Response to Sean Tucker’s “Diagramming Confusion”

I think everyone can relate to the feeling of “looking around and seeing other students’ pencils writing busily” taking this to mean that everyone else had a certain “understanding of the assignment.” As a developing student, the notion of being the “odd man out” is one of the most discouraging feelings one can experience. Not only is it difficult to grasp new concepts, it is even more difficult to speak up and ask questions when it seems that everyone else is seemingly in the know. It is very important for the teacher to make sure the classroom is a “question-friendly environment.” For, if a student becomes too discouraged, staying in the dark too long, he or she will most likely give up, which is the opposite of what education is supposed to do.