student has fear of reading aloud in class....acting up terribly in class?

Question

this is middle school, and a student is lashing out in class and i believe this is due to his fear of reading aloud. What behavioral principles could I use to reduce or eliminate the fear?

Answer 1

You could have two or more students read aloud at the same time. This may help releive some of the pressure. You could also work out a system with this student where he can preread a section the night before and practice it, and then you would call on him to read for that section in class. Perhaps just give him a small section to read aloud if you are going to call on him. Perhaps most importantly you should talk to your student about his acting out and his reading, and see if you can't come up with some solution together. Make his problem as inconspicuos to other students as possible.

Answer 2

Having taught ESL and TESOL/TEC, this is one of my favorite DON'Ts, and I can see why you have problems with your students. Reading aloud in class is probably one of the WORST things an ESL teacher can do and I'll explain why: 1. Reading aloud puts the student in the spotlight and if he/she makes mistakes, then 20-40 pairs of eyes are on them which is extremely intimidating and it can really destroy their confidence and self esteem. 2. Reading aloud is NOT reading. It is at best a pronunciation exercise and nothing else. 3. If you get students to read one after an other in a specific order (alphabetically for their name or by seat) then the other students are not even listening but counting and practicing their potential lines so when their turn comes they can do a better job. 4. Reading aloud is probably the fastest and easiest way to make students HATE reading and being in an ESL class. I would sugest that instead of reading out loud, ask the students to either write stories in groups and then they can read them aloud to their classmates. Or have silent reading for 10-15 minutes and ask them to summarize in their own words what they have read. Have the students bring in a short story they have found and read it to their classmates in a "story-telling" class. Good Luck

Answer 3

When I was a kid, I had the exact same problem.

It could cause more damage to try to get the child to read out loud. Maybe the child has difficulties reading, or is not able to read fast enough. The child could also be a silent sufferer or unaware of suffering from minor dyslexia. You should assess this child on it's own...do not embarrase the child any further infront of it's classmates. This can have a damaging effect on it's pesonality. A speach theripist por elecution lessons could help here...helping the child to recognize words and sylibols and pronounce correctly.

My problem was never resolved as a child, as a result, I am quite shy and have low self esteem. I did however complete university, not without a struggle. My piers often react to me as if I were stupid or a bit slow because of my reading problem. I will always avoid reading whenever I can, and would NEVER read out loud.

Answer 4

Why does the student need to read aloud? The child should only be required to read to you or at least in a small group. Ensure that the student is getting the support and practice they need to be fluent readers. Match them up with a trusting peer reading partner to do a buddy read. They must develop confidence first. We are preparing our students for real life. In reading, they are being prepared to read as adults for research, leisure, etc. How often are we required to read aloud as adults? Unless, we are teachers. Most adults read to themselves. Potentially, you could turn this child off to reading for life.

Answer 5

I would never make a child read aloud in front of others if he or she did not want to. There is absolutely no educational value to be gained by this activity. If you need for them to read aloud to you for evaluation purposes make sure you are alone together. Some people have had good success having children read to stuffed animals or puppets if the anxiety is that great. Please stop subjecting this child to this stress producing task!

Answer 6

Hi,
For a simple, step-by-step program that can help your child learn to read visit this site: http://readingprogram.toptips.org

Learning to read at a young age is important for the development of the child. It helps them develop a better understand of their surroundings, allows them to gather information from printed materials, and provides them with a wonderful source of entertainment when they read stories and rhymes. Children develop at different rates, and some children will develop reading skills quicker than other children; however, what's important is that as the parent, you are keenly aware of your child's maturity and reading level to provide them with appropriate books and activities to help them improve.

As parents, you are the most important teacher for your children.

Also Watch this video of a 2 year old child reading http://readingprogram.toptips.org
Good Bye

Answer 7

Don't force it. See if you can get him to stay after school and read with you to build up confidence, then work it up to paired readings in class with a friend he trusts. You might then give him his part to practice reading at home the night before he is to read it in class. Be patient and try not to feed the outbursts in class.

Answer 8

Get him used to reading out loud with you before or after school. The more practice he gets, the easier it will be for both of you. Don't insist he read in front of others. Just let this one go. Patience, patience.

Answer 9

Make up a cue system that only he and you know about. When you do that cue, he knows that he will have to read soon.
Or, read in a group.
Or a sentence at a time.
Lastly, talk to him about WHY he is afraid. Knowing the root often helps.

Answer 10

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