The Inclusive Classroom: Boys Will Be Boys, And Girls Will Be Readers

I am borrowing this title from David Booth because it caught my attention just as much as the topic about boys' literacy does. It's a topic close to my heart because I have a three year old son who always does things that prompt people to say to me "Relax, boys will be boys." Nothing malicious is meant by that. It just means he fits the stereotypical rough and tumble, sports-minded, bull-in-a-china-shop image that fits the word "boy" like a glove. Unfortunately, when I hear that phrase, the teacher in me automatically thinks, "Uh-oh, what is he going to be like at school?!"

I should relax because he just turned 3 years old, but the teacher in me can't help to compare his early literacy interest to his sister's. I know what you're thinking because the mom in me is telling me not to compare them too, but right now the teacher seems to be winning! I started reading to both of my children right from the day they were born, I actually packed children's books to bring to the hospital so that I could do that. I wouldn't say that the differences were instantaneous but I will say that by the time they were a month old they had already developed a preference for certain books which was demonstrated by whether they turned away or towards my voice for certain types of books. I would say that my daughter liked almost anything but as soon as she was able to talk she would say things like "I like the way these words sound together" and she would choose more descriptive, flowery language. My son liked short and sweet and exciting-- or anything sports related or musical. When she had tummy time as a baby, she would reach for and taste the colourful board books rather than toys set in front of her and my son always reached for a ball or hockey stick.

What I need to remember as a parent and as a teacher is that regardless of the differences between boys' and girls' reading habits, how do we keep boys interested in reading? How do we make sure that they value reading and can interact with print in meaningful ways as well as the girls?

Two fantastic documents, Me Read? No Way! and Me Read? And How!, have been published to help us figure that out. There were some interesting pieces of information that will help me as a parent and teacher, and the great thing is that girls will benefit from them too!

Balanced instruction helps boys (explicit and the tasks are clearly explained, modelled, practiced and given timely feedback)
Boys enjoy literacy activities in the form of games, friendly competitions, and debates
Boys like to solve problems so set the purpose for reading, make the learning real and authentic, get kids thinking critically about what they are reading
Allow partner reading: it's difficult for boys to read without sharing
Also provide plenty of rich topics for discussion- be sure to explicitly teach accountable talk
Boys love electronic and graphic forms of literacy