We are on our second week of school. This is my first year using WBT. I teach first grade. I have a few students who are really quiet and who look uncomfortable with using WBT. I figure that they are not use to it and that I just have to give them time. They don't or as limited as possibly use the gestures or participate with saying class rules and other saying that I have the class doing. I require all students to participate so I give frownies when I see students not participating. I remind the class that we all need to partake in the activities. The few will then participate as little as possible. Some times we practice the same thing several times until I get all participating and then the class earns a smily. I try and vary the voices and actions as to make it fun. Others are into it and then I have some which is like pulling teeth. I'm not going to give up. I figure it will take time. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful. Thank you.

I teach second grade and I had this same problem at the beginning of last year. When I began using WBT none of my students had ever been exposed to it. This was a new way of learning for them and some did seem a little unconfortable. I think the way you are incorportating the scoreboard is the best tactic to use. At the very least, the students are all engaged. I can tell you first hand it will get better as the weeks go on. It will become second nature for these students. Stay consistent with what you are doing. They WILL grasp on to it!!

Just remember that they need to have a safe, non-threatening environment! Praise them for any growth they show. Get to know those shy students a little better (eat with them at lunch, talk to them at recess, etc.). When they feel more secure with you, and that you care for them no matter what, they will feel more safe and participate more willingly. It's hard to give advice when I do not know you or your class, so I am just speaking from my own experience. I'm sure you are a wonderful educator and it sounds like most of your class is having a ball! Keep up the great work!

In my experience, (I may be lucky so far) I have not seemed to have had this problem. The students are aware that it is a necessary expectation in our class. There will always be those shy students, so I try my best to make them feel comfortable by being satisfied as long as they are participating. Maybe you can focus on that in the beginning, and gradually ask more of the shy students. The great part is that WBT becomes such a natural part of the the classroom that eventually the students become very comfortable with it. I'm not sure what your incentive for the scoreboard is, but that is always an added benefit to their willingness to participate. Good luck. Continue to make it as fun as possible. They'll come around.

Hi there!
Once your class gets "settled in"~ you can add the Switch! To the Teach! Okay! That will force partners to take turns talking and so even your shyest will have to chime in. The context of participating with a partner can be less traumatic than with the whole class. Encourage the student! I just went and did a vocabulary lesson in a 1st grade class and to help one of the boys out of his shell, I had his partner "help" him (she would say a small piece and he would repeat the small piece. they went piece by piece and then once they had the whole concept stated he would go back and say the whole concept). As you guide and encourage, the student will finally come along:)
Let us know how it goes!

You may need to figure out the "why" behind the shyness. Is the student a second language learner? Does the student "get by" without talking because s/he is accustomed to letting others speak for him/her? One year I had a child who hardly ever spoke, and I discovered that he had 6 older siblings who did EVERYTHING for him! All he had to do was point or gesture and they came running! There really was no need for him to use words! Once you figure out the "why" it will be easier to understand what it is going to take to get the student to come out of his/her shell. I use sentence frames as a framework for oral vocabulary. Me: This word is a ---- because -----. Student: This word is a NOUN because a FOX is an ANIMAL. Student: This word is a VERB, because you CAN RUN. When you begin to use "Teach, Ok" make sure you pair the shy student with a student who will listen and will encourage the shy student to speak. If you pair a shy student with an extreme talker, the shy student will just continue to be a listener! Encourage him/ her to speak in complete sentences, and praise when s/he does. As s/he grows more comfortable speaking, pull back on the support little by little. I also spend time with my class developing a T-Chart on what good listening and good speaking looks like and sounds like. We talk about how listening and speaking complement one another. I make sure that I am walking around, dropping on my knee and listening, and using proximity to my advantage. Have you tried having your shy students read into a whisper phone or an iPod? My students can get a reading "buddy" (stuffed animal) to read and talk to. This usually works for even the most withdrawn students in my class.
Keep up!!! WBT is a tool to help you get the job done!!
Deb Weigel
WBT Intern

I love your advice, Deb! I can use this even with fifth graders!!! Thank you for your wisdom:)

Thank you for you help and suggestions. It has been a few weeks and slowly the shy student is starting to participate. I like the idea of the sound phone too.