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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 agree that Grigor's silent period seems to be lasting longer than normal especially if he is communicating with English speaking people at home. You have already done my first suggestion which would be to contact his parents to make them aware of his behavior at school. His parents can not only tell you about his progress with English at home, but they can also tell you about any issues he may be having or things that he has told them about school that may be helpful. My next suggesstion would be to contact the guidence counselor to see if they can meet with Grigor once a week or so until he opens up. I would also do anything possible to help him open up in the classroom. Keeping a class journal where he can write or draw pictures may be the best way to help him start to open up to you. I would also try to assign him a buddy or multiple buddies to offer to work with him in class, sit by him at lunch, and try to help him understand that his peers want to get to know him. |
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