Dustin and Ghazali are joined by Mirriam Chintu to explore how something as simple as “try again” can transform how students see themselves as learners. Their guiding question: How can positive reinforcement reshape the way students experience learning and behavior in school?

Drawing on more than 20 years of teaching experience from grades 3–7 and now junior secondary English in Zambia, Mirriam shares how students’ home lives, histories, and daily struggles show up in the classroom—and why that context matters when they make mistakes. She reflects on the damage caused by shame, harsh responses, and labeling, and contrasts that with classrooms grounded in encouragement, patience, and belief. Through stories of wrong answers turned into growth moments, she shows how simple shifts in language and tone can build confidence instead of fear.