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  Case: Mum's the Word
In a pre-K setting, there is a student who has been silent the whole school year, the student would not even talk to tell the teacher how finger was stepped on during center play. There was nothing to get the student to speak. The teacher spoke with the parent about interests of the student and it was learned that the student likes science and Transformers. The teacher planned many science lessons and even bought the student a Transformers coloring book. The student waited the entire day to share his excitement with his mom and older brother. The student has been evaluated and it has been determined that he just choosing not to speak while at school. He plays well and gets along with the other students, but will not communicate with them. It is his first year in a structured setting, and although his family is from South America, he was born and raised in the U.S. What other strategies can the teacher use to get the student to talk while in class.
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I had a student not speak the entire year until I partnered him with a peer on a classroom assignment. I believe if you put him with a partner of even involve him in a very competitive game he would begin to slowly speak.

I would also try and communicate through writing in the beginning and then move on to talking to him. You could even come up with a new language just for you and the student. That student needs to feel special and the key is building relationship with him and letting him know it is ok.
 
     
     
  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 feel assigning him a partner will really help him adapt to the classroom and other children better. He may just be scared, he is young and he may never been outside of his home.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 1:07 am
Rated By: Haley Haines
 
     
     
  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 do just this.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 1:47 am
Rated By: Jocelyn Mitchell
 
     
     
  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: Great idea. It's a win win for both students and the teacher.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 1:53 am
Rated By: Tekla Mayotte
 
     
     
  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've met a student that has selective mutism, he speaks at home but only with a friend at school. Since he works well with this one student, they have paired him up the last couple of years. I would not push if the child doesn't feel comfortable, and as long as he is learning, I would not push.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 2:14 am
Rated By: Neyvis Mendoza
 
     
     
  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: Having the student work cooperatively with other students will most likely help.
Rated On: October 20, 2014 4:09 pm
Rated By: Maryssa Kane
 
     
     
  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 do this, I think moving from written word to verbal is a great start.
Rated On: October 21, 2014 12:01 am
Rated By: qyryMa
 
     
     
  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: This is very helpful and I would do this in my classroom.
Rated On: February 23, 2015 12:00 am
Rated By: Luvyba
 
     
     
  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: Making the student feel comfortable is key! Writing may be the way, then asking if he could read aloud what he wrote.
Rated On: February 25, 2015 7:36 pm
Rated By: BeMyDu
 
     
     
  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 liked that you mentioned getting the student involved in a competitive game to get him to speak. A competitive game would distract the student and the student would possibly forget they aren't speaking, which in turn could get them to speak!
Rated On: February 26, 2015 9:36 pm
Rated By: BuMynu
 
     
     
  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: Very good solution! I would use this in y future classroom as well.
Rated On: March 3, 2016 2:04 pm
Rated By: uMyQeX
 
     
     
  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 helping him gradually begin talking is a great strategy. I would use this suggestion to help the student become more comfortable.
Rated On: March 6, 2017 3:56 am
Rated By: Jessica J.
 
     
     
  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: This is a great suggestion! I would use this in a classroom setting.
Rated On: July 9, 2017 3:18 am
Rated By: eRahyR
 
     
     
  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: good solution
Rated On: October 8, 2017 4:33 am
Rated By: Gapasa
 
     
     
  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: This is a great idea because it would open up different forms of communication for the student.
Rated On: October 11, 2017 5:48 pm
Rated By: JeVese