The present article highlights teacher paraphrasing, a response habit that can hinder student problem solving, authentic classroom dialogue, and promotion of a democratic classroom. Specifically, it discusses reasons teachers may have for paraphrasing student comments, along with potential impediments for student learning. Alternative response behaviors are proposed for encouraging student discussion, creativity, and self-evaluation: listening, wait-time, nonverbal behaviors, acknowledgment, asking for elaboration, and using student ideas.