21
Boys Will Be Boys Will Be Boys Boys

Boys Will Be Boys. “Female” “Male” Boys Will Be Boys Boy crisis, girl crisis, or understanding gender in schools crisis?

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

“Female”

“Male”

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Boy crisis, girl crisis, or Boy crisis, girl crisis, or understanding gender in schools understanding gender in schools

crisis?crisis?

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

Victor 2009 IB Diploma GraduatesVictor 2009 IB Diploma GraduatesNotice all the boys…Notice all the boys…

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys

There they are…There they are…Victor 2009 GED GraduatesVictor 2009 GED Graduates

But wait…But wait…

Project Lead The Way and ValedictorianProject Lead The Way and Valedictorian

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysMotivationMotivation

I want you to want to do the dishes...

Alternate

MotivationMotivationWhat we can do:What we can do:

- Purpose, implications for the real world.- Less “Here’s what I know…now spit it back.” More hands on, student centered, inspiring a desire to learn more.- Be prepared to answer “Why do we need to learn this” with more than “To do well on the test.”- Keep parents informed of due dates and projects. Send an email home with important upcoming events.- Keep a kid after school. He might enjoy it.- Manipulatives and props…the more the merrier.- Have them write out goals and check them off as they go.- Competition – as long as it’s winnable

for everyone.

- Debates vs. arguments- Games and game shows….Who Wants to Be

a Millionaire, Dating Game, Jeopardy, have them create their own. Have them act.- Use their interactions and relationships

with one another. Fractions - Weeden? Politics in the hallways, have them act out historical

relationships.- Jobs…for older kids, look to the future.

How can what you’re learning be applied to the workforce. Allow choice in assignments to cater to individual career goals.

- Solving problems.- Visual Medias- Personalize assignments. When they feel

like it matters to them, they’ll be more apt to complete it.

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysAggression and DisciplineAggression and Discipline

““The Bear” and my dadThe Bear” and my dad

Aggression and Aggression and DisciplineDiscipline

Things we can do:Things we can do:

- Separate sex grouping- Take a walk. Have a talk.- Get them up and moving around. Exercise…ie. Writer boot camp.- Build relationships.-Talk to them about “why?” Learn about their biological and hormonal response. Give a cue.- Break the negative trend. - Be authoritative, firm, and fair. That doesn’t require much yelling.- Negotiate by offering choices…all of which you approve of.- Divert and distract. Figure out a way to diffuse the problem with humor. Pointing to head. - Boys take a little longer to transition. Give them some warning.- Ask yourself, “Is this behavior going to affect the safety of the classroom?” If not, let’s move

on.- Non–Negotiables. Create a line they must not cross, let them know where that line is, what

the consequences of crossing it are, and hold firm. When they cross it, punish and be done. Period.

- Help boys understand their aggressive tendencies. You’re fighting against biology.- Early grade teachers: Never eliminate recess. You can change it…but don’t eliminate it.

Don’t have recess? Fight for it.- Discipline problems often way to keep brain engaged. Engage the brain in other ways.- Engage in a power struggle, you lose. Plain and simple.- Stay calm. If need be, remove the boy. Then have a conversation with him later. Punishing

a boy will stop the behavior for now. It will not change the behavior over time.

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysRole ModelsRole Models

Lawn mowers and elephants – Lawn mowers and elephants – Get the community involved.Get the community involved.

Role ModelsRole ModelsThings we can do:Things we can do:

-Seek out men in the community for help. - Have kids engage with men in the community. Letters, interviews, etc.- Cross grade levels. This gives older kids purpose and younger kids role

models.- Share this info with parents. - Point out male leaders in your field of study who have made huge

contributions. Let them know it’s cool to be a smart guy.- Homework help groups. Can you get men to come help out? Tutor?

Just work with the boys? You could do this with girls too.- Let fathers know how important it is to get involved. Target the kids

without fathers. Find them helpful role models somehow, someway.- Lunchtime or recess time with guys. Can parents rotate in during

decent weather to play sports with the boys?- Get creative.

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysLiteracyLiteracy

““Our educational culture is, in general, quite judgmental about what kids read.” Our educational culture is, in general, quite judgmental about what kids read.” ~Michael Gurian~Michael Gurian

““Right now, I’m seeing many boys who have never had the experience, not even Right now, I’m seeing many boys who have never had the experience, not even once, of reading a book that really excites them. They’ve never read a book that once, of reading a book that really excites them. They’ve never read a book that

punched them in the gut. They’ve never cried while reading a book. They have no punched them in the gut. They’ve never cried while reading a book. They have no clue how powerful books can be.” Dr. Leonard Saxclue how powerful books can be.” Dr. Leonard Sax

““A writing curriculum so heavily slanted toward test preparation will not encourage A writing curriculum so heavily slanted toward test preparation will not encourage kids to develop a love for writing, find their voices, and deeply engage in the craft…kids to develop a love for writing, find their voices, and deeply engage in the craft…

not only are we force feeding them a kind of writing that is teacher-directed and not only are we force feeding them a kind of writing that is teacher-directed and formulaic, but more importantly, there’s no payoff—no purpose, no tangible reader, formulaic, but more importantly, there’s no payoff—no purpose, no tangible reader,

no fun…” Ralph Fletcherno fun…” Ralph Fletcher

LiteracyLiteracyThings we can do:Things we can do:

-Allow choice.- Allow choice.- Allow choice.- Regardless of your content, make it known that you value literacy.

Have a book laying out at all times.- Make your it your goal to develop a love for reading. - You can’t force students to like a book. You can turn them off to reading for a lifetime. - You can also turn them on to reading for a lifetime.- Help kids understand the value of the written word in a world dominated by technology.- In every subject, in every career, the most successful are often those

who read. Make sure our students know this.

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysScreen TimeScreen Time

Did you know*?•The average American household has its television on for 6.7 hours

per day. The average American parents spend 3.5 hours having meaningful conversation with their children…per week.

•By the time the average American kid reaches 18, h/she will have spent 22,000 hours watching TV. The only thing h/she’ll do more? Sleep.

•By the time the average kid is 21, h/she’ll have seen one million commericals.

•By age 16, the average American kid will have seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV. 33,000 of those acts will be murder.

•Americans check out 6 million videos per day. The number of library books checked out? 3 million.

•The most striking thing about these statistics? They fail to include video games, internet use, ipod downloads, or any use of a screen other than watching TV.

*Taken from Michael Gurian’s book, A Fine Young Man

Screen timeScreen timeThings we can do:Things we can do:

- Educate boys (and girls) about appropriate use of “the screen.”- Help students navigate the virtual world.- Become even more media literate yourself.- Help students recognize the importance of books when they’re researching. While the internet is a useful tool, books are still a valuable resource. - Consider attempting “screen free” time in your school or classroom.- Ask your most active and rambunctious or unmotivated kids how often

they use computers/watch screens. If it’s often, perhaps an education on how their brains operate might make a difference.

- Use technology in your classroom. It’s a tremendous resource if used properly. Just consider that if every teacher is using technology, we give homework requiring computers, and the kids watch tv in the evening, they’re spending an awful lot of time in front of a screen.

Newsletters with suggestions for teachers and parents

Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be BoysMore discussionMore discussion

Michael Gurian – All kinds of books – VTC copies, JH Library.

Leonard Sax – Boys and Girls Learn Differently, Boys Adrift

Mary Pipher – Riviving Ophelia – 4 copies in HS libraryKindlon and Thompson – Raising CainRalph Fletcher – Boy WritersOthers?

Next workshop: January 13