Boys will be boys

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Boys will be boys!

• Examining the gender issue in Learning!

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Who am I?

• Colin Millar
• Boys Brigade National Disability Consultant (UK)
• 17 years experience in Special Education and
  Special Needs
• Member of Governmental Task Force for SEN
• Member of CCEA Steering Group for SEN Review
• Vice Principal Of Nards Model Primary
• Lieutenant in 4th Ards BB

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Key Issues to understanding Learning

• Awareness of child development
• Awareness of multi- sensory learning approaches
• Awareness of learning styles
• Awareness of gender issues

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Review of Learning Styles
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How Observant are you?

• FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE-
• SULT OF YERARS OF SCIENTIFIC
• STUDY COMBINED WITH THE
• EXPERIENCE OF YEARS
• Now count how many Fs where in the passage.

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Research indicates that

• Boys favour VISUAL and TACTILE learning
• Girls favour AUDITORY learning

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QUIZ TIMEWhich of these statements refer to boys
or girls

• Is multitasked.
• Is better at collaborative work.
• Is better at taking risks.
• I s more easily bored.
• Learns by talking about things.
• Is a poor listener.
• Has a longer concentration span
• Is harder to motivate.
• Is more likely to lack confidence.
• Seeks short term gratification.
• Has better communication skills

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Reasons why this is the case for boys.

• Genetic predisposition
• Parental gender influence
• Types of play and toys
• Social influences

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Learning Styles- Main Points

• Boys prefer to learn by doing
• Girls learn by watching and listening
• Girls are interested in language
• Boys have a trial and error approach to learning
• Girls are more self motivated
• Boys tend to over estimate their own ability
• Girls are more cautious and reflective about tasks

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Gender Research Results

• Reading is perceived by both girls and boys as a
  FEMININE ACTIVITY
• When asked who reads most at home they replied
  MUMMY
• Boys view learning and school related issues as
  FEMININE ISSUES
• Laddish culture hinders boys from learning
• Lack of male role models in early years puts the
  boys at a disadvantage

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Typical Home situation

• Boys are often given toys encouraging spatial
  awareness and not language
• Girls are given dolls and soft toys developing
  language and caring attitudes
• Girls are often expected to help out around the
  house-developing independence and social
  awareness
• Boys are often more involved in rough and tumble
  play- developing their awareness of risk.

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Ways of Encouraging Boys

• Reading and sharing lots of stories-books comics
• Pointing out environmental print in their
  everyday lives
• Encourage them to think before they answer
• Giving immediate praise for effort

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Ways of encouraging GIRLS

• Involve them in more practical activities
• Be specific in praise of their work
• Encourage them to answer out
• Encourage them to play more active gross motor
  activities.

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Final Points to Encourage BOYS

• Make more use of visual inputs
• Use more step by step instructions
• Look for quality rather than quantity
• Reward effort
• Ask boys to expand their responses more
• Use more quizzes in lessons
• Give immediate praise
• Allow for more thinking time before answering

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Finally..

• Final thought Boys and girls both need the
  same care and attention only delivered in
  different ways.

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• Colin Millar
• Brigade Training Officer
• Boys Brigade Disability Network
  Consultant(N.Ireland)