Ace the Early Literacy 321 Test 2026 – Read, Shine, and Rise!

When a student recognizes that the first approach isn’t working and switches to a different strategy, they’re showing cognitive flexibility. This is the ability to adapt thinking, adjust methods, and try alternative approaches in response to feedback or new information. In learning, it means not getting stuck on a single plan and being willing to test other paths to reach a solution. It’s different from grit, which is about sticking with a task despite difficulties, and from motivation, which is the drive to engage in learning. Perseveration, on the other hand, is repeating the same response even when it fails, which is the opposite of adapting strategies. So shifting strategies in response to a dead end best demonstrates cognitive flexibility.