Small groups are one great way to engage shy students. Has anyone had experience with any other ways?
Hi Robert,
I concur! Silent students do a lot better in a smaller setting.
Patricia Scales
I feel if you create a comfortable atmosphere for the students they will speak more freely in class. I tell my students my classroom is a judgement free zone. Their opinion is their opinion. Also what gets said in the class room stays in the class room. This approch makes them feel like they can openly answer questions, and speak their minds on diffrent topics.
You can assign them to a small discussion group where there is not as much pressure on them to speak publicly. Many silent students are silent because they are generally shy - by putting them in a smaller, less threatening context you're helping to remove some of the stress of public speaking.
Playing learning games during class can help all students with retention and help make learning fun. This reduces pressure on those students that made be afraid to answer in a more formal setting.
I like the small groups method at first, then some of them are more comfortable opening up in a bigger class scenario as time goes on.
I like to involve all students in class material shy or not. I've even changed the room around and made a square so that all students are facing each other. This worked very well every one interacted and they all had the opertunity to speak. I also like the powerpoint presentation which is part of their grade. This seems to help loosen students up and get them out of their shell.
Hi Brook,
I understand! Valid points made. We cerrtainly can't change people. Some students are simply just quiet; we can only enocurage them to participate.
Patricia Scales
I usually leave them alone in class because I do not know the reason for their silence and would not want to embarrass them. However, when the correct opportunity arises I would take them aside and "visit" with the hope of learning why they are silent. Some student are shy, don't know the material or have some life issue that is not appropriate to pursue in a class atmosphere.
it has been my experience that silent students tend to remain silent because it is in their nature or cultural training not to speak out in class. Since I have a highly enriched cultural diversity, it is always best to honor their family values rather than trying to change them to be outspoken.
If the problem lies in a family matter it may be a good time to refer them to any resources the school may have. If there are no resources my involvement, as a teacher, is not to try and offer suggestions or interfere. This is a difficult aspect of the profession.
I have found if I break the class into small groups and play a game related to the subject, such as Jeopardy they tend to overcome the shy quiet person they are and show the competitive side. Every one likes to win and this desire seems to be stronger wanting to stay in the shadows.
Hi Aracelis,
You have it! These are great ways to get silent students involved. I have also learned that silent students are more likely to open up in smaller groups.
Patricia Scales
What I do to help quiet students become more involved is break them up into a small or even a partner discussion. I even have them work on a book assignment together where they have no choice but to talk to one another
I believe that in order to get silent students involved in the classroom, you need to have question and answer segments where you call on various students. Mix it up so that they don't feel targeted. Also I mix up the class by partnering up the strong vocal students with the quiet ones and give them assignments to work on.
Ive noticed that silent students actually have a lot to say or add that's benefitting for the class, they just keep it in. Small group or presentation or the expectation that there will be a discussion will help. Setting the class up that learning involves questions helps.
Ask questions pertaining to the subject of the class,ask the silent student.
Hi Melissa,
I can see how these topics interest students. I like how you get everyone involved.
Patricia Scales
I find that the topic I teach does get everyone interested. I have discussions on each topic and ask for everyone's opinion. I do break students up in groups to discuss topics. I have had students in the past self disclose things such as incarceration, drug use, rape, abuse, cutting, suicide behaviors, and much more. I make my class a big group discussion. I explain to students at the beginning of the class, these are some topics that we may come across and be respectful of other students. I have not had a problem to this day, yet!
One strategy I use to involve silent students is to assign responsibilities to students to begin the discussion on named topics. Every student in the class knows they can be called on to start the conversation on any particular topic assigned for that day. Every topic is initiated by a student. If I identify a silent student, I may pick him or her to initiate the topic more often, with making it extremely obvious. I may even engage them more with follow on questions to clarify my understanding of what they are saying. This forces them to communicate more in front of the class and slowly builds their confidence.
I like to have the students split into small groups and have each student present either the topic or the answer to the class.
I have small discussion groups each class and if I have a different student act as spokesperson for the group so I can hear from everybody
