Wisdom In School
vs. foolishness
Making practical application of what is learned
To practice Wisdom, I will: 
- seek out knowledge to fill in my gaps
- learn from correction
- choose my friends carefully
- consider the consequences of my action
- ask “what is the right thing to do?”
Do Struggles and Failures Lead to Wisdom in Students?
By Sandra S. Szczygiel, MS, LPPC-S
Do Struggles and Failures Lead to Wisdom in Students? Absolutely, if a supportive teacher or parent is there to guide the child through these experiences. In fact, one could even argue that these kinds of experiences are necessary to develop wisdom. Without struggles and failures, students can be taught knowledge but may not necessarily know how to apply the knowledge to their lives. However, an enterprising teacher can create a learning environment that helps foster wisdom while also supporting the mental health of their students. Some strategies to help build this type of supportive learning environment include:
- Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment: Establishing and enforcing classroom rules that promote respect, acceptance, and open communication.
- Encouraging Critical Thinking: Incorporating activities, such as ethical dilemmas with reflective questions, that challenge students to analyze information. This promotes deeper understanding and decision-making skills.
- Encouraging Open Dialogue: Facilitating discussions that help students connect their personal values with their emotional experiences, which promotes resilience and self-awareness.
- Promoting Reflective Practices: Using journaling, discussions, and mindfulness exercises to help students reflect on their experiences, values, and emotions.
- Modeling Ethical Behavior: Consistently exhibiting empathy and respect, serving as role models for students.
- Fostering Empathy and Compassion: Encouraging students to engage in service to others.
Successfully nurturing wisdom in students can lead to better coping mechanisms, emotional regulation, resilience and insight which can significantly enhance students’ overall well-being and mental health.
The Links below will take you to Resources you can use in the classroom or in homeschool
to teach the Character Quality of Wisdom.
Need to build community in your classroom? Try these team building activities!
Read All About It!
Each person will need a blank piece of paper and something with which to write. Have them write on the paper sideways (landscape). They are to write a fake headline identifying a future accomplishment. Encourage them to dream big. It could be a headline announcing...
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