Ok, I know that there are exceptions to any rule, but I want to give you food for thought based on research and my personal experiences. Some research shows that girls and boys flourish when they are taught in single-gendered schools. I attended an all-girl college, so I have some experience with getting to attend classes without having distractions from guys. (Read into that what you may.) Think about that.

Here I want to suggest some ways to help students, mainly boys, be more successful. Nothing you read will be rocket science, but maybe it will spark an interest in you to try a suggestion or two for an extended period of time to see the results.

On the whole, processing time for boys is longer, so they like to shift gears, so to speak, during activities. An alarm clock or cell phone alarm is a great tool to use as a reminder to change pace with students. Guys generally like movement and spacial stimulants, along with manipulatives… more than girls do. Boys typically need more motor-development. However, there are girls that enjoy these, too.

All students can benefit from flowcharts, diagrams, abstracts, and problem-solving activities, though boys perhaps more than girls. Girls are typically better readers and writers and learn verbal skills earlier, but, again, there are exceptions to this.

Many boys like competition and games during class. All-boy reading groups with opportunities to hold a nerf ball or clay ball while reading will prove successful with many. (All girl math groups are successful.)

Allowing students to work in pairs, drink water, have space to move, and more light in classrooms will help with learning, as well. Turning off the television, stepping away from the computer, and getting more active will stimulate the brain to encourage retention of material. Reducing the amount of sugar and caffeine intake will also help students with focus. (I have a teacher friend who took his son off all foods with dye in them and saw a world of difference in his son’s focus in class. )

On a side note, students, well actually many of us, have become de-sensitized to violence from all the television and movies we watch that show it over and over. Anything we can do to try to combat that will help, not only the students, but the world. We need to reboot as we look for ways to reach our young people, but as we do so, we need to realize that not all we used in the past should be ignored. Common sense and a good support system go a long way.