MASTERMASTER

Boys,Boys,

Books,Books,

ReadingReading

The The REALREAL Challenge Challenge

““Guide for Boys”Guide for Boys”

Douglas FlorianDouglas Florian

from Guys Write for Guys Read edited by Jon Scieszka. 2005.

 

who is Dr. James L. Thomas?who is Dr. James L. Thomas?

“ “Mr. Jim”Mr. Jim”

just a little backgroundjust a little background

a story, a storya story, a story

why the interest in this topic?why the interest in this topic?

-two reasons--two reasons-

objectives for participants objectives for participants

understand the unique characteristics understand the unique characteristics that make up “boy”that make up “boy”

explore the various genres that hold explore the various genres that hold the the greatest appeal to boysgreatest appeal to boys

be familiar with the websites that are be familiar with the websites that are available to and for this populationavailable to and for this population

identify potential programs for boysidentify potential programs for boys

literacy continuum

illiterate functional literate illiterate

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- inability to read reluctant challenged

voracious (can but don’t) (do it) (can’t get enough)

aliterate

reluctant readerreluctant reader

““can read, but for whatever reasons, can read, but for whatever reasons, do do not like to read”not like to read”

dormant— they like to read, but often do not make the time to do it

uncommitted—do not like to read, but may read in the future

unmotivated—do not like to read and do not ever expect to change their minds

aliterate

factsfacts

success in readingsuccess in reading sets the stage for sets the stage for success in schoolsuccess in school

reading failurereading failure breeds breeds school failureschool failure

how are how are boysboys doing? … doing? …not very wellnot very well!!

The Trouble with BoysThe Trouble with Boys, 2008, 2008

““Boys just don’t like to read.”Boys just don’t like to read.”

Best Books for BoysBest Books for Boys

by Matthew Zbaracki, 2008by Matthew Zbaracki, 2008..

literacy behaviors of boysliteracy behaviors of boys

-list--list-

boys often speak their first words later boys often speak their first words later than girls and develop clear speech than girls and develop clear speech about a year and half laterabout a year and half later

   boys’ fine motor skills lag behind girls’ by boys’ fine motor skills lag behind girls’ by

about a year; as toddlers, boys like to about a year; as toddlers, boys like to explore their environmentexplore their environment

   boys are two to five time more likely than boys are two to five time more likely than

girls to have a reading disability; they girls to have a reading disability; they also have greater difficulty in also have greater difficulty in

overcoming itovercoming it

literacy behaviors of boysliteracy behaviors of boys

boys are more prone to some speech and boys are more prone to some speech and language difficultieslanguage difficulties

   boys rank lower in their class and earn boys rank lower in their class and earn

fewer honors than girlsfewer honors than girls   in South Australia, a researcher found in South Australia, a researcher found

that that boys thought school was boring boys thought school was boring with with too many bad teacherstoo many bad teachers

   boys have much less interest in leisure boys have much less interest in leisure

readingreading  

boys’ reading experiences at home were boys’ reading experiences at home were likely to be adult-initiatedlikely to be adult-initiated

   more boys than girls label themselves more boys than girls label themselves

“non-reader” “non-reader”    boys tend to be more enthusiastic about boys tend to be more enthusiastic about

reading electronics textsreading electronics texts   poetry is less popular with boyspoetry is less popular with boys

boys require more teacher attention in boys require more teacher attention in co-ed classesco-ed classes

  

boys who choose non-traditional subjects boys who choose non-traditional subjects not seen as masculine are teased, not seen as masculine are teased,

bullied and harassedbullied and harassed

   many boys are discouraged from many boys are discouraged from

responding emotionally to fictional responding emotionally to fictional texts texts by their families and peer groupsby their families and peer groups

  

  from from Even Hockey Players Read: Boys, Literacy and Even Hockey Players Read: Boys, Literacy and

Learning Learning by David Booth. 2002.by David Booth. 2002.

  

boys see a different worldboys see a different world

-big, fascinating, and active place where -big, fascinating, and active place where they they must participant or miss outmust participant or miss out

-since they do not feel as connected, they -since they do not feel as connected, they seek it out; they crave itseek it out; they crave it

they learn by doingthey learn by doing, sometimes totally , sometimes totally wrong but experimental: trial and wrong but experimental: trial and

errorerror

  

as a result---as a result---

interestchoice

involvement

social factors

text type

factors to consider

when choosing

books for boys

from Best Books for Boys by Matthew Zbaracki, 2008.

