Get Started for FREE
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with X
I don't have a Facebook or a X account
 Your new post is loading...
Your new post is loading...
Scoop.it!
"Next week marks the beginning of parent-teacher conferences. I can count on a few issues to come up: how I calculate grades, the degree to which I am willing to chase students for late work, and individual parents' expectations about the flow of information between school and home. But this year, I am hearing lot of questions about how to best educate introverted students and, specifically, the fairness of class participation grades."
Beth Dichter's insight:
This post raises an important question on how we should work with students whom are not comfortable speaking up in the classroom. Do we give them a pass or do we create situations where they are expected to speak up, to present material to their classmates? The author is clearly in the side that students need to learn to speak up. In fact, the Common Core has Speaking and Listening as one of the requirements. The author also references a book by Susan Cain, 'Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking' stating "Cain champions the often-overlooked talents and gifts of introverts, and offers parents and educators strategies for communication and evaluation. This year, I drew on this advice and made a number of changes to my classroom in order to improve learning opportunities for my introverted students." If you find parents of students whom are introverts questioning your requirements or you have students whom are introverts and would like to read about some ways others think about this issue check out the post. 
|
I chose this article because it addresses the importance of communication for students who are introverts. Students must be able to speak up not just for a grade, but for their health, happiness, and success in society. Hopefully, others will look differently at the introverts in their classes and help them become better communicators so that they can speak up for themselves in and out of the classroom. Interesting article.
This is a very insightful look at teachers dealing with introverts in their classrooms. It is true that parents may advocate for giving their child a pass on participation or presentations because of his/her personality type. Author Lahey says, in essence, that's bunk.
"A student who is unwilling to stand up for herself and tell me that she does not understand the difference between an adverb and a verb is also less likely to stand up for herself if she is being harassed or pressured in other areas of her life." Encouraging students to speak up is not just important for making the grade, but can also be a matter of personal health and safety.
"If you can't stand up for yourself...the world will be a very intimidating and frightening place. I don't want my kids to be intimidated by the world."
As an aspiring administrator, this is an important stance to keep in mind. Teachers may be tempted to cave to the wishes of parents of introverted students. But doing so is not helping the children; it is ultimately doing them a disservice.