Raising Boys Achievement

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Raising Boys Achievement
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Why do boys underachieve?

• Reading perceived as a female province
• Low self-esteem
• Teachers expectations
• Teacher talk (gender bias)
• Mismatch of examinations to boys preferred styles
• Mismatch of teaching and learning styles to boys
  preferred ways of working
• Peer pressure (anti-swot culture)
• Lack of positive male role models

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• Pupil grouping particularly setting in language
  based subjects
• Inappropriate reward systems
• Reduction of interest in reading in secondary
  schools
• Inappropriate seating arrangements
• Teachers responses to boys behaviour
• Boys difficulties with structuring written work
• Large pieces of coursework with long term goals
• Intervention occurs too late
• Teachers lack of awareness of issues related to
  gender and achievement

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How to improve behaviour

• Positive communication
• 31
• Avoid confrontation
• Speak to pupils regarding work to get them back
  on task
• Use the phrase thank you instead of please

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What do we do as a school?

• Boy friendly lesson cards
• Leaders board
• Sports ties
• Boys zone in the library Encourage fiction
• Challenge day coursework
• Progress checks attitude to learning
• Merits/demerits prize draw
• Intranet

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• VAK
• Student support system
• Praise postcards
• Mentoring
• Partner reading
• Y8 Boys Vs Girls challenge
• Y9 Outdoor pursuits rewards (Beaudesert)
• College council
• Learning to learn lessons

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Working levels

• Children grade themselves as to how they are
  working
• Level 4 Respectful, working hard, quality work,
  helping others
• Level 3 Respectful, working hard
• Level 2 Working when reminded
• Level 1 Not working
• Level 0 Bothering others

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How would you like to be rewarded/ recognised for
good work?
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Books for boysKeywords??

• Plot driven
• Edgy
• Controversial
• Funny
• Containing powerful ideas
• Able to sustain interest
• Appeal to a sense of mischief
• Books in a series
• Books that reflect an image of what theyd like
  to be

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• Give time for discussion before QA and writing
  sessions
• Use homework as an opportunity to develop
  independent learning skills
• Celebrate boys achievements, but first negotiate
  the most appropriate way
• Ensure displays reflect boys/men as effective
  learners/achievers
• Encourage boys to read fiction
• Give boys more responsibility

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• Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may
  remember. Involve me, and I will understand
• Confucius