Hi Sara,
I have found that if you give a quiet student some type of leadership role in their group, they shine even more. Quiet students do better in a smaller setting.
Patricia Scales
Hi Ileen,
What a great personable approach you take with your quiet students. This approach is a super way to build a rapport and to help put students at ease.
Patricia Scales
I love involving my silent students with work groups. It thrills me to see how they flourish and become part of the class. I am very pleased with my students in general. Every one of them is very excepting of each other and welcoming with new students that enter the classroom. That is what makes the circle continue, my students.
I make sure that I have learned the new student's name by the next day so when I am standing by my door greeting in the morning I can call their name and ask how they are doing. I give projects to complete in my class and sometimes have them work together so they can get to know each other I feel this also helps with the silent students. We take turns presenting projects to the rest of the class at which time each student has to speak to the class as a whole when they are presenting their projects.
AS a former shy student, years ago, the most beneficial way of getting the shy and silent students involved was to break into smaller groups. It lessened the audience and thus the pressure.
Also, Allowing the students to initially talk about what is most important to them, Ice breakers that allow them to talk about important aspects of their lives seems to help in the first classes.
I agree. I find that when I intentionally include my more silent students, meaning making them feel that their opinions are also valuable, they slowly open up and participate more in classes.
I agree, I am fortunate to have a small class so it is easy for me to communicate one on one with my students.I actually just had a student start that is extremly quite but I can see everyday that she is opening up more.Alot of it is they just have to get comfortable with the teacher and fellow classmates and once that happens it is easier for them to start interacting.I also make sure I show them more attention and communicate with them more for the first couple of weeks to help them become more comfortable in their class.And I also pull them to the side and let them know if they don't understand are need to talk to me about anything to let me know because I am here for them.And will do everything within my ability to help them succeed in their field of study.
Normally when I have silent students, I utilize a training ball with random life questions on it; things like if I could do... or my best moment...These things divert attention form education for just a second and allows the silent student to relax and experience a normal noneduational conversation; or so they think lol
Drawing on personal experiences with respect to course topics seems to draw the entire class into the discussion
I try to speak to them outside of class and it seems to lessen any intimidation they may have been feeling.
Hi Cynthia,
Students will open up more if they have a rapport with you. As educators we need to do our due diligence to get to know our students.
Patricia Scales
I do the same students really like it if you know about them.
I like to include in the classes simple discussion and experiences to bring comfort. I like to personally address students that enter the class and deal with each on a one to one basis to also increase comfort. I like to provide discussion that allows a person to express self and not having to have the correct answer; it there to just get the person to talk
Hi Angela,
Silent students really do tend to open up more when they are not isolated and everyone is involved. Silent students really do not like being put on the spot solo.
Patricia Scales
Hi Doree,
I concur! I love to make small talk with these students to try to build a relationship.
Patricia Scales
If I can help them with little successes and show appreciation for their input in conversations, this will help draw them out and feel good about it.
I like to tie it back to why they are in school and what their goals are. Also to relate to them the importance of communication in the workplace and how that will be key in their careers.
Besides group work and projects, I have presented case studies in class and asked that all students take par tin reading the material to the class. The silent student has an opportunity to participate without feeling judged since all students are asked to do the same thing.
I try to show interest in them before class, kind of a "warm up" if you will. I also think that this approach establishes rapport with the student with the goal that they will feel more at ease sharing their thoughts and ideas.
Hi Angela,
What do you do to reel in your silent students. I like to make my silent students leaders.
Patricia Scales
I use the same approach. I get to know the students in the first session and I want to know why they are here. It helps me to make the material relatable to them and I can ask abut their experiences as part of the class discussions. They tend to be more willing to share if they have experiences that relate.
I agree that the soft approach often helps. In most cases, not all, I see those students feeling much more comfortable as the class is finishing up. The hard part is that many times those students are getting the material they just have a difficult time sharing their thoughts in the class.
