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Zero is defined as the figure or symbol which stands for the absence of quantity. In education, it also stands for the absence of hope. Students should be allowed to rework based on their teacher's good feedback, and, in the process, change the power of zero from an absence of hope to hope for meaningful improvement.

Agreed, Amanda. All things being equal, giving students the chance to improve a grade based on learning from constructive feedback is the essence of motivating improvement.

You are the tour guide on their voyage to learn! I have been on many tours and seen many tour guides. Some of them talked monotone and seemed bothered by my questions. Some seemed passive and sick of working. Some seemed so freakin' excited that I wanted to take the tour again right after it was done. Which type of tour guide are you willing to be. Your class is like a sports team. You are the coach. If you are bringing a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the table, you will most likely have a team with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. If you want students to be passionate and enthusiastic about learning......then you need to tie your shoes, and dive in. Be enthusiastic. Show them passion. Answer every question with a big smile and a follow-up question. Inspire every student to go a little bit further with their project and with their learning than they normally would have. Congratulate and complement them often. Choose one of your passions and investigate it with them. Tell other teachers, principals, custodians how proud you are of the students and there hard work and tell them to stop in and see it. Take pictures of them working and tell them you cannot wait to show the other teachers how involved they are.

Looks like there is an element of risk of this "bombing" but the key is the teacher enthusiasm and investment of time, encouragement and ability to lead the student with good questions.

Do we provide classrooms and environments that allow children to think?

I love it! No wonder I am more productive at home. I cannot get my work space here organized. This fits in very well with the Math think tank talk yesterday!