How long should a teacher wait after asking student question?

Wait time is an important factor in classroom discussion. It has been shown that students retain more information and are more engaged in learning when they have time to think and process their thoughts before responding. The following are some guidelines for how long a teacher should wait after asking a student question:

* Elementary school students: 3-5 seconds

* Middle school students: 5-7 seconds

* High school students: 7-10 seconds

* College students: 10-15 seconds

Wait time also provides students time to:

- Process the information they have been presented

- Mentally organize their responses

- Increase the depth and complexity of their thinking

- Develop greater confidence in their abilities

- Listen to and learn from the responses of other students

Teachers can indicate that wait time is over through nonverbal cues such as hand or head gestures or by simply pausing and allowing for further thought. It is important that students are given clear expectations for how long they will have to respond, and that teachers are patient and allow for students to think and process before they respond.