![Page 1: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Understanding and
Educating the
Minds of Boys April 2011
Kelley KingTim Coble
NESASpring Educators’ Conference
![Page 2: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
How do we commonlydescribe the
“ideal student”?
![Page 3: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
Things I most enjoy about the girls in my class…
They want to please the teacher
VerbalNeat, good penmanshipOrganizedDo their homeworkLonger attention span
![Page 4: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
Things I most enjoy about the boys in my class…
Sense of humorHigh energy, activeCreativeOut-of-the-box thinkersRisk takersChallenge the status quo
![Page 5: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
A Snapshot: Boys in School• On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
writing test, 26 percent of 12th grade males scored below basic, compared with 11 percent of females. Just 16 percent of males achieved at the proficient/advanced levels, compared with 31 percent of females (Kleinfeld, 2009).
• In reading, one-third of 12th grade males scored below basic on NAEP, compared with 22 percent of females; fewer than one-third of males (29 percent) were reading at the proficient/advanced levels, compared with 41 percent of females (Kleinfeld, 2009).
• Boys receive two-thirds of the Ds and Fs in schools, but fewer than one-half of the As (Kauchak & Eggen, 2005).
• Girls are more likely to attend and graduate from college. In 2003, there were 1.35 females for every male who graduated from a four-year college and 1.30 females for every male undergraduate (Goldin, Katz, & Kuziemko, 2006).
• These and many other gender gaps for boys have been widening over the last decade (Cataldi, Laird, & KewalRamani, 2009; Chudowsky & Chudowsy, 2010).
![Page 6: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
…minority girls (76 percent) are much more likely than minority boys (57 percent) to choose a good education as their top goal; minority girls (69 percent) like school the most, and white boys (49 percent) like it the least.
1997 Metropolitan Life survey
![Page 7: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
![Page 8: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
State Test Score Trends Through 2007-08, Part 5: Are There Differences in Achievement Between Boys and Girls?
(Center on Education Policy, March 2010)
Boys Projectwww.boysproject.net
PISA data:http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/31/28/46660259.pdf
![Page 9: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Do classrooms nurture the nature of boys?
![Page 10: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Source: Daniel Amen www.amenclinics.com
![Page 11: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
The Testosterone Factor
![Page 12: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
http://www.bbc.co.ukSearch: Sex ID
1 in 5 females1 in 7 males
![Page 13: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The Male Brain:Verbal vs. Spatial
![Page 14: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
• Increase blood flow to spatial cortical areas of the brain (Gurr, 1994)
• Improvements in reading and creativity (Eisner, 1998)
• Enhance problem-solving (Longo, 1999)
• Higher college entrance scores (College Board 2000)
• Increase attention/focus (Ramachandran & Hirstein, 1999)
Bringing on the visuals does all this….
![Page 15: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
![Page 16: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
…..Even in the upper grades!
![Page 17: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
![Page 18: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
Visuals for:*Pre-Writing*Assessments
![Page 19: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
Visual Texts• Comic Books• Graphic Novels
![Page 20: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
The Male Brain:Sensory
![Page 21: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Implications for…..• Tone of Voice
• Brevity
• Seating
![Page 22: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
22
• The language of pictures and the language of words are equal.
• Pictures are a universal language.
• Drawing pictures is a lifeline, not just a hook.
![Page 23: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
“The connection between art and writing, between the language of
pictures and the language of words, is an ancient and natural
one.”
-Beth Olshansky, 2008
![Page 24: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24
From pictures to words….
• Talk about their picture• Questioning techniques used• Brainstorm charts: focus on the “doing”
![Page 25: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
Implications for Early Childhood
![Page 26: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
The Male Brain:Neural Rest State
![Page 27: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
How does movement help learning?
Movement activates most of the brain!
