Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Silent Period Grigor is in my 4th grade classroom. He came to the US last year with his family from Bulgaria. He was in 4th grade at our school last year as well. He was retained in 4th grade because he did not develop his English language skills. I learned about a "silent period" that children go through when they learn a new language. My guess is that Grigor is in the silent period. But it does not make sense to me that he would be in the silent period for almost two years. He does not say anything in class. He does not socialize with his classmates either. He can read and write in simple English though. His parents tell me that he acts completely normal at home and he is able to communicate with English speaking people at home when they have guests. This is really puzzling. I have to find a way to communicate with Grigor and discover what is holding him back from communicating with people at school. I need some help. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would do some research of his culture he left behind. During a meeting with his parents, I would ask what his likes and dislikes were in Bulgaria and what are his likes and dislikes now. I would place articles or books written in his native language, and maybe find a couple pieces of artwork illustrating a familiar scene from Bulgaria around the classroom for him to notice and watch his reactions for a couple of days. Hopefully something will grab his attention for you to observe his actions and behavior then I would encourage to add to what has grabbed his attention to build the teacher-student relationship. Ask him questions about the pictures he has noticed or ask him if he would help you with reading one of the articles from Bulgaria that is written in his native language. Just remember to continue to reassure him that it is okay to express himself through drawing or writing. Maybe you can ask him to draw what the article is talking about. He has to find that safe and secure place at school for him to open up and communicate like he does at home.