Sometimes, last period, the students are so rowdy that I'm glad I have a structured classroom environment.

Last week, a student even warned me at the door that the kids were a "bit active today, miss."

As usual, like every other day since the very first day of school, I had work to be done as they walked in the room. I know that the beginning of the period is critical for engagement and learning. Every period with me, the students begin to work at the bell. On this day, they had to come up with multiple questions to a possible solution. And when the bell rang, they began. Of course, almost all began. Some had to find a pencil, a couple had the wrong notebook and some had a slow start opening their pencil cases. All possibilities in a classroom of young people, each of whom is different. But all had a quiet environment in which to begin to think.