How parents can help introverts thrive (without trying to turn them into extroverts)

The Washington Post:

In sixth grade, Marsha Pinto’s teacher wanted her to talk more loudly and more often, repeatedly telling Pinto that she would never succeed if she didn’t participate in class discussions and group work. The teacher may have had good intentions, but she called on Pinto daily, and when Pinto was bullied, the teacher suggested it was because she didn’t stand up for herself.

“She even said if I didn’t participate, I would fail,” says Pinto, a recent college graduate who now lives in New York City.

Pinto was quiet, often slumped in her seat and kept her head down. She easily got lost in books and tended to spend recess alone, generally by choice. The cluster seating and collaborative work that her teacher preferred made Pinto feel detached and more awkward. Those feelings were exacerbated when the teacher called on her. The pressure from the teacher, along with bullying by a group of girls who regularly teased Pinto about being “weird,” took its toll.

Read the whole story: The Washington Post