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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

wait time

Learn more about wait time

Identifying sequence with Little Jack Horner
In Mother Goose in use: Rhymes that teach, page 8
In this kindergarten lesson plan, students gain experience identifying the sequence of events in a story using the nursery rhyme "Little Jack Horner."
Format: lesson plan (grade K English Language Arts)
By Lisa Wright.
Drop/add policy for online professional development courses
Guidelines explaining when a teacher may be permitted to register for or drop out of an online course.
Format: article/help
LEARN NC Help Desk
The LEARN NC Help Desk is available to answer technical questions about online courses. Any LEARN NC-trained instructor and their students can call, IM, or e-mail for help.
Format: article/help
Spell check: What a tool!
Students, through guided practice, become familiar with how a spell check program works and learn to use it effectively. They will then be able to use it independently as they word process on their own.
Format: lesson plan (grade 2–5 Computer/Technology Skills and English Language Arts)
By Mary Rizzo.
Make math "bear"-able
The students will use teddy bear counters to explore addition and subtraction facts (1-10). Students will demonstrate an understanding of ordinal numbers by locating the position of their counters on their workmats.
Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Mathematics)
By Nikki Gilmore.

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Length of time a teacher waits for students’ responses after asking a question. Research shows that increasing wait time from the typical 1.5 seconds after a question to at least 3 seconds increases the likelihood of student participation.

Additional information

Longer wait time facilitates quality responses, student confidence, and improved classroom discipline. Implementing a lengthier wait time also ensures that teachers are actually encouraging reflective thought.

Examples and resources

Robert J. Stahl’s article, Using “Think-Time” and “Wait-Time” Skillfully in the Classroom, originally published on the commercial teacher resource site, A to Z Teacher Stuff, explores the concepts of wait-time and eight categories of periods of silence.