SHY STUDENTS
Encouragement tips for
Being a shy child can make school challenging, but caring teachers can help by creating a more inclusive environment where such children can thrive.
“For shy students, everyday classroom tasks such as reading aloud, group work and presentations can be a daunting and even scary experience,” said Katie Benson, head of primary at the British International School of Washington, D.C. “It is therefore crucial that teachers are sensitive and proactively manage their needs to enable them to be successful.”
“Shy students are a fantastic resource for a classroom. They are also easy to overlook,” said former educator Adam Cole, who taught in the Fulton County and Atlanta, Georgia, public schools at the middle and elementary levels for 12 years.
A good place to start is by engaging with the child as an individual so he or she feels comfortable with you and in the class.
“Talk to them about their interests. Using gentle humor can also help,” Benson said.
There are a variety of reasons a student may be shy, but whatever the cause, getting him or her to speak is not only good for the student but for the class as well, Cole said. Including a shy child should be done carefully and with some compassion, he said.
Demonstrate empathy
A teacher should have a comprehensive method of getting opinions from all students so that everyone is expected to talk, and everyone listens to the speaker no matter how softly or slowly they answer, Cole said.
“The students will watch the teacher to see how to treat the shy student when their turn comes. If the teacher is impatient or pushes the shy student to speak more quickly or with more volume, the other students will read that these qualities are deficits and will be intolerant of them,” Cole said.
Avoid calling on the first person to raise their hand, said teen life coach and parent educator Sheri Gazitt, founder of Teen Wise.
“A teacher needs to give the shy child space and time to raise their hand or to ask/answer questions. It takes shy kids time to build up the courage to interact,” she said. “What happens quite often in the classroom is the outspoken child raises their hand quickly and is called upon. Giving just a few extra seconds before calling on someone can change the dynamics in the classroom.”
Get creative
With empathy and understanding, teachers can prompt shy students to interact in their own way, Cole said.
“If necessary the teacher can use common techniques like paraphrasing and asking follow-up questions to help the student make themselves understood. The shy student should not be made to feel that their shyness is something to be cured, but also not something they will be allowed to hide behind,” he said.
“Think of alternative ways in which you can achieve the learning outcomes you are aiming for, involving them in the conversation where possible,” Benson said. “For example, could they pre-record a presentation rather than do it live in front of the class?”
Other ways to participate include writing the answer down on a sheet of paper or individual dry-erase board, having an electronic answering system or having a box in the classroom where kids can drop in questions and comments, Gazitt said.
“Crucially, don’t make the shyness into a big deal; doing so will inevitably make it worse. Play it down and don’t draw unnecessary attention to it, especially on front of others,” Benson said.