SYMPTOMS TEACHERS SHOULD EXPECT PUPILS TO DISPLAY AND THE MAIN WARNING SIGNS:
- Extreme quietness
- Unable to initiate conversations
- Lack of eye contact
- Often refuses to do things
- Doesn't join in
- Won't speak at all
- Fear of public speaking
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of being judged (happens loads)
- Won't be able to think on the spot e.g. will say they don't know the answer due to not being able to think of it quick enough/ they will be too worried to think about it at all- often occurs in problem solving (maths) or offering their own opinion or interpretation (English lang and lit)
- Stutters
- Sighs
- Disinterested in lessons
- Irritability and fidgeting
- Dread of events in the future
- Looks worried/anxious
- Looks exhausted
- Drinks lots
- Leaves to go to the toilet (anxiety causes frequent urination/ maybe just escaping the situation)
- Will talk about anything other than work- suggests lack of confidence in work- some won't actually know the answers due to not listening as they are preoccupied with other thoughts and feelings. The more they try to listen the more they won't be able to.
- Frequently absent
- Abrupt with teachers
- Uses physical illness as an excuse for the real problem
- May even cause panic attacks- read The Panic Cycle Post.
May often coincide with other disorders such as Social Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and depression. Often the cause of selective Mutism.
The problem is slowly becoming more recognised by teachers.....
Teachers have the power to create a safe and comfortable classroom environment where pupils accept the teachers control as a result of being able to trust the way they conduct lessons.
No comments:
Post a Comment