Shy Students
I try to create an environment of openness and acceptance for my shy students. They provided the best quality concerning life experiences and knowledge. I place them in smaller groups to create a safe haven for them to speak. The smaller group givees them the confidence to participate and discuss classroom topics.
Often if you don't get that one on one interaction it is very difficult to gauge if the shy student is struggling.
Hi Jeff,
I like your point. I would like to add than an interaction with the shy students make them to feel important and equal.
Hi Joseph,
Chatting goes a long way with students. Students like to know that they matter.
Patricia
so I have a student more comfortable in class because of the environment, but what strategy do you all suggest considering she's bombing her interviews. She is coming across withdrawn, disinterested. Not what employers are looking for exactly!
I try to get to each class 10-15 minutes early in order to get to know the students. If you chat with them before class they do not generally think that you are picking on them if you call on them in class.
If a student doesn't know the answer when called on I either ask them if they want to defer to someone else or I state the correct answer followed by the comment/question: "You agree with me, don't you?" I generally get a smile along with the concurrence.
shy students won't participate because of their insecurities. As an instructor building a comfortable environment and complementing or recognizing the good efforts of this type of students can actually make a drastic change in the sudent's behavior.Students will start feeling that being out of their confort zone is not as bad as it seems.
Hi Luis,
What do you do to try to bring out shy students? I like making small talk with shy students in order to try to build a rapport with them so that they will open up to me and around me.
Patricia
That helps in my classroom
In my class we also elect a team leader for that group to assist with lab assignments.I have found the shy students will step up to the challenge. This helps the student to interact with others,and feel like they are part of the group.
We practice oral presentations and do a lot of group projects.
Hi Benetta,
It is so self boosting for the shy student whenever they have the responsibility of a leader.
Patricia
I appoint my shy students to be the teamleader/spokesperson for the group they are assigned to. The whole group must come to the front of the class to present their assigned activity. The shy person is allowed to share the spotlight with the rest of the group. Usually each person in the group presents a section of the report to the class.
Hi Caron,
It is always a good thing to catch a student doing something right. Praises and encouragement go a long way.
Patricia
Allowing them to elevated on their area of expertise and praising them in that realm. They need to build cofidence being a groups that are smaller and free to share without the overpowering threat of being with 20-30 other students. It is very often a maturity level is a continued growth experience/
Hi Jeff,
I certainly agree! Shy students really need constant reinforcement in order to build their confidence. Let them know every time they have done something good/well. These students need to know that they are important.
Patricia
I find that if I personally (as the instructor) make sure to interact with the shy student early on and complement then on something they have legitimately done well they start to build up a confidence that will allow them to participate. Most of the shy students I have come across are unsure of themselves or just generally insecure. Having an instructor single them out for sincere praise (no matter how small a thing) can be a huge deal to them.
