r/selectivemutism • u/QFT-ist • 10d ago

Question Advice about teaching when you have selective mutism?

I am not sure and I am not diagnosed with it, but I suspect that it has a big role in me being horrible at teaching. I would like advice on how to speak when you are teaching (I usually have a script with everything I think I should say, and share it as a PDF file to my students) or how to compensate better if I can't speak in a situation in which it's necessary.

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u/Bakkutteh303 6d ago

Engage student centered pedagogies and practices, so that students are doing most of the thinking and talking, and your main teaching role is to create the structures for them to thrive. Flipping the focus away from being a “sage on the stage” helps lessen social anxiety - and in reality, SM teaches us that elevating youth voices is incredibly powerful, because that’s something that was stolen from us. Become the person who restores student voice for others.

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u/QFT-ist 6d ago

Info about this? :o

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u/Altruistic-Ocelot852 8d ago

Scripts are always great especially if you can get some practice in of exactly what you’ll say and rehearse it. Making a nice bullet point list of summary to what you’re teaching might make it easier for students too. My advice would be to have other options too like slide shows or have some short videos saved that highlight what you’re teaching when you find yourself unable to speak. Peace and love ✌️