Early Childhood
Preschoolers can be very eager to answer a question or take part in an activity, which means they often talk over others so that they can be heard by the teacher. While we are always happy to have enthusiastic students, we also teach them to wait to be called on and to take their time before answering a question.
Elementary School: Grades K-5
We use a "think time" procedure in which students think and respond to a question on signal after an adequate time for reflection. And we incorporate a think-pair-share procedure that gives all students an opportunity to think about a question, pair up with a partner, and share their ideas. I also ask students what their partner said to encourage learning skills.