Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Heather is working alone, again It is your third period 7th grade math class. You have just finished the lesson and your students are working either in pairs or alone – their choice. You notice that Heather is working alone, again. She seems to work for a moment, then daydream out the window, and then return working again. You reflect that Heather's face often looks emotionless or blank and you can't remember if you have ever seen her smile since school started. However, you have seen her cry before during tests and also at times during individual or partner seatwork. Other teachers have remarked on seeing similar behavior but to a lesser extent than in your classroom. What is next? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) The first thing that I would do is ask the student why they prefer to work alone. Do they have trouble communicating with their peers? Do they have anxiety? As a student I, too, preferred to work along as I thought that I could completely the work better, and in a more timely manner, than if I was working with my peers. If there is a bigger problem, such as the student having anxiety or depression, that is preventing them from working with their peers then I would definitely refer them to a councilor. If not, then it was your choice as the teacher to allow students to work alone, and if that is what they prefer and if they are still performing well then that is their prerogative.