I am concerned that her shyness will affect her grades. Jennifer Richard Jacobson Jennifer received her master's in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has taught preschool through sixth grade and has served as Curriculum Coordinator, Admissions Director, Head of Studies and Language Arts Specialist. Chances are, your daughter is an introvert rather than an extrovert. They need more time to reflect before speaking or acting, and their thoughts, when they finally do tell you about them, are often fully formed and intact . . .
Introverted kids take a watch and wait attitude, preferring to stand back.
Unfortunately, much of our culture, including many classrooms, rewards the extroverted learner rather than the introverted learner. When teachers have a lot of material to cover, and they all do, they quicken the pace. That means calling on children who raise their hands first and forgetting that others need a few moments of mulling or rehearsing before they are willing to venture a response. Talk to your child's teacher about your child's learning style. You asked how you can encourage your daughter to speak up.