Wait for it...

One of the most satisfying moments for any educator is when a student 'gets it'. Can you remember a time when you actually witnessed a concept or idea 'click' for one of your students? What a gratifying moment! 

On the other hand, one of the most frustrating moments for us as teachers is when we ask a question and get no response from the class. Has this happened to you? You ask a question and are met with silence instead of answers. Crickets chirp. You hear a pin drop. Often, the natural reaction of a teacher is to fill this awkward silence with a hint or even the answer you were looking for. While this may make things move along faster, it is not the ideal way for students to learn. What you interpret as awkward silence might be the sound of THINKING going on in the minds of your students. Allowing some wait time after you ask a question can lead to much richer and thoughtful responses. It also communicates to students that you value their original ideas and are not simply looking for the one 'right' answer to your question. 

                                                                                                                               

Gina asks "What do you see?"

 

Maria asks "What is a sculpture?"

The idea of wait time is not new. Public speakers and educators have written about the idea many times. The trick is reminding yourself to wait. We find that counting can really help. If a question is presented and students fail to respond, count to five (or ten!) in your head and wait for a response. If there is still no reaction from the students, perhaps they truly didn't understand the question. Instead of supplying the answer, try to ask your question in a different way. 

You can even encourage students to wait before they answer to give them a moment to think. Some young children are so eager to share that they shout answers right away. Asking them to look at or think about something for five seconds can lead to a more meaningful discussion. It also allows timid students time to think without being distracted.

What do you think about wait time? Is it painful to wait in silence or do you like seeing your students' wheels turn?