on the post-test. The initial struggle of attempting to synthesise the complex story into a "moral" without the rule forced them to activate and differentiate the critical features of the narrative. When the formal instruction arrived, it provided the essential contrast needed to solidify the conceptual distinction: the theme is abstract and transferable, while the summary is concrete and story-bound. This deep conceptual grounding, achieved through struggle, translates into greater fluency and accuracy in the procedural task of identifying the theme from a set of options.

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

When Healing Becomes Learning: A Journey Through Empathy and Productive Failure - Tanuja Jha

 

Productive failure merged pdf.pdf by Manisha Khanna

Student’s journey shows that true learning begins with emotional safety. By honouring her struggle with empathy, gentle guidance, and flexible teaching methods inspired by Productive Failure, her teacher transformed setbacks into stepping stones—revealing that understanding a child’s emotions is often the key to unlocking meaningful academic growth.

Tanuja Jha, Sunbeam School, Varuna

Productive Failure in Primary Classrooms: A Practical Exploration Across Grades 1 to 5 - Shivangi Gupta

Assignment 1

Applying “Post-Failure Consolidation” – Class 1 Writing (Describing a Picture)

Section Chosen

“Post-Failure Consolidation” – The book explains that the teacher’s role after failure is crucial for consolidating learning.

Classroom Context

  • Grade: 1

  • Subject: Writing

  • Topic: Picture Description

  • Duration: 30 minutes

Objective

To examine how guided consolidation helps very young students after initial struggle.

Classroom Experience

1. Exploration Phase

I showed a picture of a playground and asked students to “write 2–3 lines about what they see.”

Without any support, students struggled:

  • Some wrote only single words (“slide,” “kids”).

  • Many stared at the picture, unsure.

  • A few attempted unrelated sentences.

  • Some copied from friends.

2. Instructional Phase

Then I guided them step by step:

  • Identify objects.

  • Use “I can see…” sentence frame.

  • Add action words: playing, running, sliding.

3. Reflection Phase

Students rewrote their descriptions with better clarity.
They proudly compared both versions and noticed improvement.

Analysis

The post-failure guidance was the most powerful moment. Students connected their attempts with the structured model.

Connection to the Book

Kapur emphasises that the consolidation phase transforms failure into deep learning by giving structure to earlier attempts.

Assignment 2

Applying “Designing for Complexity” – Class 2 Reading (Sequencing Events)

Section Chosen

“Designing for Complexity” – Kapur describes how tasks should be challenging enough to cause struggle but not impossible.

Classroom Context

  • Grade: 2

  • Subject: Reading

  • Topic: Sequencing events in a story

  • Duration: 35 minutes

Objective

To see how young learners respond to a slightly complex reading task that encourages struggle.

Classroom Experience

1. Exploration Phase

I gave students five mixed-up sentences from a story about a boy losing and finding his pencil.
Without teaching sequencing, I asked them to arrange the story correctly.

Responses:

  • Many arranged events randomly.

  • Some put the ending at the beginning.

  • A few drew pictures to understand the flow.

  • They discussed possibilities and tried again.

The struggle was genuine but productive.

2. Instructional Phase

I explained sequencing using:

  • Words like first, then, after that, and finally.

  • Clear examples.

  • A visual timeline.

3. Reflection Phase

Students re-did the task, now correctly ordering events.
They enjoyed comparing their earlier “funny” sequences with improved ones.

Analysis

A simple but deliberately complex task pushed students to think logically before instruction.

Connection to the Book

This aligns with Kapur’s principle that well-designed complexity fosters deeper understanding.

Assignment 3

Applying “The Role of Prior Knowledge in Productive Failure” – Class 4 Reading Comprehension

Section Chosen

“The Role of Prior Knowledge in Productive Failure” – Kapur explains that allowing students to activate and use whatever prior knowledge they have—even if incomplete—helps them construct deeper understanding through struggle.

Classroom Context

  • Grade: 4

  • Subject: Reading

  • Topic: Inferring Character Traits

  • Duration: 40 minutes

Objective

To explore how activating incomplete prior knowledge before instruction helps students develop inferential reading skills.

Classroom Experience

1. Exploration Phase

I read aloud a short text from a story about a girl who refuses to share her toys.
Without explaining “character traits,” I asked students:
“What kind of person do you think she is? Why?”

Students relied on whatever knowledge they already had:

  • Some said she was “rude” or “selfish,” but could not justify.

  • Some confused feelings and traits: “She is angry because she doesn’t want to share.”

  • Others gave unrelated answers.

Students struggled, debated, and offered guesses—valuable signs of activation of prior knowledge.

2. Instructional Phase

After collecting diverse responses, I taught:

  • Meaning of character traits.

  • Difference between feelings vs. traits.

  • How to use evidence (“because she…”).

