Hi Matthew! Indeed, open discussion(with guidelines) is a key to an interactive classroom. Early on in teaching, I remember asking a question then complete silence in the classroom. I then began "layering" questions; in other words, beginning with a simple or more obvious question, praising the response, then a little more difficult one building on the first. It created some momentum in the classroom. If students couldn't answer the next question, I would go back to the previous topic/explanation and then paraphrase and rebuild. It seemed to work. Just a thought... Thanks for your comments. Jay Hollowell ED106 Facilitator