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Pirate Boys

Learning Styles of Boys

I am a firm believer in different styles of learning. For instance, are you one of those people that has to read something for yourself rather than have someone read to you? If so, you are probably more of a visual, or possibly auditory learner.  When you are trying to commit something to memory, do you find yourself pacing around? Kinesthetic learner. Now, these are very simple examples, and no where near complete, but just an illustration.  Everyone learns differently.

Boys and girl have different learning styles. Not that they CAN'T have similarities, but in general, boys and girls acquire information differently.  Well, wouldn't most people know that anyway? Our schools certainly haven't shown that they understand it.  We know that men and women think differently and excel in different areas, so wouldn't it make sense to think the same about young boys and girls?

The site, <a href="http://www.boysandschools.com/index.php">Boys and Schools:Improving the Health, Education, and Well-Being of Boys</a>, has a wealth of information for parents of boys. I encourage you to visit and read some of their articles if you are a parent of a boy. A few of the most interesting items are the fact that the increased level of testosterone in boys cause them to be more aggressive, competitive, assertive, and self reliant than girls; girls hear better and teachers may need to use louder voices to reach boys; neurotransmitters in the brain differ between boys and girl, showing a clear difference in how boys and girls process information. Boys don't do as well in reading as girls, but excel at math skills and other spatial type skills.

So, even from this short list, doesn't it make sense that if boys were taught to their strengths that they could excel at a rate equal to girls? Believe me, as a mother of boys, I would love to know that my boys have an equal chance to achieve their very best in school. Yet, I know that my boys are bored. They don't want to read <span style="font-style:italic">Sarah, Plain and Tall</span>, but they love <span style="font-style:italic;">Diary of a Wimpy Kid</span>. They love studying about dinosaurs, and learning about pirates of old. Things that are exciting! My oldest scored in the top 5% of 4Th graders in the nation in math, on a particular achievement test, but just average in reading. Give him <span style="font-weight:bold;">reading</span> problems in <span style="font-weight:bold;">math</span>, and he can do them lickety split.

One way to teach children to their strengths is the use of educational technology. Using computers and software in the classroom.  Allowing testing on the computer, creating book reports using PowerPoint presentations, playing computer games to teach math concepts. Honestly, in this digital age I am really surprised that it is not more common. Our schools are still using textbooks that look just like the ones <span style="font-style:italic;">I</span> used as a kid. Give them a CD-ROM to use at school, or at home, with animations, or real video. Let them write science reports on the Discovery Channel show, Man vs. Wild, or One Way Out. I can't tell you how much my boys have learned about animals and the outdoors from Bear Grylls, and energy and momentum from Jonathan Goodwin. And, how about the Planet Earth series?  On <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/">TLC</a>, there are lots of things to be learned about society, cooking, and even fitness. I know that these are things that they will remember for many years! It is exciting and interesting to them.

Using online learning games is a great tool for children of any age. They are fun and it may not even seem like they are "learning". For years I have played games online with my children. My 3 year old loves alphabet games, counting games, and even spelling games. My oldest, 10 years old, still likes to go on sites and build virtual robots or building, creating cities, or even dinosaur environments. Our 8 year old likes to do virtual puzzles. They are all learning! The concepts that are presented are things like same/different, big/small, mirror images, different types of environments, among many others.

I just get really frustrated that the American educational system is so far behind the world. We don't use the wonderful resources that are available to us. Okay, I know that not every classroom has a computer for every child. But, there is usually a computer lab available, some students have their own, and most teachers have at least one computer in their rooms. Find new and fun ways to utilize the technology that is available. Be flexible in how you will accept work that is to be turned in. I have heard from teachers time and time again, "but, it's not fair to let one student do their work one way, and others another way". If you are allowing it because it fits their needs more specifically, how is that not fair? Parents don't treat their children all the same. Employees are not treated all them same, some make more money for one reason or another. <span style="font-weight:bold;">There is no fair or not fair</span>. Just equal, but different, opportunities. What works best for each individual.

How can we tolerate the fact that our boys are being allowed to fall behind, when the fix would be so easy to achieve?

About the Author

I am a full time working mom of 3 boys. I write articles about parenting a family of boys on topics such as education, health, fitness, entertainment, and connecting. Visit me at http://1girlparadise.blogspot.com

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