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 think you need to form a relationship with Grigor to help him feel more comfortable in the classroom. Maybe the teacher could start this through a journal that would be passed back and forth between Grigor and the teacher. This way Grigor could write to the teacher about things he likes/dislikes and it would be private between the teacher and Grigor. Then hopefully once he feels like the teacher is invested in him then he will be more open to communicating. I also would set up a parent/teacher conference with Grigor's parents to make them aware of your concerns about his communication skills and see if they have any strategies and/or tips that you could use in the classroom.                 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 like the idea of a journal. That is an excellent way of communicating with the students and having them feel comfortable knowing you are the only other person reading their thoughts or concerns. Rated On: October 15, 2014 8:50 pm Rated By: Dana Johnson                 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 really like the idea of having a journal to communicate, I think that would be very beneficial to Grigor. Rated On: October 19, 2014 3:03 pm Rated By: Angela Avery