How to Deal With Unresponsive Students?

Teachers often notice that many students do not pay attention in their class. That is why they tend not to engage in class activities or raise queries. Student behaviour has an extensive impact on the classroom environment. Unresponsive students can have ...

Article Posted in: Classroom Management

Teachers often notice that many students do not pay attention in their class. That is why they tend not to engage in class activities or raise queries. Student behaviour has an extensive impact on the classroom environment. Unresponsive students can have a bad influence on your whole classroom and lower the effectiveness of your class. So, read along to know how to deal with unresponsive students.

How to Engage Non Responsive Students?

As a teacher, make sure to avoid scolding or punishing students who do not participate in the class. Do not impose any negative enforcement as it can worsen the behavioural issue of your student. Follow the below-listed ways to deal with unresponsive students. 

1. Address the Behaviour Privately

Most teachers address such behavioural issues in front of the whole class, which makes students more embarrassed. Such problems can range from extreme withdrawal to intense rudeness. You must connect with such students one-on-one and ask them about the problems they are facing in the class. 

Unresponsiveness can emerge from varied reasons like dislike towards students, monotonous teaching ways, etc. Behavioural problems can also arise from personal issues so have informal chats with your student to understand the root cause. Hence, you should take measures accordingly as per the cause. 

2. Conversation with Parents

Apart from chatting with the student, you must address this issue with their parents. However, you must not complain about the issue to their parents because this makes things worse. Instead, sit with the parents to have a normal conversation, explaining why their child is being, so unresponsive in the classroom. 

Many times, students are too shy to openly talk about their problems. In such cases, conversing with their parents or guardians can help you understand the cause of such behavioural issues. Parents are a huge part of a child’s life thus working as a team will make a notable difference in the behaviour of such students.

3. Build a Positive Relation

Teachers play an eminent role in every student’s life. There can be cases where students do not engage with classroom activities, lessons, etc. as they do not feel comfortable with their teachers. As a tutor, it is your responsibility to look into the learning difficulties or any other problems your students are facing.

One of the best strategies to engage unresponsive students is by creating a positive relationship. Remember, it may take time and patience, but after you build a good student-teacher relationship, such students tend to interact and engage with the entire class. They need special attention and care from their teachers for notable improvement. 

4. Talk with Other Teachers

If you are unable to find out the main cause leading to such behavioural problems, talk with other subject teachers of such students. Children are often stubborn and do not like to disclose any difficulties they are facing to their teachers. Students assume how teachers will react, so they become shy and afraid to share their problems. 

Have an informal chat about such students with other subject teachers. Ask them whether they notice the same behavioural issues in that student. Such discussion can help you to analyse the root cause and appropriate solution to such problems. 

5. Use Active Learning Techniques

Try to introduce active learning ways in the classroom to break the monotonousness within the students. A student can become unresponsive due to zero fun activities in a class. Hence, as a tutor, you can introduce varied learning techniques like group discussions, debates, quizzes, etc. to make learning fun for your students. 

Such techniques will make such less-engaging students more active in a classroom. Besides, it will enhance a student's problem-solving abilities and develop a sense of teamwork. You can use varied contemporary teaching methodologies to create an engaging and interactive classroom setting for your students.

Why Do Students Become Non-responsive in Class?

Educators play a crucial role in retaining and enhancing student's attention. Motivating unresponsive students through varied innovative teaching methods can help you to enhance student engagement and participation. Here are some common reasons why students become unresponsive in a class. 

  • Repetitive lessons
  • Lack of autonomy in learning
  • Zero relevance to real-world 
  • Limited opportunities for participation
  • Zero innovative teaching methods
  • Learning difficulties
  • Lack of feedback
  • Lack of motivation
  • Disconnection from teachers & friends
  • External stressors, etc.

Conclusion

Most teachers use negative reinforcements to deal with unresponsive students, but it will worsen their situation. A student can be shy and introverted. Thus, you need to handle them with utter care and patience. Instead of being harsh on such students, understand the cause of such problematic behaviour. If you were wondering about how to deal with unresponsive students, follow the above-stated ways to deal with them. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does asking open-ended questions help in dealing with unresponsive students?

Unresponsive students are usually too shy to brief their problems. That is why asking open-ended questions which require answers beyond 'yes' or 'no' answers is the best way to keep them engaged.

2. Can I use visual aids to make unresponsive students interactive in class?

Children tend to get attracted towards colourful visual aids like academic videos, flashcards, PPTs, etc. Thus, use a visual aid to make the classroom environment more engaging and fun for such students. 

3. How can I use technology to enhance student engagement?

Nowadays, educational institutions are incorporating technologies to enhance the student's learning process. Teachers can use varied educational applications and advanced whiteboards to increase classroom engagement.

Article Posted in: Classroom Management
Tags: Student Motivation student engagement innovative teaching methods unresponsive students classroom behavior positive reinforcement building relationships active learning techniques addressing student needs

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