Boys and Girls Together: Differentiation with a Gender Focus

Introduction Factoids Caution!

Differentiation What is it? How do you do it?

Gender Implications

Boys and Girls

Differences

Tiering Assignments

Tier with Gender Focus

Gender Tic-Tac-Toe

Content Strategies

Social Studies

English/Language

ArtsMath Science

Different Genders, Same

Strategies

Works for both

Genders…

…For Different Reasons

Dr. Dave KommerAshland University

NMSA 2011

4444

Boys and Girls Together: Differentiation with a Gender FocusBy:Dr. Dave KommerAshland University

ELECTRONICRESOURCES

All resources used in this workshop,

are available on my wiki site

http:amleboysandgirls.pbworks.com

Some Quick Factoids!

Men, women and chimpanzees!Size doesn’t matterBut who’s counting?Women have more connections than men.Women have more to say.Side by side

Caution!

None of these interesting notions suggests that either gender has a cognitive advantage.

The important thing to remember is: There are differences They may be significant And, they result in different learning needs.

Differentiation

What is it? Creating multiple paths to learning so all learners…

receive essentially the same curriculum have opportunities to work within strengths and to

strengthen weak abilities take responsibility for their own learning

What it isn’t. Dumbing down curriculum

How do you do it?

Identify essential learning targets Think about your students’ needs

Readiness Interest Profile Ability

Design and give pre-assessment Design final assessment Create/modify learning activities based on data from

pre-assessment Deliver tiered instruction Assess and Reflect

These all have gender implications!

Wiki: Differences

BrainstormWhat are some differences you see in the classroom between boys and girls?Boys…Girls…

Gender Implications

BOYS Have trouble discovering their

best way to learn Competitive Active Risk takers Physical Use non-verbal communication Spatial Math & Science Are more confident than they

should be, or less Lack emotional language Influenced by the media

GIRLS Generally like to please the teacher Cooperative Relationships Use communication Non-risk takers Less physical Linguistic Language Arts & Social Studies Deal better with emotions View selves through the perceptions of

others Hear better Better able to read the emotions of

others Influenced by the media

Tiering Lesson with Gender in mind: Two Options

Basic Tiered Assignment with Gender Focus

Tic-Tac-Toe with Gender Focus

Social Studies

BOYS

Open-ended projects that allow them to build mod-els or re-enact events

Learn what it means to “be a man”

Debate

GIRLS

Narratives of historical characters of interest to

girls Letters to historical

characters Plays about historical

events Projects about women

in history

Language Arts

BOYS

Choice of reading material Prefer action and humor

to relationships Allow writing that gives

vent to aggressive ten-den-cies

Boys’ Writing or Reading Clubs

Build models and then write about it

GIRLS

Assignments should help girls explore rites-of-pas-sage

Discuss emotions Girls Writing or Reading

Clubs Journals Diaries

Mathematics

BOYS

Math Dictionary Helps keep organized

Word Problems Change spatial nature of

math to language Math Group Projects

Structure to be active and practical

GIRLS

Math Dictionary Gives girls word symbols

instead of numbers Word Problems

Based on literacy strengths

Math Group Projects Use varied methods Multi-modal: verbal, visual,

tactile

Science

BOYS

When doing experi-ments: Go over minimum safety

rules Give brief instructions Let boys loose to explore Answer questions as they

arise Blow things up

GIRLS

When doing experiments: Go over safety rules Give complete and struc-

tured instructions Monitor as they proceed

Provide support or al-terna-tives to animal dis-sections

All Subjects/Both Genders(different reasons)

BOYS

Separate genders when appropriate

Cooperative Groups Are active and engaging Boys need prompting to stay on

task Problems with leadership and fol-

lower-ship Character Education

(Advisory) Helps boys find emotional liter-

acy Allows boys to deal with taboo top-

ics

GIRLS

Separate genders when appro- priate

Cooperative Groups Girls like the interchange Need guidance to stay focused on

task Can be mean to others both in

and out of group Character Education (Advisory)

Help girls build positive relationships

Discuss with them problems with viewing selves through perceptions of others

All Subjects/Both Genders

BOYS

Note-taking Boys do not know what to write Therefore, tend to write nothing Strategies

Buddy notes Class notes

Do not call on boys as a class- room management techni- que (Gotcha)

Tension release activities Kush balls, tension balls, rubber

bands, etc

GIRLS

Note-taking Girls want to write every-

thing down Strategies

Buddy notes Class notes

Call on girls at the same rate as boys

Prompt girls just like boys

All Subjects/Both Genders

BOYS

Computers: boys like them but use them for games and Internet. Have boys use computer as

a communication tool Instant messaging Pen pals MySpace (or similar)

Graphic Organizers Spatial representation of

information

GIRLS

Computers: girls use them as tools by IM-ing and look-ing up media celebrities on the Internet. Have girls use computers as

research tool Data management (Excel) Computer Assisted Design

Graphic Organizers Helps girls see information in

new ways

All Subjects/Both Genders

BOYS

Media Literacy Incorporate media literacy

into classes as appropri-ate Discuss images of women Discuss images of mascul-

inity Evaluate advertising and

the techniques used to sell prod-ucts

GIRLS

Media Literacy Incorporate media literacy

into classes as appropriate Discuss images of women

Focus on looks Position relative to men

Evaluate advertising and the techniques used to sell prod-ucts

Wiki: Strategies

What are some strategies you can think of or use which are gender appropriate?

Resources

CEU Code:

Session # 14504: Boys and Girls Together