And then she said....

I tell my students they shouold never be afraid of asking questions, it might mean the difference between understanding and not getting it. I don't let the other kids in class mock or tease each other when a student asks what is perceived to be a "dumb question"

For example....

We were talking about absolute zero, the theoretical point where all molecular motion stops.
-273 Celsius. That's cold.
As a point of reference I was telling them about the Antarctic and how cold it is there. One of the girls says "Have we been there?"

Sure, sez I. Lots of expeditions have been there, no land, but lots of ice, blada blada blada.

"Can we stand there?"

..blink..

"Won't we....fall off?
"Will we feel upside down?"

..blink..
::snorts from the rest of the class:: of which I stopped

"Do you feel like this?" I asked her.

::leaning over sideways with arms stretched out::



I have got to move to where there there are smarter kids.