• Your first help should be private. During this first meeting, confront in a
caring and factual way. You may say, "I'm not going to allow you not to
participate. If I let you get behind, you won't catch up." Only after a
relationship is firmly established can the student be told, "If you want to
stay in class, you must do assignments, be on time, and bring materials."
It's amazing to find out how much the nonparticipator wants caring
demands from teachers after a relationship is established.
• Every nonparticipator experiences failure in the classroom setting. The
student will feel safer if he/she can ally with the familiar and secure.
Therefore, whether this student likes snakes or cars, adjust your teaching
efforts to his/her secure interests.
• Likewise, make sure lack of interest or absence is not linked to insecurity.
Remember, if coming late to class is unpleasant, the student won't come.
• Establishing a relationship rather than rejecting will help give the student
esteem and prestige with classmates and may prevent others from teasing
or looking down on him/her. Remember, self-actualization can only be
realized by inclusion.
• Remember, right and wrong cannot be the issue if you want to change this
behavior. If you hold fast to class rules, you may never get the opportunity
to win with this student.
• Don't refuse to give this student supplies when he/she doesn't bring them
to class. If you do refuse, a bigger problem may loom ahead.
• Ask yourself two questions: "Do I really want this student here?" and "Do I
want to drive him/her away?" These questions must be answered before
you can help the nonparticipator. Your answers will determine your
actions. If you really want to hold this student in school, you'll be able to
make the necessary adjustment. If you don't, you won't be able to do any
adjusting.
• Be flexible with the nonparticipator.
• Remember to call on those students whose hands are not raised to
volunteer answers. Don't form any prejudgments because some students
lack the confidence to volunteer participation. They may be sitting at their
desks during discussions hoping to be called upon. Few of us have not had
the experience of wanting to say something when we didn't-and wishing
later we had. A watchful eye would have noticed our partially raised hands,