let’s take a look at the handoutslet’s take a look at the handouts

genres that appeal to boysgenres that appeal to boys

humorhumor

slapstick, silly stories about taboo slapstick, silly stories about taboo subjects, such as bathroom humorsubjects, such as bathroom humor

riddle and joke booksriddle and joke books ””off-the-wall” is one of the most off-the-wall” is one of the most

appealingappealing comic books with silly illustrationscomic books with silly illustrations pranks and jokes played on otherspranks and jokes played on others

  

and the book title is…and the book title is…

Toad Rage Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman. by Morris Gleitzman. Random House , 1999. Random House , 1999. 

adventureadventure

thrilling and daring plotsthrilling and daring plots events that create page-turning events that create page-turning

excitementexcitement strong main characters who are strong main characters who are

fearless, brave, and heroicfearless, brave, and heroic characters who are aggressive and characters who are aggressive and

can can survive the most incredible survive the most incredible circumstancescircumstances

  

Gregor The Overlander Gregor The Overlander by by Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press, Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press,

2003.2003.  

information / nonfictioninformation / nonfiction

books crammed with facts, information, books crammed with facts, information, illustrations, diagrams, photosillustrations, diagrams, photos

facts should be presented in small chunks facts should be presented in small chunks of textof text

information well organizedinformation well organized information books thoroughly indexedinformation books thoroughly indexed books that tell them how to do things with books that tell them how to do things with

hands on experimentshands on experiments

  

Leonardo’s Horse Leonardo’s Horse by Jean Fritz. by Jean Fritz. Putnam, 2001.Putnam, 2001.

  

fantasy / science fictionfantasy / science fiction

books with space travel, aliens, and life on books with space travel, aliens, and life on other planetsother planets

see themselves time warping into other see themselves time warping into other galaxiesgalaxies

books that allow them to “experience” a books that allow them to “experience” a courageous spiritcourageous spirit

animals that can talk, lead creative lives, animals that can talk, lead creative lives, a contribute to others’ well beinga contribute to others’ well being

time travel that allows one to adjust to time travel that allows one to adjust to different ways of lifedifferent ways of life

Eager Eager by Helen Fox. Random by Helen Fox. Random House, 2004.House, 2004.

  

horror / mysteryhorror / mystery

stories that contain lots of clues, cliff-stories that contain lots of clues, cliff-hangers, puzzleshangers, puzzles

display ways to be detectives and engage display ways to be detectives and engage them to solve problemsthem to solve problems

books that allow them to be brave and books that allow them to be brave and fearlessfearless

stories about ghosts, evil twins, and stories about ghosts, evil twins, and vampiresvampires

the creepier the story the betterthe creepier the story the better stories that are frightening and menacingstories that are frightening and menacing  

and the book title is…and the book title is…

The Graveyard Book The Graveyard Book by by Neil Gaiman. HarperCollins, 2008.Neil Gaiman. HarperCollins, 2008.

  

mon-strum-o-lo-gy, n.mon-strum-o-lo-gy, n.

1.the study of life forms generally 1.the study of life forms generally malevolent to humans and not malevolent to humans and not recognized by science as actual recognized by science as actual organisms, specifically those organisms, specifically those considered products of myth and considered products of myth and folklorefolklore

2.the act of hunting such creatures2.the act of hunting such creatures

sportssports

stories that demonstrate ways of being a stories that demonstrate ways of being a good sportgood sport

books about influential lives as books about influential lives as professional athletesprofessional athletes

trails and tribulations of those wanting to trails and tribulations of those wanting to participate and succeedparticipate and succeed

information books that contain statistics, information books that contain statistics, history, terminology, and issueshistory, terminology, and issues

  

Airball Airball by L.D. Harkrader. by L.D. Harkrader. Roaring Brook Press, 2005.Roaring Brook Press, 2005.

  

war & conflictwar & conflict

pretend military combatpretend military combat war diaries and books about armed war diaries and books about armed

forces, special forces, military forces, special forces, military jets, aircraft carriers and jets, aircraft carriers and submarinessubmarines

stories that relate life in times of war stories that relate life in times of war current and pastcurrent and past

and the book title is…and the book title is…

Letters from Wolfie Letters from Wolfie by Patti Sherlock. Viking, 2004.by Patti Sherlock. Viking, 2004.

  

biographybiography

lives about famous peoplelives about famous people sports professionals or inventors and sports professionals or inventors and

actorsactors benefit from comparing their lives benefit from comparing their lives

with those who have been with those who have been successfulsuccessful

  

Knots in MyYo-yo String Knots in MyYo-yo String by Jerry Spinelli. Knopf , 1998.by Jerry Spinelli. Knopf , 1998.

  

historyhistory

knights and castles and life in medieval knights and castles and life in medieval timestimes

adventures of settlers into the outbackadventures of settlers into the outback ancient times of dinosaurs, woolly ancient times of dinosaurs, woolly

mammoths, ancient Egyptmammoths, ancient Egypt helps boys to visualize the past and helps boys to visualize the past and

make a connectionmake a connection

  

A Single Shard A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park. Clarion , 2001 .by Linda Sue Park. Clarion , 2001 .

