Causes of shy out students

Some children seem naturally shy, while others may revert to being shy because they are scared, ashamed or simply conditioned by past experiences to do so. A lack of confidence can cause a child to become shy, especially if she has been given reason to doubt her abilities in the past. This may lead to a student not participating in the classroom or having difficulty connecting with other students.

1.Risks/Warnings

Shy students may show signs of social anxiety. This is not necessarily all bad; in fact, shy students tend to behave better in class because they are not speaking out of turn or causing distractions in the classroom. However, shyness can sometimes be a sign of a larger problem, such as problems at home. For example, some students become shy as the result of an unaffectionate home life or some sort of shameful secret. They may have been surrounded in class or at home by bullies, or have been unfairly critiqued in the past, causing them to be more fearful of putting themselves out there.

2. Teaching Methods

In a classroom setting, it is up to the teacher to bring the shy student out of his shell. Do this by instituting a policy that everyone in the class must contribute to discussion. This takes the focus off the individual student by instead including all classmates. Do not make students feel rushed to answer quickly; instead, give the shy student a chance to mull over what he is thinking until he is confident that it will be well received. Encourage students to work together in pairs or in larger groups so that they can become comfortable communicating ideas with one another.

3. Considerations

Because shyness can sometimes be the symptom of a psychological issue or a troublesome home life, parental involvement can be key. For example, if the student is struggling with speaking up in class, you may want to talk with the school counselor about setting up a meeting with the parents. This may be a chance to get to the heart of the issue and come up with ways to help the student feel more confident in participating, but not feel like he is being punished.