Difference between revisions of "Understand a Student's Body Language"

#Make eye contact.  Look at your student’s eyes. Are they dull and unfocused? Are they focused at a point on the floor, ceiling, or wall? If so, the student is likely not paying attention. Similarly, if a student appears alert and keeps their eyes on you as you move around the room, you can be assured that they are paying attention.<ref name="rf1">http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-read-body-language-2014-5</ref>

#Look at their facial expressions.  Your students’ facial expressions will reveal a variety of emotions and thoughts, from anger to interest to happiness.  As you make eye contact with each student, pay attention to what their facial expressions are telling you.<ref name="rf2"> http://www.aquiziam.com/portfolio/facial-expressions-basics/</ref>

#Evaluate their posture. Are they slouched over the desk? They may be trying not to fall asleep. A student who is paying attention will usually be sitting up, whereas a student who is bored or disengaged may very well be slouching.<ref name="rf3">http://bodylanguageproject.com/nonverbal-dictionary/body-language-of-slouching/</ref>

#Look at the legs.  If a student is tapping their foot against the floor or bouncing their legs up and down, he or she may be impatient with the lecture, conversation, or presentation.  They may also have a physical or psychological reason for these movements. Leg position varies from student to student - some prefer to cross their legs, or to place them firmly on the floor.<ref name="rf4">http://www.professional-counselling.com/interpreting-body-language.html</ref>

#Assess a potential threat.  Body language can reveal a student’s intention or thoughts of being aggressive or using force.  Some of this body language is more subtle, requiring keen observation, whereas other body language is fairly overt and obvious, and clearly shows an intention to cause harm.<ref name="rf5"> http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/the-warning-signs-of-violence</ref>

#Find their hands.  The angrier someone is, the more likely they are to touch their head or rest their hands on their head.  It’s as if the brain is full of discomfort that must be touched.  The student may rub their scalp or clench their fists and remove them from the head area.<ref name="rf6"> http://www.campussafetymagazine.com/article/how-to-identify-nonverbal-indicators-of-violence</ref>

#*Also, if you see a student’s hands linger or hover near their waistband or inside their clothing, you should assume that they may have a weapon and take appropriate precautions.<ref name="rf7"> http://www.offthegridnews.com/extreme-survival/5-body-language-signs-that-reveal-if-a-person-is-dangerous/</ref>

#Watch for a student who is removing outerwear that impedes movement.  If a student removes outer layers of clothing, like a jacket or sweater, it could indicate that they are too warm.  However, if you are looking at the student’s body language and can tell they are angry or frustrated and also see them removing clothes, you are seeing a non-verbal expression of escalating frustration and potential aggression.<ref name="rf6" />

#*The thousand-yard stare is one in which the person is unfocused, not seeing anything directly in front of them.  It’s as if they’re looking through everything and everyone.<ref name="rf8"> http://www.lesc.net/blog/dangerous-body-language-thousand-wordshellipnone-spoken-thousand-yard-stare</ref>   

#*The target stare is one in which the student narrows their eyes and stares directly at you or another student, often in the chin area.<ref name="rf9"> http://www.backwoodshome.com/body-language-and-threat-recognition/</ref>  

#Spot the fake smile.  A student may feel obligated to smile at you when you look in their direction; however, that smile may be obviously fake and conspicuously dishonest.  A fake smile indicates that the student is not feeling well emotionally or physically, but that they do not want to share those feelings with you.<ref name="rf10">https://www.verywell.com/understanding-body-language-2795399</ref>

#Pay attention to blinking.  Almost everyone blinks their eyes.  It’s an involuntary process that keeps the eye organs healthy and lubricated.  If you notice a student blinking too much or hardly at all, they may be telling you that they are tired, bored, or distressed.<ref name="rf11"> https://www.verywell.com/understanding-body-language-2795399</ref>

#Encourage stretching.  A student may yawn or stretch several times, and this indicates that they are bored, tired, or disinterested.  Encourage stretching – even if a student has to stand up to do so – as this promotes blood circulation and increases oxygen levels to the brain, providing a natural burst of energy.<ref name="rf12"> http://www.slideshare.net/joannechesley/body-language-and-students</ref>

#Watch the arms.  Your students’ arms will tell you quite a bit about how the class is receiving your instruction, how they’re feeling about being in the class, and their individual moods.  Look at each student’s arms, and then look at the class as a whole for any like behavior.<ref name="rf12" />

#Notice a student who avoids eye contact.  Eye contact doesn’t always indicate that someone is trying to hide something from you or that they’re being sneaky, especially in young children.  If a child student avoids eye contact, it may indicate (as with some older children or adults) that they are shy.<ref name="rf13">http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/how-to-decode-your-kids-body-language/</ref>

#Decipher a student's folded arms.  Children learn how to communicate from the adults around them, especially body language.  Just like with adults or older kids, children that stands with their arms folded are comforting themselves.  They may or may not know that they’re feeling apprehensive, or that folding their arms is a reassuring and comforting maneuver.<ref name="rf13" />

#Figure out why a student might scratch their head.  Children may scratch their heads because they itch, just like anyone does. When children in the classroom scratch or touch their heads it might also be their way of expressing confusion.  If you see a child scratch or touch their head, pause and ask if they understand the lesson.<ref name="rf14">http://www.cccoe.net/social/bodylang.htm</ref>

#Notice a student holding their crotch.  If you have a child student that grabs their crotch or sits on one leg and rocks back and forth in their chair, ask them if they’d like to use the restroom.  They are likely aware that they have the urge to use the bathroom, but might not be comfortable asking to go.<ref name="rf15">http://www.bornready.uk/baby-pottying-ec-when-to-offer-the-potty.php</ref>