The power of a small win
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She was stuck.

Every problem felt overwhelming. Every assignment felt like climbing a mountain.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know anything– she just didn’t know where to start.
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And when that happens, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing.

So we stopped trying to climb the mountain and picked some low-hanging fruit instead.

We found a skill that was within reach., like a math fact she could get right.
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A type of problem she could solve with just a little practice.

And once she had that small win, everything changed.

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Small Wins Lead to Big Progress

Sometimes, the best way to get a student back on track isn’t by pushing harder.
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It’s by stepping back and finding a simple win.

Here’s why this works:

✅ It builds confidence
When students feel like they’re winning, they’re more willing to keep trying.

✅ It creates momentum
One success leads to another. The brain remembers success and wants more of it.

✅ It clears mental clutter
By focusing on one small thing, students can stop worrying about everything else.

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What does this look like in math?

• Start with the story,
• Work through a visual or a hands-on activity
• Model how the visual or work relates to what they are learning now.

These aren’t shortcuts.
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They’re stepping stones of our CPA process. (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract). Working with CPA takes students back to something that they understand - stories, manipulatives (things they can touch), and visuals (pictures that relate to the story or problem).

Once they can understand the story, manipulative, and visual, we can take them to the next step,

and then the next step,

and the next step.

Because once students feel that success, they’re ready to tackle the next challenge.
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And then the next.

Small wins create a ripple effect.

That’s why, in our lessons, we don’t just throw challenging problems at students until they figure it out.
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We start from a place they can relate to and build from their strengths, so they have a solid footing before we move forward.

Your Coach,
Ingrid

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P.S. Fall classes are starting soon! If your child could use a confidence boost in math, we’ll help them build small wins that lead to big progress. Contact us to find the best class to get them back on track this school year.
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