Waiting and scanning the class after giving an instruction allows you to monitor compliance. It gives students a reasonable amount of time to process the instruction and to carry it out. It helps the teacher avoid talking too much which can inadvertently train the class to stop listening to your voice.
Things to consider when using this strategy:
While waiting and scanning ‘manage’ the class through body language. Stand still in a central position facing the students with assertive facial and other body language.
Identify and acknowledge students who have complied with the instruction. DO NOT identify and admonish the students who do not comply or who are slow to comply.
If you need to respond to non-complying students, do so quickly, firmly, but calmly e.g. “In your seat now Jason”.
Choose to acknowledge a student in close proximity to the non-complying student.
Praise the complying student specifying the behaviour that is being praised. Do this in a loud enough voice so that the nearby non-complying student will hear.
If the non-complying student then follows the instruction, provide a brief acknowledgement of this.
NB: This strategy is most effective with younger students, but can be used periodically with upper primary and secondary students in some situations.
Reference links.