How do you get those few(1 or 2) students that will not do the gestures, teach, etc? They just sit. I have given frownies, but I hate to punish everyone for the actions of a few.

I agree, I too have this problem. One or two who just sit. I tell my students to tell their partner that they have to participate. I give frowny, when I see the student participating I give smiley.

I think we all have this problem in one way or another. I also use the scoreboard, but sometimes we need an alternative. What I have been doing in my classroom, is allowing students to be the leader. A leader is someone who leads the students during a particular activity. For example, if I am teaching vocabulary words I may choose a student who can lead the other students by using mirror gestures and teach/okay. I tell students that if they want to be a leader they must be really participating. By doing that, they are showing me that they are in fact a class leader. The students LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, being the leader. They feel as though they are teaching the class. It has really brought up the participation level in my class since they all want to be the teacher. I would recommend trying this. It was really helpful in my class.

If you can "catch" one of these fence-sitters participating, give the whole class a smiley! Me: Wow!! Jimmy was using BIG gestures! Thank you, Jimmy! Class, Jimmy has just earned a smiley for the whole class for his terrific gestures! A ten-finger Whoo to Jimmy!
Circulate throughout the room, stop to prompt, "Gestures please" or praise, "Wow, super job on the gestures here". Keep the classroom climate positive and the expectations high, expecting EVERYONE to participate. Be patient!!! Some students just need a bit more time! Often, these non-participators will find out that joining in brings positive attention to them, and helps to move them from the periphery to the community of learners.
Keep us posted on how it is going!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern

I tried some of the ideas and they were great - keep them coming!!! I make a HUGE deal about kids participating who do not normally participate. Also, I have practiced over and over how to turn to your partner and look them in the eye when teaching each other. Furthermore, I keep what I am teaching precise and to the point so that they do not have trouble remembering it or repeating it. Slowly, but surely, some of the ones who are more hesitant and have just been sitting back and watching are joining in - it took a while but they are making their move - and I am right there with the praise!! It is important to be consistent with actions, gestures and phrases so that it is easy to participate and not confusing.

Liann

Whenever I see a student not participating, I immediately walk arouund the class so that they know I am monitoring everyone for engagement. I also start to use different voices such as a whisper voice, monster voice, robot voice...The different voices always bring back their focus because they want to try the voice out for themselves. Like others, I always make sure to put a point on the score board when everyone is participating. At times I reinforce their continued involvement by saying things such as, "Wow! Everyone is participating so nicely. I dont think I'm going to catch up to you all...you're all so engaged! I love it!" They get so happy and try even harder.

I also always make sure to sit the students who will not participate during "teach-okay", with my classroom leaders. My leaders are usually benchmark students/high readers, who always participate, and follow the rules. In cases like this, I always tell the "leader" to go first and the non participating student to go second. I find that the non participating students are usually shy, tend to drift off, or have trouble re-wording what I just said in their own words or repeating. Having them be the second repeater gives them the comfort to know what is asked of them and exactly what to say. Sometimes their confidence is not at the level as the others. It also helps the "leaders" feel so much better of themselves because they feel like they are a mini teacher.