Equity Resources, Teaching Tips & Tricks, Uncategorized | Feb 10, 2014
Introverts in the classroom: supporting the “quiet kids” (and possibly yourself!)
By Angela Watson
Founder and Writer
Introverts in the classroom: supporting the “quiet kids” (and possibly yourself!)
By Angela Watson
I’ve insisted on having some quiet time built into my day for as long as I can remember. I’d drop the class off at P.E. and retreat to my classroom, breathing a deep sigh and reveling in the silence. I always built down-time into our daily schedule, following up an intense period of direct instruction with silent reading, independent work, or other student-directed activities, gratefully taking a few minutes to regroup.
It didn’t occur to me until recently that I wasn’t seeking quiet, but alone time to recharge. I am an introvert.
Viral articles like 23 Signs You’re Secretly an Introvert and 27 Problems Only Introverts Will Understand (NSFW warning on that one) ring completely true for me. And looking back, this explains so much about aspects of teaching that I enjoy the most. Being introverted is the reason why I’d rather plan lessons than teach them, create materials than implement them, design the Open House presentation for parents than give it, talk one-on-one with my students than address the whole group. For me, being in the spotlight is draining. I can only enjoy it if I have an equal or greater amount of time to be off-stage and retreat a bit into my inner world.
The idea of a teacher introvert sounds really strange, perhaps even paradoxical. But being introverted does NOT mean you don’t like people or enjoy their company. Put simply, introverts need time alone so they can enjoy being around people. Extroverts need time with people so they can enjoy being alone.
I wish I’d understood more about introversion and extroversion when I was still in the classroom. Not only would I have been able to take care of my own needs better, I would have been much more thoughtful about the way I interacted with the “quiet kids.” How quick we are to label children as shy, when often they’re just introverts!
Here’s the best advice I’ve found for caring for the introverted students in your classroom. The image was created by Becky, and is based on an article by Linda Kreger Silverman:
How do you meet the needs of introverted kids in your classroom? If you are an introverted teacher, would you share your experience (struggles or successes) with us? How do you balance your own need for solitude with the demands of running a classroom?
Angela Watson
Founder and Writer
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I love this! I never really thought of this before, but I would definitely say I’m an introvert teacher & I know lots of kids are introverts, too. This is definitely something to pay more attention to!
I feel the same way, Linda–I definitely want to pay more attention to introverts/extroverts in the classroom!
I just started using Google Drive to have my students type essays. I can read and comment on their work as they type, pulling up their documents but not invading their space. Individually they can type questions in the margins using comments, or I can do the same. I’ve found my introverts thriving in the silence and asking questions in comments which they might never ask out loud in class. I’ve found my vocal extroverts loving one on one comment conversations (which now no longer distract others since they are only in text). Google drive has transformed my writing instruction.
What a powerful reflection, Nicole! And that makes perfect sense–as an introvert myself, I would rather get and send feedback in Google Docs than in face-to-face conversations. I love how you mention Docs works for your extroverts, too, since they can chat.
Hello from another introverted. I read some interesting material on personality traits in the classroom, and this helped me understand why some colleagues and parents struggle with me, and why I struggle with them. It’s not just the introversion/extroversion thing. There’s a lot more to it. Meanwhile I love the end of the day when everyone goes home and I have my classroom to myself. The cleaner comes in, but she knows I speak very little Khmer so she just does her job and leaves me in peace. I know some of my colleagues find it hard to understand that I’d rather spend a quiet evening at home with a good book than go out partying! It’s how I gain my energy. School drains me. I love it, but it does take most of my energy. I think that’s why I love my community choir practice too. I get to be with, and sing with other people, but with little interaction required.
Interesting observation about why being in the choir works for you–that makes total sense! Reading about personality traits must be very enlightening–you’re right that there’s much more to this than just introversion/extroversion.
I have never really thought about it before, but I guess I am an introvert. Which is really odd for a substitute teacher. I change my classroom every day. seeing this article and acting on it should make me a better teacher. And that’s what it is really all about
So great to hear that, Susan! 🙂 Subbing is such hard work. My hat’s off to you!