Study: some students won't ask for help

Study: some students won't ask for help


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SALT LAKE CITY -- A recent study is shedding some light on why certain kids don't ask for help at school, even if they need it.

Remember back to when you were in class. There may have been a time when the teacher was explaining a very tricky concept and you just didn't understand what was being taught.

While other kids shot their hands up to ask questions, you just sat there silent.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania say children of middle-class families are more prone to ask a lot of questions and get their work done, while children from what they deem to be working-class families tend to avoid asking questions.

About the study
For three years, researcher Jessica McCrory Calarco followed a cohort of students as they progressed from third through fifth grade. She observed them regularly in school and interviewed teachers, parents, and students to show that children's social-class backgrounds shaped when and how they sought help in the classroom.

Tearless Tutoring owner Amy Green says there are a lot of reasons why a child will stay silent in class.

"I think some kids just don't want to look dumb in front of other kids, so they'll just pretend like they know what's going on," she said.

Green also says some kids may not even notice other kids are asking question while they're not.

"Maybe they're not paying attention to other people that are asking questions because they're so focused on the things they don't know," she said.

What should a parent do if they notice their kid isn't really catching on to a certain subject and they're too shy to ask for help? Green says it may help if the child finds another place to ask questions.

"Maybe they don't dare ask the teacher in front of the whole class," she pointed out. "But maybe if they went during recess or after school, they'd feel better about asking questions."

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