Tips for a painfully shy child?

Asked by sarahsugs (2906) February 21st, 2007

I teach 3rd grade. A student in my class is terribly anxiety-ridden about any situation in which people might be looking at him. He refuses to sing our class songs (even when everyone else is singing too) and won't do chants or hand motions. He rarely raises his hand. Today he had a total meltdown (crying, refusing to talk or move, hiding his face) when it was his turn to read his writing for the class. I didn't force it, and he calmed down, but was very shaken and still refused to talk, even when it was just the two of us. I would love some ideas for how to help him overcome this fear of attention on him.