Just about everyone is shy sometimes. Especially in a new classroom, with a new teacher, a lot of students need time to break the ice and get comfortable speaking up.
But what about those students who stay shy and withdrawn through weeks and weeks of classes? They’re not being disruptive or creating problems for the rest of the class, which makes it easy to just let them fade into the background. But putting in the effort to get those students to participate is critical as an instructor.
With a lot of students, their reasons for not speaking up are complicated, and the solution isn’t as simple as just calling on them and making them give an answer. Here are some tips for teaching shy students to help you get them out of their shell and participating in class.
Don’t put them on the spot
It’s easy to get frustrated, and to try to force a quiet student to give an answer by putting them on the spot. Having the whole class come to a stand-still and wait for a student to give an answer can actually have the opposite effect that you intend. The student may eventually mutter an answer, but it can be a very traumatic experience for them and can erode the trust that you need to build in order for the student to actually feel comfortable speaking up in class.
Attempt to Build a relationship
Trust and comfort are huge parts of helping shy students come out of their shell, and it takes time and caring to build that foundation. Take a few minutes, before or after class, or during breaks, to chat one on one with the student.
Ask them about their day, their interests, how they are doing. Sometimes all it takes to build that relationship is giving them a high-five and telling them “good job today.” But make sure they know that you care and are there to encourage them when they do feel ready to speak up.
Try and Identify why they don't speak up
There are as many different reasons for shyness as there are shy people in the world. Some students are afraid of being criticized, some are terrified of public speaking, some just need to get to know their classmates a little better, some don’t understand a word that’s being said in class, and some are just trying to get by without having to do any work.
You can’t help them if you don’t understand what it is that pushes them into their shell in the first place.
Highlight little victories
If a student who is usually withdrawn does speak up in class, be sure to meet that with encouragement. Tell them that you liked their idea or comment, or that you would love to hear more about what they brought up, or that you are very happy that they raised their hand today.
Make them feel good about taking a little step forward, and you’ll find them taking more and more of those little steps.
Be very delicate about correcting them
Quieter students are often very sensitive to criticism. Be careful about how or if you correct them, even if they give the wrong answer. The important thing is that they are participating.
Meeting that participation with criticism or correction, even if it seems minor to you, can drive them back into their shell.
Pay attention to their interactions with others
People are people, and sometimes they can be cruel. Quieter students often feel they don’t fit in, and often that is because other students make fun of them or pick on them.
If you do identify something, address it discreetly with the students involved. No one wants it to be brought to the attention of the entire class that they’re getting picked on, and that can be especially mortifying for a student who is already self-conscious and withdrawn...
Use small groups or partners
Shy students will usually be a lot more comfortable speaking and participating in a group of 3 or 4 than in front of the whole class. Partner them up with peers they feel comfortable with, and who you trust to help them instead of just talking over them.
Encourage their interests
If they have a chance to talk about something that they are interested in, a quiet student is much more likely to come out of their shell and get engaged in class.
This goes along with building a relationship with the student; talk to them, find out what they like and are interested in, and then give them opportunities to pursue those topics.