This measure considers how the teacher gives children time to respond to questions before providing the answer or asking another question. It allows children to think and react comfortably before moving on. When it is evident that a child is working on a response, the teacher should listen attentively and wait patiently without rushing the child or moving on too soon.
Category: Category 2: Teacher-Child Interactions
Subcategory: Language Facilitation and Support
Examples
In this section you will find videos, images, and/or documents that can be used to better understand this measure. These examples can also be used in conversations between mentors, directors, and/or teachers to discuss how the program's current practices compare to these examples.
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teachers pause to give the children an opportunity to respond. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Video Example
This learning module gives teachers suggestions on how to create meaningful conversations with children, like asking open-ended questions and allowing children the time to respond. The module includes a video and reflective questions for teachers to consider how to have conversations at a pace comfortable for individual children.
Age(s): Toddler, Preschool
Video Example
Giving children time to answer helps elicit responses. The teacher in this video gives children time to think and respond before continuing. She varies her pace based on individual children’s needs, and she takes time to guide them instead of providing an answer when they choose the wrong category.
Age(s): Preschool, School-age
Video Example
The teacher in this video asks a variety of questions about zoo animals. She invites children to respond verbally or nonverbally and waits for them to reply before she continues. She also rephrases and extends their responses to model more complex language.
Age(s): Toddler
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teacher provided ample time for the children to respond to her question about the picture. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teacher asked the children a variety of closed-ended and open-ended questions about shoveling sand. When the teacher asked the children questions, she provided them ample time to respond. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teacher asked the children a variety of closed-ended and open-ended questions about which animals they may find on a farm. When the teacher asked the children questions, she provided them ample time to respond. Teachers can initiate conversations with children by asking questions during activities and daily routines.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teacher asked the children a variety of questions about the fish and a movie. When the teacher asked the children questions, she provided them ample time to respond. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Preschool
Video Example
This professional development video shows how teachers can provide frequent language stimulation by having conversations and asking questions, then watching for children’s signals and responses. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler
Video Example
In this video exemplar, the teacher practices turn-taking and maintains an appropriate pace while communicating with the infant. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Infant
Practice Opportunities
These resources include tips, strategies, activities, or specific tools related to this measure that programs can put into practice.
Publication
This publication gives teachers ways, such as allowing children to communicate and respond to questions, to promote children’s oral language development throughout the day. Some children may need more time while others may need less, so it is important for teachers to listen attentively and wait patiently while children attempt to verbally respond to questions.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool
