This paper examines how the process of scaffolding students to solve their social issues developed mature participation for both the teacher and students. A sociocultural perspective framed the research as the underlying assumption is that students learn from each other, mediated by the teacher or more capable peers. The study provides evidence that teachers play a significant role in mediating positive relationships amongst peers, which in this case, sustained the teacher's motivation to engage in the challenging and at times exhausting process. The teacher used weekly class meetings to negotiate with students how to share "power" and model democratic decision-making. The "bottom-up" approach of this research, links not only to teacher motivation but contributes to much needed research on how teachers can effectively cater for the diversity of students in their class, through their professional learning and development. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)