A quiet spin for the last five minutes

The clock was edging toward dismissal. I had a few minutes left, and I wanted to use them for something light, something that felt more like a conversation than a test.I glanced at my notes from the week, the new words we'd circled. It felt right to bring them back, just for a moment.

When the room gets quiet

You know that lull. The work is done, but there's still time. Some students are already packing up, others are just waiting.It's not the moment for a deep dive. It's the moment for a gentle nudge, a chance to hear a voice that hasn't spoken much.

The wheel just sits there

I put it up on the screen without any fanfare. No instructions, really. Just a circle with words from our lessons.A student in the back perked up. 'Is it my turn?' she asked. That was the whole point.It wasn't about right or wrong. It was about recognition, about saying the word out loud and owning it for a second.

The relief of no stakes

When there's no grade attached, the air changes. Shoulders relax. It becomes a game, but a quiet one.

A shared glance

Sometimes a student would land on a word and another would nod, like they remembered it too. Those small connections are what stick.