six point action plan how to encourage boys
TRANSCRIPT
Six Point Action Plan
What schools can do to re-engage boys back into the Learning Process
29/04/2011 1(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
DisciplineSome principles of disciplining boys are:
allow boys to participate in the construction of rules so that they understand why certain rules are necessary
allow boys to make suggestions as to how the rules might be enforced
ensure that ALL boys know what the rules are and what the consequences are of breaking them
discipline should be consistent but compassionate. There is a fine line, but sometimes zero tolerance is not the best policy. Boys have a strong sense of justice and respond badly to being treated unfairly
avoid public confrontations and never humiliate boys in front of their peers. This will lead to point scoring.
in the classroom, one of the most basic factors governing attention to task is teacher proximity. Arrange classrooms so as to minimise the distance between teacher and students as they move around the classroom
29/04/2011 2(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
Rewards and Encouragement
The other side of discipline is rewards and encouragement
allow boys to participate in deciding what rewards will be motivating for them
be consistent with rewards and praise, but not to the point where they become devalued
recognise good and improved behaviour publicly. Make sure that boys are not singled out for sporting achievement alone
29/04/2011 3(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
PedagogyThere are a number of simple strategies underpinned by solid research that can make boys’ experience in the classroom more positive and make teaching easier.
highly structured lessons with short term tasks, gradually extended, and frequent changes of activities
active learning
clear objectives and explicit instructions
high expectations tempered with an appropriate level of challenge
regular and constructive feedback
greater emphasis on teacher-directed work and lesser focus on group work
competition
29/04/2011 4(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
Reading and LiteracyIt is crucial to focus on literacy in the early years of schooling. Issues that need consideration by both school leaders and the classroom teacher are:
good monitoring systems and early intervention
spelling, grammar and phonics
talk things through before writing
introduce boys to literature by reading to them
make sure the school library has books boys want to read, and a catalogue system that allows them to locate them easily
make sure that the school has an EXPLICIT and SUCCINCT Teaching Learning Program for ALL aspect of the Reading and Literacy Program
29/04/2011 5(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
Men in Schools
There are ways that ALL schools might ameliorate the effects of decline numbers of males in the teaching ranks:
male role and mentoring programs
involving fathers
parent-teacher partnerships
Talking about masculinity
29/04/2011 6(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
School Structures and Classroom Composition
Each school will look at and attack the re-engagement of boys in the way that will best meet their particular needs. However there are a few things that can be considered by the school administrators:
single sex classes
focus on middle schooling
homework
29/04/2011 7(C) Gregory Grinham 2009
The Final word ...
29/04/2011 (C) Gregory Grinham 2009 8
We could try to change boys to suit schools, or we could try to change schools to
suit boys. Neither is an easy task to undertake! And, instead we, as schools and
society tend to attempt a meeting of both somewhere in the middle.
Changing boys does not mean making them more like girls. It means
recognising that boys must take some responsibility for the decisions they make.
They are not passive victims and, if given the right incentives and encouragement,
can affect change themselves. Making changes have taken place in education and
that these changes have not always been in boys’ interests. It means determining
whether these changes are justified. Finally, it means tacking ACTION. We can
another decade or more discussing the advantages and disadvantages or we can
tackle the bull by the horns and start to make a difference for boys ... To me the
choice is easy ....
Boys today inhabit a different world, both in school
and out of school. They have rules and moral
guidelines. They often find school life frustrating
and alienating. This mismatch between boys and
school gives us only a couple of alternatives.