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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm a teacher.

For shy/quiet students, I find it most effective to speak to this type of student alone about their situation.  I assure the shy student that I am not going to penalize them for being quiet, but I do require an alternative option for demonstration of class participation.  For a current shy 10th grader, this is a "discussion journal" in which the student writes comments on some aspects of the class discussion each day; I read over her journal every few days.  In the past, I've had success with this method because it allows me the chance to respond to the student's journal contributions, focusing on an idea or thought I can encourage the student to develop or share with the class in another discussion when the same topic arises.  This requires meeting with the student alone to go over the journal, and to encourage and support the student until she feels comfortable enough to agree to contributing.  In the past, I have given the student a head-up about which day we are likely to have a discussion that could touch upon the topic, and have gotten the student's permission to call her on her to add something or share a thought just at the point in the class discussion when her contribution will fit.  Mind you, this doesn't turn shy students into outgoing students, but it does make them feel more comfortable, and it does give them a chance to actually experience the occasional verbal contribution.

It should be noted that I teach English, though, not Drama.  I'm happy to give an A to a shy/silent student if the student is demonstrating that she is following the class discussions using an alternative method, and if her written work is excellent/A level.  I have colleagues who care much more about traditional class discussion contributions (but as I like to point out, most of the poets and writers we study would not have been contributing to class discussion either).    [/quote]

Thank you - I needed an idea like this!  "Alternative method of class participation" are the words I am looking for when I conference with the teachers!  
You are awesome!![/quote]

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