We’ve all sat through them—guest presenters, workshops, webinars, professional development sessions. As teachers, we go in hoping to walk away with something we can actually use in our classrooms.
After more than twenty years of teaching, I’ll be honest: not every training leaves me with a fresh idea. But about 6 or 7 years ago, I picked up one small but powerful nugget that completely shifted the way my students engage with math—and the way they feel about themselves as learners.
The Golden Nugget: “Let’s See if We Need to Make an Edit”
During that training, the presenter suggested swapping out words like:
- “Fix an error”
- “You made a mistake”
…for the much friendlier phrase: “Let’s see if we need to make an edit.”
It’s such a simple change, but it’s magic. Why? Because students are already used to making edits in ELA—it’s an expected part of writing. No one panics when their paragraph needs revising. So why not bring that same mindset into math?
Now, I encourage my students to:
- Try the problem
- Review their work
- See if it makes sense
- Make edits if needed
It removes the sting of “being wrong” and reframes it as part of the process.
How I Use It in Class
This works beautifully when I’m teaching at the board. If I call on a student and their answer is incorrect, I write it down anyway and keep moving. Later, I step back and ask the class:
“Do we need to make an edit?”
Suddenly, I’m not the only one spotting errors. My students become the editors—the experts—finding and fixing the math themselves.
And here’s the thing: it’s empowering.
What This Shift Has Done for My Students
Changing my language from “mistakes” to “edits” has:
- Boosted their confidence
- Given them permission to experiment with math
- Encouraged them to actually look for places to improve
- Made “being wrong” less scary
A few years ago, I had a particularly large—and challenging—group of Algebra 1 students. Another teacher visited my room and said in surprise, “They’re all working.”
I smiled and said, “Well, yeah.”
These were students who often struggled academically, but they still tried. And I believe this small change in language played a big part in that.
Give It a Try
If you’ve never used this strategy, try replacing “fix the error” with “let’s see if we need to make an edit.”
It’s such a small shift, but the impact? Golden.