I modelled two examples from the text.

3. Reflection Phase

Students revisited their earlier answers; most improved them using evidence from the story.
They realised their first attempts were incomplete but helpful.

Analysis

Students’ incomplete prior knowledge helped trigger curiosity and deeper reasoning. Their initial misconceptions became learning points during instruction.

Connection to the Book

Kapur states that using prior knowledge—even incorrect—creates cognitive readiness for learning. This was clearly visible in the classroom

Assignment 4

Applying “The Role of Collaboration in Productive Failure” – Class 5 Writing (Dialogue Writing)

Section Chosen

“The Role of Collaboration in Productive Failure” – Kapur emphasizes how peer interaction during failure generates more ideas and richer solutions.

Classroom Context

  • Grade: 5

  • Subject: Writing

  • Topic: Dialogue Writing

  • Duration: 40 minutes

Objective

To observe how group struggle improves understanding of conversational writing.

Classroom Experience

1. Exploration Phase

I gave students a picture of two children debating whether school should have more sports periods.
In groups of 3, I asked:
“Write the dialogue happening between them.”

Students immediately began discussing loudly:

  • Some wrote full sentences instead of dialogue format.

  • Others used no punctuation.

  • Groups debated what the characters might say.

  • Mistakes were many, but thinking was active.

2. Instructional Phase

After 10 minutes, I taught proper dialogue rules:

  • Quotation marks.

  • Commas.

  • New line for each speaker.

I then showed how natural conversations move: agreement, disagreement, questions.

3. Reflection Phase

Groups compared their before-and-after versions.
They laughed at earlier errors but recognised how collaboration helped generate ideas faster.

Analysis

Collaboration created lively debate, shared knowledge, and peer correction—even before instruction.

Connection to the Book

Kapur argues that collaboration amplifies productive failure by exposing students to multiple perspectives. The activity matched this perfectly.

Assignment 5

Classroom Case Study: Applying Productive Failure in Story Writing (Class 3)

Section Chosen from Productive Failure

“Designing Tasks for Productive Failure” – This section emphasises creating tasks that are complex and open-ended enough to challenge students, allowing them to explore, make mistakes, and construct understanding before explicit instruction.

Classroom Context

  • Grade: 3

  • Subject: English Writing

  • Topic: Story Writing (creating a short story with a beginning, middle, and end)

  • Duration: 40 minutes

Objective

To explore how students engage with an open-ended story-writing task before receiving formal guidance, and how productive struggle contributes to creativity, problem-solving, and structured writing.

Classroom Experience

Exploration Phase (Task Design)

I introduced the lesson with an imaginative prompt:
“Imagine a day when your pet could talk. Write a story about what happens.”

I intentionally avoided step-by-step instructions on story structure, character development, or linking events.
My goal was to encourage students to think independently and explore multiple possibilities, even if they made mistakes.

Students were provided paper, pencils, and a quiet environment, with one instruction:
“Try your best, and don’t worry if it’s not perfect. Explore your ideas and see where they take you.”

Student Response

During the first 15 minutes, students responded in varied ways:

  • Some wrote only a few sentences, pausing frequently.

  • A few jumped into dialogue without context.

  • Several drew pictures first to visualise the sequence.

  • Peer discussion emerged naturally with imaginative ideas.

The struggle was productive—students were generating ideas, experimenting with structure, and showing creativity.

Instructional Phase (Guided Learning)

After 15 minutes, I addressed common challenges:

  • Organising ideas logically (beginning, middle, end).

  • Using transitional words.

  • Including actions, feelings, and setting.

I modelled a short story based on a student’s idea, highlighting:

  • Clear structure.

  • Linking words (then, suddenly, finally).

  • Emotions and actions to enrich characters.

Students then revised or expanded their stories using these strategies.

Reflection Phase

Students compared their first attempts with the revised versions:

  • They noticed improved clarity and organisation.

  • Many expressed that struggling first helped them create better stories.

  • Peer sharing revealed diverse and creative ideas.

Observation and Analysis

  • The initial struggle encouraged idea exploration without fear of being “wrong.”

  • Collaboration and independent thinking enhanced creativity and problem-solving.

  • Guided instruction after exploration led to meaningful consolidation.

  • Students developed structured writing skills that immediate instruction would not have produced.

Connection to Productive Failure

Kapur states that open-ended, challenging tasks foster deeper understanding by allowing students to grapple with complexity.
Here, the initial struggle led to experimentation, critical thinking, and self-reflection, making later instruction more impactful.

Conclusion

Applying productive failure in story-writing supports creativity, problem-solving, and structured writing in primary students.
Designing tasks that allow initial exploration followed by targeted guidance leads to deeper learning and empowers students to take ownership of the writing process.

Shivangi Gupta,  Sunbeam School Indiranagar


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