Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Needy Students I currently teach 8th grade and my students are so very needy. They constantly ask the same exact questions and want me to give them the answer. They do not want to look for the information themselves. I can stand in front of the classroom and provide them with explanations for specific questions on a handout and as soon as I hand it out, they are asking me questions over the topics I just covered minutes ago. When I give students independent practice, they cannot do any of it on their own. They want me to hold their hand and walk them through each question even after I have already given them notes with all of the information in them. What can I do to encourage my students to be more independent? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Assign each student a work buddy. Set the expectation at the beginning of the year that they need to treat their buddy as their accountability partner. If they need help with something that is not directly related with struggling with content, they need to ask their work buddy and even one more person before they come to ask you. If they don't ask their work buddy repeatedly and they continue to not listen and disrupt class, then punishment has to come into play.                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I do like your idea. It does show a little independence. In the real world you are allowed to ask questions. Rated On: June 30, 2015 9:17 pm Rated By: TaPeBu                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Having a partner always helped me aswell. This will help the students to be less needy, but it it will still give them reassurance at first because they will not have to do everything alone. The students will become more independent by having just one person, and after a while you can slowly ease them into small things alone and then go bigger and bigger. Rated On: October 18, 2015 5:21 pm Rated By: yseHug                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: If I were in this situation, I would do exactly this. This is an effective idea. Rated On: October 19, 2015 3:15 am Rated By: aQaWus                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I like the idea of having students work with a buddy so that they can ask questions to before asking the teacher who might be busy assisting another student plus some students do well learning from another peer. Great solution! Rated On: February 27, 2017 1:49 am Rated By: aHeXud                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case No The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original No Comments: I don't think one should be punished for having questions needing guidance, this will just create a hostile environment. Rated On: February 21, 2018 9:04 pm Rated By: Simone Haddad                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: Grat idea! Buddies are effective Rated On: February 25, 2018 9:50 pm Rated By: upusyb                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I think assigning work partners can help students take gradual steps towards becoming independent. Allowing students to work with a partner will allow them some level of dependence, without relying on the teacher for constant guidance and help in finding the answer. Eventually, the students should become more comfortable with working independently after they realize they have all the resources they need to complete their work. Rated On: February 23, 2019 5:56 am Rated By: dygavu                 Rating The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) No The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement No The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue No The suggested solution is original Yes Comments: I don't think I'd want to punish a student for asking for help. They may be avoiding working with peers for a reason. They may be shy or fearful of their peers. Although this collaboration provides them with valuable skills. Rated On: March 7, 2021 8:55 pm Rated By: WyJyGa