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!) Some children take longer to adjust than others, but going through a silent period for two years is very concerning. If Grigor is not speaking at school and is not using and practicing his English skills at school then he will not learn the skills to be at the level he needs to be for his age and grade. His parents may think he communicates at home to English speaking guests, but if they do not know English, then that would really be hard for him to say. It may be time that he meets with the school counselor and even the school psychologist if he has not already done so to help him with his issues. The teacher could do some of the things we have previously discussed like letting Grigor bring in things from home into the classroom to help him to feel more comfortable. Bring in people from home, since he is comfortable and acts normal at home. Also, a lesson on Bulgaria may help him to open up about his country.                 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 you are right that two years of not talking is a concerning thing. If Grigor has not already done so, meeting with the school counselor might do the trick. Rated On: October 19, 2014 10:41 pm Rated By: Adam Sanchez                 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 agree with this solution. Rated On: October 18, 2020 8:06 pm Rated By: Jennifer Overbey                 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 agree with your suggestion regarding bringing a lesson on Bulgarian culture into the classroom and how it may help him in feeling more comfortable and integrated within his relatively new environments. Rated On: October 31, 2021 9:35 pm Rated By: dedyqa                 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 exactly do this. Rated On: April 2, 2023 4:45 pm Rated By: uPanaS