Can start with simple, unthreatening involement such as "everyone who agrees or disagree" raise your hand or even ask a question with a simple yes or no answer to break the ice.
Hi John,
It is vitally important to try to build rapport with shy students. Generally, if the shy student feels like they can trust you; they will open up. We must do all we can to get these students involved. Small groups and partners work well with this type.
Patricia
I try to start conversations with them to find some kind of commom ground that we share, it will help them feel more comfortable and gradually they will be more involved in the class.
When I have silent students, I try to connect with them either during breaks, or before/after class, one on one to try to determine how they are feeling or what their hesitation is. Sometimes I can take the next step by eliciting their verbal response to a question in class if I think they know the answer, or having them work in a small group can also be useful. John Eliassen
I try to engage them in a conversaion when ever possible. That is, greet them as they eneter the classroom and offer them inviations to speak. Dividing students into smaller groups offers the quiet students a smaller forum to speak and works well for me.
I lecture from the front of my classroom but I move from the left side to the rigth side of the classroom every 30 minutes or so. This forces me as the instructor to engage the other side of the classroom.
Getting to know more about the student outside of class can be helpful. A discussion could be related or compared to a hobby of that student. Using an analogy from a class activity to a student's personal interest might work well.
Hi Rhonda,
It is great when you have students that are helpful. The shy student tends to open up more whenever he or she realizes others are willing to help.
Patricia
I have a very quiet student in my class now and I include her as much as possible by asking questions of everyone and going around the room. This way she doesn't feel singled out but she is part of the group. The other students in my class try to make everyone comfortable also by helping them with questions and studying when needed.
I have had several students throughout the years that were quiet and non-speakers. Many of them were shy and not sure of themselves and would feel they would look stupid in the eyes of their fellow students. There were a few that it was cultural for them to be silent, but they to would eventually open up as the class progressed. I learned, just as this module stated, to engage them by putting them into smaller groups, talking about personal stories, and being partners with another student to do oral reports. These strategies helped and got the student to open even more.
I have dealth with shy students in the past by making discussion groups or assigning group projects that need to be presented to the class. This has proven to be a good way to involve them without necessarily singling them out or taking them all the way out of their comfort zone.
I have two students who are very shy, and in our line of work, the medical field, we need people who are "bubbly and open" who will smile and brighten someones day. What do you do when you have tried everything and nothing works. These students are very "bright" however their personalities are not.
By putting in smaller groups.
Hi Jamie,
Shy students can be a challenge to deal with. I normally find out their interests, and I initiate conversations based on their interests to help them come out of their shell.
Patricia
Hi Rhonda,
I use this practice as well, and it works beautifully. I make it a requirement that everyone in the group has to TALK.
Patricia
My difficulty in dealing with shy students is determining if they are actually learning or not. Most of the time I find that they are in fact fairly bright students that do their work and pass their tests. But how many more oportunitites do I miss out on with these students education when I can't get them to come out of their shell. So I try and find things that they will respond to. I find humor works best. If I can get a class to laugh most students open up at least alittle bit.
I like the idea to have a small group of students gather information for a project and then present it to the class together, with all of them sitting at a table in the front of the class.
Have them be a small group leader in a subject that you as the teacher know they are very competent. As the leader they will have to be verbal to a point and because it is a subject they are comfortable and a little confident in they would be more willing to take on the role.
Hi Gerald,
Very fair! You are forewarning the student. How has the worked in the student's favor?
Patricia
If, after a few weeks, I have seen that a studen is quiet, I usually talk with that student one on one and tell them that I am going to call on them more than the other students. Part of their grade is particiaption and I don't want them to be graded downward because of their lack of contributing to the class discussion.
