On the first day of science class students may be anxious about a number of things. Will they be able to sit with their friends? Can they choose their own lab partners? Will the teacher call on them and embarrass them? Will the teacher be fair? The author started using procedures to improve "fairness" in his classroom. Although he had thought it was fair, some student evaluations indicated different perceptions. The changes he made helped students feel more at ease and also improved participation and cooperation in activities and discussions. These procedures and changes are described in this article.