A first step toward establishing a respectful classroom learning community is acceptance of all ideas and answers ─ regardless of any obvious errors. Rich mathematical discussions cannot occur if this expectation is not in place. We must remember that wrong answers are often rooted in misconceptions, and unless these ideas are allowed to be brought to the forefront, we cannot help students confront their thinking. Students who are in safe learning environments are willing to risk sharing an incorrect answer with their peers in order to grow mathematically. It is important to model and expect the acceptance of all ideas without derogatory comments. As educators we can model this by recording all answers to be considered without giving any verbal or physical expressions that indicate agreement or disagreement with any answer. The teacher may need to practice having a "blank face." Students look to teachers as the source of correct answers. Part of building a safe learning community is to shift this source of knowledge to the students by equipping them to defend the thinking behind their solutions.