7 Quick Wins: Supporting Students Who Fear Getting Things Wrong

Fear of getting things wrong shows up in two ways: the perfectionist who rewrites endlessly but never hands anything in, and the disengaged student who won’t start at all. Both are exhausting to support, and both are driven by the same underlying anxiety. This session offers seven practical strategies to lower the stakes and create conditions where trying feels safe, whether a student presents as “too careful” or “doesn’t care.”

The 7 Quick Wins:

• “Not Finished, Just Due”
• Think Aloud Your Rough Working
• Celebrate the Edit, Not the First Draft
• The First Minute Grace
• Talk It Before You Write It
• Success Criteria Before Pencils Touch Paper
• Private Practice Windows