Silent Signals

Sometimes several students have their hands up and I'm helping them one by one, answering their questions as expediently as possible. It was frustrating to come to a child who'd spent several minutes waiting with a hand in the air when all he needed was permission to go to the rest room.

Students can use hand signals for common requests that don't have to do with the assignment, so that you can just scan the room once in awhile and nod permissions. For example, my students raise a pinkie when they want to go to the rest room, raise their thumb when they want a drink, raise two hands for an emergency, etc. If you know sign language, you can teach actual signs for these requests.