From the first day of Algebra I class in ninth grade:
Mr. M.: Now, I'll answer a question I'm sure many of you have on your mind. 'How's he going to grade this year?' Have you all wondered about that?
(The class sat silently.)
Mr. M.: No one has wondered about that?
(Still, no one responded.)
Mr. M.: Then, I guess it must not be important. (Pause) Folks, if you're not going to respond to anything I say, it's going to be a long year.
Mr. M. relented and wrote his grading scale on the chalkboard. I'm sure scenes like this have played out in many classrooms on the first day of school. A sense of uncertainty often prevents students from answering even the simplest questions, at first.