  

graphic novels / comicsgraphic novels / comics

sophisticated story lines presented in sophisticated story lines presented in pictures that engage the pictures that engage the

imaginationimagination illustrations that demand illustrations that demand

interpretation and close scrutiny interpretation and close scrutiny many have intense violence and many have intense violence and

explicit languageexplicit language  

Robot Dreams Robot Dreams by Sara Varon. First Second, 2007.by Sara Varon. First Second, 2007.

  

Reading comics with a critical eye helps develop an appreciation for art and different artistic styles.

Reading comics with a critical eye helps develop an appreciation for art and different artistic styles.

realistic fictionrealistic fiction

stories that explore peer pressures, familystories that explore peer pressures, familyconflicts, issues of current concernconflicts, issues of current concern

books which present everyday books which present everyday problems that demand understanding problems that demand understanding and promote ways of resolving themand promote ways of resolving them

  from from Boys and Literacy: Practical Strategies for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents Boys and Literacy: Practical Strategies for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents by by Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith. 2005Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith. 2005

  

and the book title is…and the book title is…

I am the messenger I am the messenger by Markus Zusak. Knopf, 2002.by Markus Zusak. Knopf, 2002.

  

seriesseries

recognizable charactersrecognizable characters many times contain graphics that many times contain graphics that

appeal to a boy’s sense of humorappeal to a boy’s sense of humor when the story contains graphics, the when the story contains graphics, the

stories may be easier to followstories may be easier to follow are faster to readare faster to read are enjoyed by many over and overare enjoyed by many over and over

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Amulet, 2007.by Jeff Kinney. Amulet, 2007.

magazinesmagazines

timely, current eventstimely, current events appealing graphicsappealing graphics mix of stories and photographsmix of stories and photographs selected periodicals are of topical selected periodicals are of topical

interest to boysinterest to boys some offer an opportunity to some offer an opportunity to

exchange of ideas and creative exchange of ideas and creative submissionssubmissions

magazines magazines

websiteswebsites

http://www.readkiddoread.com/homehttp://www.readkiddoread.com/home

Lesson PlansLesson Plans

-to exchange ideas with other -to exchange ideas with other teachers teachers and librarians;and librarians;

-visit our Lesson Plan Exchange page -visit our Lesson Plan Exchange page

http://www.jamespatterson.com/http://readkiddoread.com/

 

http://readkiddoread.ning.com/page/lesson-plans

"Literacy statistics show that we are not giving boys what they need to be successful readers; boys need our help.

The greatest challenge to boys' literacy is probably getting people to

understand that boys do need help.”

Jon Scieszka

http://www.guysread.com/http://www.guysread.com/

programming possibilitiesprogramming possibilities

suggestions from the literature:suggestions from the literature:

readig club lead by a male (father)readig club lead by a male (father)   cartooningcartooning

anime clubanime club

World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment-R.E.A.L. (Respect, Education, -R.E.A.L. (Respect, Education,

Achievement, Leadership)Achievement, Leadership)

poetry slamspoetry slams

  

college admissions representativecollege admissions representative   YWCA outreach programsYWCA outreach programs

search and rescue dogssearch and rescue dogs

butcher paper “A really great book…:”butcher paper “A really great book…:”

chess for successchess for success-run by outsiders/volunteers-run by outsiders/volunteers-competitions/tournaments-competitions/tournaments

  

personal suggestionspersonal suggestions

-book club with adult males and boys-book club with adult males and boys(café environment with drink/food)(café environment with drink/food)

-”celebrity” visits: sports figures-”celebrity” visits: sports figures

-campaign that encourages parents to have -campaign that encourages parents to have one evening without electronicsone evening without electronics

-librarian devoted 25% for boys programs -librarian devoted 25% for boys programs with a personality for this genderwith a personality for this gender

-have a ready/long list of book titles (choices)-have a ready/long list of book titles (choices)

booksboysreading.pbworks.combooksboysreading.pbworks.com

OUR MISSIONOUR MISSION

1. Make some noise for boys.1. Make some noise for boys.

2. Expand our definition of reading.2. Expand our definition of reading.

3. Give boys choice.3. Give boys choice.

4. Encourage male role models.4. Encourage male role models.  

5. Be realistic. Start small.5. Be realistic. Start small.

6. Spread the word about special programs & websites.6. Spread the word about special programs & websites.  

-a precis of ideas promoted by Jon Scieszka-a precis of ideas promoted by Jon Scieszka