The Wheel at the End of Class

The bell was about to ring. I had a stack of flashcards in my hand, names scribbled in the corners. I looked at the clock, then at their tired faces.

Finding a Fair Way

It was never about catching anyone out. I just wanted to hear their voices, to see the lightbulb moments. But my eyes would always drift to the same eager hands.The quiet ones would shrink a little. I’d see it. They’d focus very hard on their notebooks, hoping to become invisible. My list felt heavy then, like I was picking favorites without meaning to.

A Different Kind of Tension

The first time I brought the wheel up on the screen, there was a different kind of quiet. It wasn't the nervous kind. It was curious. The click to spin was loud in the room.When it landed, there was a collective breath. Sometimes relief, sometimes a soft groan, but it was shared. The pressure wasn't coming from me pointing a finger. It was just chance, turning it into a game we were all in.I stopped flipping through my cards. My hand was free to gesture, to point at the part of the diagram we were discussing. The question felt like it was for the room, not just for one person.

After the Spin

Someone would answer, often helped by a whisper from their neighbor. We’d move on. The wheel didn't make the work easier, but it made the air easier to breathe.It became our little ritual. A few minutes at the end to touch base, without dread. They knew the rules. Everyone had the same shot.It’s a small thing, really. But it changed the feeling in those last minutes. It felt fair. For them, and for me.