This post focuses on initiating student engagement by meeting with your shy students outside of class.

This approach is an important step in helping shy, introverted students develop the confidence to engage with you and other students in the classroom. Basically, we are building relationships to build confidence.

Below, you will find some of the steps I take to initiate student engagement. Please share your stories, tips, and findings in the comment box.

1. Set up a meeting with your shy students or talk before/after class. Do this nonchalantly. These students may not like to be singled out at all. It is important for you to say, “You aren’t in trouble or anything like that. I just want to meet with you to help with your homework and to discuss your progress in class. What time works for you?”

2. During the meeting, ask these students why they are reluctant to speak in class. Maybe there is an underlying reason that you can address with these students to promote student engagement. By asking, you are showing you care. This means the world to most students.

3. Inform these students of some questions you might ask. That’s right. Feed some questions to these students. I know it might sound a little shady, almost like cheating, but you’re not cheating. Maybe these students need some more time to process their ideas. No one will be the wiser, so just trust me and do it. Make the kid feel like a million bucks when he blurts out an amazing answer and his peers are forced to recognize his presence.

4. Make it your business to interact with these students in the halls. This is one of the things you want to always be doing. By saying “Good morning” or “What’s up?” when you see the student, it opens the lines to communication which can open them up in your classroom.

Student engagement starts when you build relationships with your students. By being proactive, you are giving yourself a golden opportunity to reach all your students.

Let me know how it goes and how you feel about this approach to increasing student engagement by commenting in the box below. I would love to hear your feedback!

Thanks and see you soon!