Think Time

Here’s another back-to-basics tip that really pays off for our ELL students:

Increase your wait time after questions from the usual 2-3 seconds to a full 5-7 seconds.  ELLs, who are processing in a second language, need the extra time.  All of your students will benefit from the reflection time.

Kathleen Kenfield says, “I recommend that you call it “Think Time” instead of wait time, that you explain to the students the rationale behind the longer time, and that you forbid them to raise their hands during the think time. Many teachers have reported dramatic improvements in the quality of the responses and decreased blurting by those students who just have to yell out the answer.”

From Kenfield’s website:

Middle school science teacher: “I definitely got more students to participate when I started using wait time.   I would ask a question, ask students to think (no hands up, no blurting, as you suggested), and just what I’d hoped: more ELLs participate, more special ed students participate, fewer blurters–all in all, a very successful idea.”

All previous ELL tips are compiled here: http://rhs-ells.blogspot.com/ 

PLEASE leave some comments on the blog!!

Kathleen Kenfield’s material used with permission.

Remember: The ELL student’s sole limitation is linguistic, and that limitation is temporary. Cognitively, s/he is as unlimited as any other student who walks through your door.