What should teachers focus on according to Goodman to determine what students are doing wrong?

• A. Rely on standardized tests
• B. Ignore errors
• C. Focus on patterns in students' errors to determine what they are doing wrong
• D. Move through curriculum regardless of errors

Answer: (C)

Focusing on patterns in students’ errors gives teachers diagnostic clues about what students truly misunderstand or struggle with, so instruction can be targeted and effective. When mistakes repeat in similar situations, they reveal specific misconceptions, decoding issues, or strategy gaps, allowing the teacher to tailor reteaching and practice to address those exact needs. This idea aligns with Goodman’s miscue-analysis view, where errors are treated as informative data, not just wrong answers. Relying on standardized tests only shows what wasn’t learned, ignoring the process; ignoring errors misses valuable information about student thinking; and moving ahead without addressing mistakes can leave persistent gaps in understanding.