Tricky Old Teacher Mary Better -
When asked about her approach, Mary explained: "Some students need a little 'trickiness' to stay engaged. By challenging them in unexpected ways, I help them discover their own potential."
| Trap | Mary’s Setup | Your Escape | |------|---------------|----------------| | “I don’t know” loop | Asks impossible Q → you freeze | Say: “I don’t know yet, but here’s how I’d find out.” | | Busywork overload | Assigns 50 small tasks | Batch them; prioritize the 5 that matter most. | | Negative feedback with no grade | Writes “think again” | Book 5 min with her: “What one change would help most?” | | Group punishment | One person fails → all lose points | Preemptively agree on peer accountability rules. | tricky old teacher mary better