Desirable Difficulties

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"While she is a woman of strong aesthetic sensibilities, she is also one of epic doubt."- Brown

This quote alludes to Bonnie Blodgett, a master gardener who surfaces the trials and tribulations of having a green thumb. Gardening can be a hit or miss, starting down to the seed and even the soil. To get it right can be a remarkable accomplishment, and there is no wonder why flora competitions have stuck by for centuries. But even epic doubt seems to find its way into the premise of success.  
Try to find congruency with the phrase "desirable difficulties" and "growth mindset." This is ultimately what happens when we encounter issues that challenge us- we get into a certain mindset which is getting ready to grow...

I ended 2/23's post with an excerpt about desirable difficulties. I cannot but help but to compare our current state as being difficult. Will these challenges have anything to offer us? Coming together as communities has been a highlight of it all. It may be hard for all children to keep on a daily schedule of academics, healthy regimens, and social experiences. Essentially, many will miss out on months of social interaction, as well as professional instruction. However, there is still room to grow. Field trips, nature walks, and camping are experiences in which students can thrive. We can use this time wisely to teach kids how to play an instrument, learn a language, plant a garden, write cursive, or take on any kind of useful skill. 

Yes, our curriculums have just been thrown out of place. Yes, state test scores will be skewed for this unprecedented circumstance. And yes, some material will not be obtained in those little minds that should be come summer.   

 It does not mean that all is lost. 

 There are plenty of online resources for academics, libraries are still open, and there is much to learn out in the open wilderness! 

We can view this health scare as an obstacle, or as a desirable difficulty. Desirable difficulty sounds better, though. It is after all, kind of beautiful to see the world come together for a purpose...



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