Enrichment · Wellbeing

Own it, fix it,
find the pattern.

Everyone makes mistakes; the useful part is what happens next. For each one, write what happened, who it affected and what led to it, then one thing you will do to make it right and one change so it does not happen again. After a few, the side panel shows which cause keeps coming back.

Reflect on a mistakeWhat you get

Mistakes

The worked example is made up: a lab report missing its data table, a borrowed bike returned with a flat and an answer shared during a quiz. Saved on this device only.

Loading the mistake form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A record per mistake: when, what kind, the facts, who it affected, what led to it, one repair with a date and whether it is done, one change and three checks. Counts causes across all your mistakes and repairs done; flags a mistake that affected someone with no repair, a late repair, a safety mistake to tell an adult about, going along with others and no change.
Who it is for
Middle school and high school students, and parents and teachers who use a reflection sheet after a mistake instead of a lecture.
Format
Browser guide with a saved record per mistake. Prints one reflection, all of them in a table or a blank sheet; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Write what happened as facts.
  2. Pick what led to it; more than one is fine.
  3. Write one repair with a date, and one change.
  4. Tell the person it affected, yourself.
  5. After a few, look at the most common cause.

Reflect on a mistake

Mistakes and repairs

From a mistake to a repair1Say what happenedFacts, not a verdict onyourself.2Who it affectedIncluding you.3What led to itRushed, forgot, went along,did not ask.4Make it rightOne action, with a date.5Change one thingA habit that targets thecause.6Look for the patternThe same cause twice is asignal.From a mistake to a repair1Say what happenedFacts, not a verdict on yourself.2Who it affectedIncluding you.3What led to itRushed, forgot, went along, did not ask.4Make it rightOne action, with a date.5Change one thingA habit that targets the cause.6Look for the patternThe same cause twice is a signal.
The side panel counts causes across all your mistakes. One cause showing up again and again is the most useful thing on the page.

Guilt points to the action

Researchers separate guilt (“I did a bad thing”) from shame (“I am bad”). Guilt tends to lead people to apologize and repair; shame tends to lead them to hide or blame others. The guide keeps the focus on what happened and what you will do.

Repair beats punishment

Many schools now use restorative practices: the person who made the mistake hears how it affected others and does something to set it right. This guide works the same way, one repair at a time.

Sources

  1. Tangney, J. P., Stuewig, J., and Mashek, D. J. (2007). Moral emotions and moral behavior. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 345 to 372.
  2. Breines, J. G., and Chen, S. (2012). Self-compassion increases self-improvement motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(9), 1133 to 1143.
  3. International Institute for Restorative Practices. Restorative questions: what happened, who has been affected, what is needed to make things right.
  4. CASEL. Responsible decision-making and self-management. casel.org.

The worked example is made up. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.