Is 1+1 always 2? Well some would say yes and others would ask, "what else could it be?" The answer lies within the understanding of productive struggle. For those educators that lead their students in the direction to the answer they want them to achieve, 1 + 1 will always give you the value of 2. However, if you are the type of educator that believes your students can see beyond the obvious and can discover for themselves that the answer is not always starring them in the face, then you are the type of educator that knows the art of perseverance. It will take some problem solving, foundational skills, getting to know more than just their names, and most importantly, a shift in thinking. Then, you will find that 1 + 1 just may give you so much more than 2. The "struggle is real" when it comes to getting students to see the benefit of working hard. Discover how to concentrate more on the process and the prize will be worth the work!