selective mutism

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selective mutism
By Michelle

I too had a student who was a selective mute. He was silent at school until the end of third grade. He found a good friend and began talking to him on our end of the year field trip. By the beginning of 4th grade he was talking. His parents had him tested and he received counseling through out his early years in school.
As a 3rd grade teacher, I used a piece of white-board contact paper (bought at wal-mart). He kept it in his desk and would write anything he needed to say to me or other students. Any read alouds would be recorded on tape at home. Then he would bring them to me to listen to. This student was very smart. He received no special classes, except he was labeled academically gifted in 4th grade. Maybe your student needs just needs time.