The Quiet Child

Based on the most up-to-date research, The Quiet Child is an in-depth study of habitually quiet or withdrawn pupils during their transition from primary to secondary school. It establishes the importance of talk in learning and explores the ways in which quiet pupils are educationally disadvantaged through their inability or unwillingness to talk, both to teachers and fellow pupils. Secondly, it examines the factors, such as a diminished sense of self-worth or a difficulty in forming and sustaining relationships, which may have contributed to the child's reluctance to participate in lessons. Finally, the book suggests teaching strategies to enable teachers to develop their pupils' self-esteem through fostering positive relationships, thus empowering them to play an active role in their education.