Shy adults and kids: what are your positive and negative school experiences?

Question

I am studying to be a teacher and I am researching how to effectively support kids who feel shy in the classroom. Please tell me what helped/didn't help you out in school, or any other experiences you have had in your life. I, myself, was very quiet as a child and would like to find out how my experience differs or matches others. Please tell me how old you are (or if you are an adult and don't like to give out this info, just say "adult." best answer will go to the most detailed response.

Thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

I was really shy (still am, to a point), and in school I was a really good student (all A's). Teachers liked to pick on me if nobody else knew the answer, so I always got called on for the really hard questions. I hated getting put on the spot like that. I had one teacher who talked to me privately and arranged that instead of having to raise my hand if I wanted to answer, I could just make direct eye-contact with her, and she would know I wanted that question and could call on me. I had another teacher (math) who would ask the class a question. I would mouth the answer, and she would just nod a little at me, and then wait for someone else to raise their hand. That way, she could check that I knew the answer, but I didn't have to talk in front of the class.

I am a teacher now. The first few times I had to teach a lesson while I was in college, I was incredibly nervous. There were a couple of times that I got light-headed and thought I might faint, but I got through it, and it got easier. I give all of my students a questionnaire on the first day of school, and one of the questions is "Is there anything I should know about you?". I have had some students write that they are very shy and do not want to be called on to speak in class. If they have to do an oral presentation, I will make arrangements for them to come in before or after school and give their presentation with just me in the room, and I try not to call on anyone that doesn't raise their hand because I don't want to embarrass anyone. I make a big point of telling everyone that if they ever have any questions they don't get to ask in class, they can come ask me privately before or after school and get one-on-one help. I'm 26 now and in my third year of teaching high school math.

Answer 2

Most positive experience was that I had a small group of very good friends who were always there for me, unlike in the "cool group", where they would turn on you in a minute.

The most negative was that people sometime misunderstood my shyness and thought that I was stuck up and did not want to talk to them. Being shy is not easy, it is painful.

Now that I am an adult, I have become more outgoing in groups where I know most of the people, but still reserved at large parties.

I think the best thing you can do for a shy child is find out what they like, whether it be art, reading, sports etc and focus on that with them.

Answer 3

Hi, I'm 16.
I've always been a shy, reserved person. I don't put my hand up in class to answer a question - e ven if I know the answer - and most of the time, teachers just tend to forget about me and other quiet people. They don't really bother trying to get the quiet people involved but concentrate on the louder, confident students. I personally don't really mind because I like to be left alone but I don't like the fact that some teachers may think I'm more stupid than I actually am. I know it's not their fault really, it's mine for being so quiet but I really dislike speaking out - it makes me really uncomfortable. Also, they don't ever ask me if I need help, if I am getting on with the work ok - they just assume I'm doing fine because I don't say anything. I feel too awkward asking for help if I'm stuck so basically, if I don't understand a topic then it's never explained to me again. So that's one negative-ish point.
Another negative point is that I do find it harder than confident people to make friends. Again, I don't really mind because I personally don't like having large groups of friends - I prefer smaller groups. So I have my own small group of friends but this means that I don't really have very good social skills and if I'm put in a position where I have to speak to new people then I completely freak out and I come across as a really unfriendly, cold person.
More rumours tend to get spread about you if you are quiet because people assume that you are a goody-two-shoes nerd and once something out of the ordinary comes out - then it spreads around throughout the school.
The good points are that I can get on with my work without being distracted so much by other people's conversations. I don't join in with them because I feel too embarassed, so I just get on with the work. Also, I get on with my teachers just fine because they just assume I'm a nice, hard-working girl (that's not actually the case half the time).

Answer 4

When I was in elementary school I had a similar problem. I was very timid with people of my own age and older. I overcame this by maturity, and also participating in group descussions in class. Another reason I overcame this is the teacher would sometimes bring stuff (candies, pencils, what kids like etc....) to class once or twice a week, and that opened me up because it made me feel that the teacher knew my likings and it made me always want to guess what was next.

Answer 5

At school my friends always helped me out thats what boosted my confidence. What i wasnt so sure about though was tests they were putting pressure on me. I think the best thing to do is if you do become a teacher make sure how to control your class and make sure not to put to much pressure on them.
Good luck !

Answer 6

see shy people never can never sometimes stop being shy
its because you have white and a short of blue brain cells that release toxans that emoit sadness in happy people tat put them in the middle of sad and happy that is Wat shy is

i an not really shy of sad I'm normal unlike most people there is only about 47% unsay people in America i your a shy teacher your students may tend to get board or lose cofinence

Answer 7

nicely definite they have replaced. yet why does not they? they are growing to be older and extra self sustaining and getting knowledgeable. definite they think of extra critically and take care of circumstances with some reserve. needless to say they are going to alter. all of us can 't walk around pooping our pants and pointing at our butts consistently!