Libby
I had the same problem with my now 11 year old. He went through Nursery, Kindergarten and Pre 1A without saying one word. When he was 4 we taped him singing a song that he learned in pre-school and I had his teacher listen to it. She didn't believe that it was him. The principal was very concerned about putting him into first grade and so were we. I discussed it with professionals and was told that he will probably outgrow it. During the summer before first grade we promised him a certain toy if he tells us he'll speak up. He said he doesn't need it. The night before his first day in first grade he said to me, "tomorrow I'm getting that toy." I said, "oh really, What makes you think so?" He said, "I'm going to talk." I didn't even repeat this to my husband. Well he got his toy. My husband works in my sons school. Everyone knows him at school. He said that at dismissal a bunch of little first graders came running to my husband yelling, "xxx spoke. He relly spoke. He has a voice." His first grade teacher said that if he wouldn't have been told that there may be a problem with my son he would never have known it. He spoke up that first day just like everyone else. Now at 11 he's still on the shy side, but so are all my children. I hope your daughter outgrows it soon. I know how frustrating it is. Good Luck!