(Jensen 2001)
Improves attitude and decreases stress
(Bazzano 1992)
Better balance = better reading (Palmer 1980)
Following directions (Mohnaty & Hejmadi 1992)
Improved academic learning (Corso 1997)
![Page 28: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
General Movement Ideas• Class set of clipboards• Opportunities to stand• Stretch breaks• Get own supplies• Focus balls• Therapy band on chair, velcro on desk• One-legged stool
![Page 29: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Content-Integrated Movement Ideas
• Rotating Stations• Ball Toss Review• Snowball Fight• Continent Scramble• Phonics Phitness• Flyswatter Review• Acting Out• Killing the Blue• Vote With Your Feet
![Page 30: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Using music
• Relaxing• Energizing• Transitioning• Stimulating sensory detail & emotion
![Page 31: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
www.songsthatteach.comwww.songsforteaching.com
www.rockhall.com
![Page 32: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
The Male Brain: Stress Response
and it’s effect on behavior & learning
![Page 33: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
![Page 34: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
The Male Brain:Relationships
![Page 35: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
35
Aggression Nurturance
Involves physical interaction, tough talk, competitive games, and aggressive nonverbal gestures.
![Page 36: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
36
Empathy Nurturance
Understanding how someone else is feeling and really identifying with that person and those feelings.
![Page 37: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
37
Pecking Order?
![Page 38: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
“(Boys) need a father figure, a role model, a comedian, a scholar, a sports enthusiast, a gamer, and a disciplinarian. If you want the boys to jump through hoops for you, you better be prepared to be there for them...it's all about respect.”
-Ian Dawson, 8th grade teacher
38
![Page 39: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
39
The Male Brain:
Hormones&
Motivation
![Page 40: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
Increasing Boys’ Engagement
• High interest• Relevant to
their outside lives
• Competition
![Page 41: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
“A good book for a boy is one he wants to read.”(Moloney, 2002)
![Page 42: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
“Boys are faced with many contradictions between school literacy practices and societal
expectations regarding masculinity.”
From: Canadian Adolescent Boys and Literacy Study
![Page 43: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
Topics that appeal to boys
• Aggression-themes, violent scenarios
• Action-oriented, competition
• Superheroes• Gross or slapstick humor• Stories reconstructed
from TV & video games
![Page 44: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
• Use healthy competition in the classroom
• Make it relevant to their outside lives– Outside-of-school
interests/topics– Pop culture references– Solve real problems
• Engage their body in learning = movement!!
• Team-building
• Connecting with older males
![Page 45: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
ResourcesBaron-Cohen, S. (2003). The essential difference: The truth about the male and female brain. New York: Basic Books.
Brizendine, L. (2010). The male brain. New York: Broadway Books.
Chudowsky, N., & Chudowsky, V. (2010). State test score trends 2007-08, Part 5: Are there gender differences between boys and girls? Washington, DC: Center on Education Policy.
de Munck, J. C., Goncalves, S. I., Faes, T. J., Kuijer, J. P., Pouwels, P. J., Heethaar, R. M., & Lopes de Silva, F. H. (2008). A study of the brain’s resting state based on alpha band power, heart rate and fMRI. Neuroimage, 42(1): 112-121.
Gurian, M., Stevens, K., and King, K. (2008). Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
Kleinfeld, Judith. (2009, June). The state of American boyhood. Gender Issues, 26(2): 113-129. Marzano, R., Pickering, D., and Pollock, J. (2001). Classroom Instruction That Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. Alexandria: ASCD.
Whitmire, R. (2010). Why boys fail: Saving our sons from an educational system that's leaving them behind. New York: Amazon.
![Page 46: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Durica, Karen. An Unleveled Playing Field: The Ways in Which School Culture Undermines and Undervalues Boys’ Writing. Colorado Reading Council Journal, Spring 2004.
Gurian, Michael and Kathy Stevens. With Boys and Girls in Mind. Educational Leadership, November 2004.
Gurian, Michael. Learning and the Brain. American School Board Journal, October 2006.
King, Kelley and Michael Gurian. Teaching to the Minds of Boys. Educational Leadership, September 2006.
King, K., Gurian, M., and Stevens, K. Gender-Friendly Schools. Educational Leadership, November 2010.
Me Read? No Way! A practical guide to improving boys’ literacy skills. www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/meread/meread.pdf
Me Read? And How! Ontario teachers report on how to improve boys’ literacy skills
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/meRead_andHow.pdf
![Page 47: Understanding and Educating the Minds of Boys April 2011 Kelley King Tim Coble NESA](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062810/56815d43550346895dcb4af2/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
47
Looking at
our work through
adifferent lens