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!) The first thing I would do is try to have a one on one conversation with him with no one else around. I would ask him personal questions to get to know him better and I would also share personal things about me with him. I would contact his parents if he does not communicate here. I would ask them what he enjoys and maybe take some time with him to see if I could gain his trust. He's probably still uncomfortable in his new surroundings, so I would be sympathetic of that.                 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 believe this solution would work because he is not speaking at all. There would not be a way to communicate with him to ask such questions. Rated On: October 15, 2014 12:30 am Rated By: ySaryN                 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: Confronting a child one-on-one, asking him personal questions and then volunteering your own personal stories is going to scare him and cause him to withdraw more. If you think there is a personal or psychological problem with him it would be best to refer him to a school counselor or psychologist, and set up a conference with said parties and the parents first as to avoid putting the child on the spot and scaring him even more. Rated On: June 16, 2015 4:02 pm Rated By: Farhat Ahmad                 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 that one-on-one time is essential. Getting to know your students will be best solution. You will be surprised what you can find out by letting students talk and you just listen. Rated On: June 18, 2015 2:56 am Rated By: ezyXyh