Many new (and even experienced) teachers find it hard to view silence as an ally. I remember my first experiences as a teacher, and my tendency was to jump in very quickly if no one answered my questions. I would either restate the question ("Surely they must have just not understood me!" I thought) or I would just provide the answer, much like the iconic teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (though hopefully I was at least less boring!) Silence, I believed, was the enemy of good conversation. In truth, it was produced out of my own anxiety.
Over time, I have grown to recognize that silence is valuable in the classroom. After I ask a question, I am not anxious when an answer is not immediately forthcoming. The silence gives students time to think before responding, and it tends to lead to better discussion because answers come from a deeper place within.