Hold Please...
The Impact of Wait/Think Time on Student Learning
Anyone? Anyone?
We all know that Wait/Think time is necessary for ALL students to formulate thoughts and process information. In fact this strategy was first published by Mary Budd Rowe in 1972, meaning that Mr. Rooney (if he were paying more attention to instruction) could have offered a workshop for his teachers on the topic!
Benefits: For Teachers and Students
- The length and correctness of their responses increase.
- The number of their "I don't know" and no answer responses decreases.
- The number of volunteered, appropriate answers by larger numbers of students greatly increases.
- The scores of students on academic achievement tests tend to increase.
When teachers wait patiently in silence for 3 or more seconds at appropriate places, positive changes in their own teacher behaviors also occur:
- Their questioning strategies tend to be more varied and flexible.
- They decrease the quantity and increase the quality and variety of their questions.
- They ask additional questions that require more complex information processing and higher-level thinking on the part of students.
have uninterrupted periods of time to process information; reflect on what has been
said, observed, or done; and consider what their personal responses will be.
A Shift In Our Thinking
The videos and resources below are a great starting point to refining this skill and improving the wait/think time for your students.
Strategies You Can USE!
Maybe a little less mischievously...but with the same level of expectation!
Ashley Helms, Professional Learning & Advanced Academics
Email: ahelms@littleelmisd.net
Website: http://www.littleelmisd.net/Domain/1237
Location: 300 Lobo Lane, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: 972-943-9740
Twitter: @ash_helms