Encourage shy pupils to participate

An image showing a shy female student wearing school uniform with a yellow satchel walking with her head down on a corridor lined by blue and grey lockers

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How to include reluctant speakers

Much of science education involves working in groups and joining in. When pupils are reluctant to do so, it can be all too easy to medicalise these students, making an off-the-cuff diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. It might not be an underlying condition, so as teachers, we need to understand the reasons for shyness and employ strategies to overcome them.

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