The Quiet Storm

“Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating. Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not.” ― Susan Cain, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Hey there all you snackers!

This (in case you didn't notice) is the last of a series of three articles following the "propaganda I'm not falling for" social media trend, and what it can look like in our classrooms. In case you missed them, here is the link to Part 1, and you can read Part 2 here!

Propaganda I'm not falling for this week is...the quiet, shy kids in class have it all together. I mean, they're always doing exactly what I'm asking the whole class to do all the time, right?

Wellllllll...

I'll begin by saying that I write a lot about classroom environment. Almost none of those words see the absolutely silent teaching space as ideal. Here are three archetypes that often show up in my classroom.

The Shy Kids (see author Susan Cain's quote above) are trying their hardest to be invisible. Unfortunately, these kids are often the victims of shaming and/or bullying by their peers. This, of course, is insidious and often unseen by the teacher. In my middle school classes, this can look like everyone has a prearranged seat, NOT near the shy kid. The shy kid may also simply be a new kid who hasn't yet found their tribe, or is in your class and no other members of their tribe are.

The Introverts are those who are comfortable in their own skin and simply don't have time for the gossip and small talk that often characterizes unstructured time. How do I know this? I'm an introvert...um, or at least have become moreso over time. Those of you who know me may be saying, "yeah right, Charles!" right now. But it's true. For years, my ADHD brain made me seem like an extrovert. I've recovered (read: STOPPED MASKING) as I've gotten older and I have a better-defined sense of purpose. How else do I know? All of my closest friends are introverts. The people who everyone saw as quirky and quiet back at school are my peeps.

The Overwhelmed are: (1) often either quiet due to trauma (dissociation, etc.) ; (2) paralysis that sometimes shows up in people with AD/AudHD/sleep deprived brains who are over- or understimulated; (3) or kids who are trying (often desperately) to mask their needs to avoid drawing (further) negative attention from teachers and/or peers.

What does these mean for my classroom?

First, I'm hypervigilant around the kids who would be mean to the shy ones. I stand in places where it seems clear that certain students are being singled out. This usually fixes the problem. Bullying doesn't happen right in front of the teacher's desk. I sometimes also preselect "buddies" who I know are safe, because pairing/grouping up for class activities can be excruciating for kids outside the popular groups.

Second, I greet the introverts (and sometimes can engage them in conversations about books!), because I've heard them say that they appreciate "being seen". Keep saying their names even though you never get a response. Kids notice and remember.

Lastly, I try to notice what the overwhelmed are doing to self-soothe, and allow it in my classroom. Sometimes, kids are better able to focus if they're allowed to get up and walk around, doodle, read books, fidget, etc. during the lesson. All of these are things I wouldn't have allowed as recently as three years ago in my classes. There are days when I wish I could go back and apologize to the kids who needed things in my classroom and I had no idea how to support them. In those moments, Maya Angelou reminds, "when you know better, do better."

I hope you have an amazing week! If this was useful, please like, comment, and consider sharing it with a friend! Thanks! :D

Happy snacking,

Chef Charles

www.teacherssnacks.com