GMP Editors were asked: “You can be the principal of a school for a week. What’s one thing you would change to better engage boys in the classroom?” Here are their answers. What’s yours?
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Jordan Gray, Relationships, Love, and Sex:
Since it’s only a one week experiment and I have to make as big of an impact as possible, I would include a daily sex and relationships class where the boys were free to ask whatever they wanted. The sexual education and awareness of intimacy that young boys are being raised with is abysmal, and only worsening over time as they learn more about sex from pornography, and less from their parents.
For something that ends up influencing so much of our entire lives, it blows my mind that we aren’t taught things like “how to be a good relationship partner”, or “how to have a healthy, energizing, and consensual sex life” in a classroom setting. I feel like so much of the worlds conflict would dissipate if people were taught from a younger age how to have healthier intimate relationships.
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Aleasa Word, Raising Boys:
My response would be to ask them all students by class : “what is one thing you love doing so much you wish you could do it forever ?” With that answer I would allow teachers to creatively weave these ideas into extra credit projects.
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Scott Heydt, Guyhood:
Hands-on, authentic learning that allows young boys to explore, problem solve, and spend time outdoors. Our students (male and female) need to move, find relevance in their work, and problem solve collaboratively so they can build relationships as well.
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Lisa Hickey, CEO and Publisher:
I’d encourage all my teachers to treat every class like an episode of CSI. How do you change “teaching” (or worse, “lecturing”) into an investigative process that you do with your students? You can use the same exact curriculum, but in every subject, there are mysteries to be solved. Make the solving of those mysteries an activity that the boys in the classroom engage in.
Also—it’s been shown that the place where students can show most improvement in all subjects is to get them to be better writers. Critical writing and creative writing are skills that will always serve you will down the road. And it is a big part of our way of connecting with others. Not to mention that writing well comes out of being able to think well. I don’t care if you teach science or math or history. You as a teacher have the responsibility to teach your students to write. I would reward teachers who can get students to write more — after all, grading 30 written papers is much more work than grading 30 multiple choice tests. Reward teachers for teaching skills that will allow students to do better in every subject.
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Heather Gray, Marriage and Commitment
I’d stop expecting classrooms to be a one-size fits all model. I’d recognize students who were introverted in nature and work to support them by creating a space that would set them up for success.
For students who need to move or fidget, I’d provide tools that would allow them to move without disrupting others. That might mean giving them stress balls or other things they can play quietly with while listening and learning. I read last week about these bouncy bands that some students get to have at their desks that allow them to kick without disruption. Knowing budgetary limits, I’d be willing to fundraise to get a few in each classroom.
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Let us know what you think in the comments section. Have a question you’d like the editors’ take on? Ask it! We just might feature it in next week’s post.
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Photo: Eaglebrook School/ Flickr
My 14 yo son loved having variety in the classroom….a special guest came by to his classroom and asked some of the students to bring in their musical instruments and to jam with him….he taught them some blues riffs on his guitar….My son came home so excited…and he still talks about that amazing session…! My son loves to hear stories….weird or funny or just plain interesting stories that illustrate a point….stuff that gets the other students to jump in and participate…. He learned a lot of stuff in summer camp (ie., in folk guitar and photography)….pretty soon he was teaching… Read more »
I would encourage the hiring of more male teachers at the elementary school level so boys can have more role models instead of just female teachers. I would pay more attention to boys as well so that their odds of graduating can be improved from what it currently is. I would also teach them that they have every right to be upset and not feel ashamed to report it if they are being sexually abused by a female teacher regardless of the double standard message that society is sending!!!
I would set up contests. I think the competitive challenge brings out the best in boys.