class clown
I like to ask the class clown to "mentor" one of the more quiet students to try to get the quiet student up to the "clown's" activity. The "clown" likes being asked for assistance.
Hi Jeffrey,
These students starve for attention. Show them some love daily so that you can move on with the lesson.
Patricia Scales
I find that simply acknowledging the clown by name at the beginning of class greatly reduces their neediness for attention: "Hi,______. How's it going?"
When I have a very quiet student, I try to ease them into participating in the class. For example, I'll ask them questions that they can answer with just a few words. Sometimes I'll ask them if they can help me hand out an assignment in class. My hope is that they realize that nothing traumatic will happen if they speak or stand up in front of the class and that their participation will continue to increase.
