make wait times work
After I ask a question I will look at each student in the class after I have looked at the last one I will call on the current eager beaver. I wont force eye contact, I just use this to provide proper wait time. Once answered I try to repeat the answer before any indication of right or wrong. Then based on the correctness of the response I will proceed.
Karen,
I do the same. It is clearly stated that there is a participation grade and, in addition to keeping the class interactive, it keeps the students alert.
Judy Mohammed
Absolutely! The first two classes are the most challenging. However, I grade them 10% on the feedback and reiterating that fact often helps the most....AND calling on my quieter ones to answer.
Karen,
Do you find that the wait time decreases as the students become more familiar with answering in class?
Judy Mohammed
What I find interesting is that the wait time for each class can be different. With heavy type A students, I get a lot of immediate responses...with other classes, I need to lengthen to pause to get a response out of them and be OK myself in this longer timeframe.
William,
I also had some difficulty using wait time at the beginning, but once I realized its effectiveness, I accepted it more quickly.
Judy Mohammed
Audie,
Interesting phrase, soak time. Sometimes, we are unaware that students may be trying to think about the response and we move on too quickly.
Judy Mohammed
I find it very difficult to use wait times correctly. This is one area that I have to focus and work hard at to get it correct. When I do use appropriate wait times I find that the students get to great responses that have good insight and understanding. I can see that the wait time gives them the time to process the question and come up with a response.
Markia,
I am confused by your last statement about the subject, can you please give me an example?
Judy Mohammed
You must have all the students engauged in the classroom as well as the lab. I call wait time soak time to give them time to think about what the response is they are going to give. I also get better answers after they have thought about it longer.
Audie Toney
UTI Avondale.
One must be intune to the class, watch students to see if someone is listening or not and body movements tell if you need the wait times longer or not. And if the subject is needed for the wait times
Chuck,
Do you also call on those who are not so eager to respond?
Judy Mohammed
