observation items

In an effort to engage students, you create questions that elicit a class conversation. More often than not, you have those one or two students that avoid your gaze. When they do participate they have a shaky voice or a very soft tone. These students are shy students and it is vitally important that we understand why they have these feelings.

During my teaching practise in the school I have learned quite a lot on how making those students participate in class.

• Kinesthetic activities: Sitting in a desk in a quiet classroom and raising your hand can be intimidating for a lot of students; but doing a physical activity can change things. In our class, before doing an activity we had some fun to call their attention. We played Simon Says, we made them sing a song, answer questions by walking to spots in the room, play a silly game that encouraged them to speak… 

• Groups/whole class: When a class is composed of 30 students, it is intimidating to share an idea in front of such a large group. But when students are in groups of just three or four students, the pressure decreases. Students might not participate in whole-class discussions, but a small group might fit the bill.