I am a student teacher, and recently a student with ADD did not want to participate in a reading group, what could I have done in order to make the student interested in what we were doing?
Re: Getting students to participate
It may not be a lack of interest, maybe your student isn’t a great reader and may bee embarassed about it! I am in the same position you are and my first few days I had that same problem, I at first told them that when they were reluctant to read that I would read if they read at least the first sentence. I aslo checked IEPs and found out that some needed a reader! I felt so bad. For those that had attitudes and could read, I stack up on treats. THIS WORKS MIRACLES, even for LBD high schoolers, what I am currently teaching. I toss a piece of candy to any of them who participates and cooperates. It’s a little expensive at first , but now they read without expecting any candy.
How do you know it was a lack of interest? There could be many reasons the student was reluctant to participate. As a student teacher or a sub, it can be hard to know what’s the real reason. Did you ask the student?
I usually will say something like “we need you to sit with the group unless there’s some very unusual reason why you can’t today - but I really need to know that reason.” And I mean that sincerely- if they have a good reason, I might well excuse them from the reading group that day. Trust and truth telling are just as important for teachers to show and do as for our students.
The reason can be anything from they’re not feeling well, to a death in the family or a fight with a friend in the reading group. Once you get the reason you go from there either excusing the student or coaxing them to join the group anyway.
If it’s truly a lack of interest, ask yourself if the reading group is a deadly dull activity? If it is, lighten your manner and put some pizzazz into your presentation to heighten interest.