Involving silent students in class
How can you help silent students to become more involved in the class?
I find the silent student is the easiest to work with. I put a great deal of effort in getting to know my students. Usually they open up more readily when they realize that you are interested in them personally and interested in helping them meet their goals.
Partner students up with another student or with a group and getting to know other students helps a quiet student open up once they get to know their classmates
Getting the silent student to participate and engage helps them feel valued and appreciated
Hi Byron,
When the silent student feels there is a relationship between them and the teacher, the silent student is more open for interaction/communication.
Patricia Scales
It seems that their is at least one silent student in every class. I try to get to know them a little better and try to get them involved in group activities.
Hi Ashlee,
You sound like you do a fine job building relationships with students. Students will definitely open up more if they feel as though they have a relationship with you.
Patricia Scales
I used to be that silent student, so I have an understanding to where they are coming from. I try to greet every student that walks through the door and ask them how their day has been, etc. I find out their interests, experiences, and what their major is so that I can relate my class discussions to those things. Once students see me incorporating that into the lessons they slowly open up, even if it is staying after class to tell me an experience, etc.
Hi David,
If you try to develop a rapport with silent students, they will be more open to communicate with you.
Patricia Scales
This method seems to work for me also. I usually approach the silent student in lab, and we talk about the project. Most silent students react favorably to this approach.
Hi Keith,
It sounds like you really get to know your students and you do your due diligence to put them at ease. Having is rapport with students is paramount.
Patricia Scales
I like to address silent students first when moving into a small group scenario. Once the lecture is completed and I am moving about the room to check on individual work or small group work, it's nice to see how they are doing first. That way, if their silence is based upon general anxiety about the material I can check in with them first to calm any fears and proactively encourage their success.
I usually have a larger class, 20-30 students, and often there is someone in the class that is quite, shy, uncertain or upset about something. My first step is to identify the problem by asking them to help me with something just before or after class. They usually respond and that gives me the chance to find out which of the above mentioned is the likely reason for the withdrawal. Once identified, I use many of the tactics mentioned above to bring them to a point of involvement. A simple experience of our own past similar experiences can be shared with them to make them feel more at ease regardless of the problem.
I found talking to students either before or after class with the silent students helped to open them up. Once I have a rapport with them the silent students enter into class discussions more confidently.
Greg
Most people would find it hard to believe but I was one of those "silent" students, and I felt more comfortable as time passed.
I think it is important as an instructor to make sure that they know and understand what is being taught. Take the time to talk to this person. As they grow more confident in the course and warm up to other students they will open up. put them in charge of something or a task. I have a student who other teachers wonder why last year she would only talk to me (and I don't even have her this year)a silent student is not a bad student and can become an asset in your classroom if you give them the opportunity
I really agree by talking to each individual student the first day in a classroom discussion I take little notes so I can personalize myself with that persons personal interest and use this later during the course for little class discussions.
When you have a silent student in class you can make them more involved by dividing into smaller groups, or having students to mini presentations as part of their grade. It is important to determine if the student is shy or just not understanding the course information.
Malana, I completely agree due to the fact I have several silent students which they are engaged in group discussion.
I agree that it is important to be interested in what silent students have to say, but sometimes those silent students need s few more seconds to be brave enough to speak or to get their thoughts together so to involve those silent students. I often have to insist on hands being risen before speaking, or the other students just run them over before they get a chance to speak. When that behavior occurs from other students then the silent ones may give up trying.
I agree to be more soft with a silent student they feel more confortable with you and they will open up.
