By Joshua Block
I had been trying to start class for several minutes. Our normal post-weekend check-in had failed. Instead of hearing updates from each other, students were having side conversations about the school dance. Once I regained everyones attention, two girls walked in late and the whole class stopped to watch as they gave each other a consoling hug before they moved toward their seats.
I was losing patience. This was not the strong start I had envisioned for the first in-class workday of our project. “Who is ready to share the main question for their project?” I asked in an attempt to refocus everyone and manage the energy emanating from 33 frenetic 15- and 16-year-olds.