How do you teach an introvert?
Guest User
Do your students raise their hands excitedly to give responses?
Do your students work together or collaborate often?
If you answered yes to either one, you might be rewarding extroverts and forgetting about your introverts.
Susan Cain founded the Quiet Revolution and immediately went to work on changing classrooms. In a 2012 TED Talk she stated that educators "unconsciously reward extroverts who dive headfirst into discussions, sometimes without much forethought." Her work shows us how to measure engagement versus participation.
Here's some tips to support your introverts:
1) End hand raising practices.
2) Evaluate body language and "facial feedback"
3) End traditional Think-Pair-Share, go for Think-WRITE-Pair-Share
4) Learn how your students learn
5) Look for culture differences. In some cultures listening is prized more than speaking.
6) Engage one-on-one
7) Help students explore their preferences
Ready to learn more?
Read Teaching Introverted Students: How a "Quiet Revolution" is Changing Classroom Practice by Brenda Iasevoli.
Watch Susan Cain's TED Talk.
Visit the Quiet Revolution website which also includes tips for parents of introverts.