Sue Scheff Blog

Sue Scheff: New Study Shows Boys Struggle in School – Could it be their attention span?

by Sue Scheff on Mar 19, 2010

If education is the key to a child’s future, our boys may be in trouble. A new study from the University of Alaska shows that boys can’t read or write as well as girls and are far more likely to hate school and then drop out. Many experts wonder if the problem isn’t what boys hear all day long at school: to sit still, be quiet, and listen.

When 16 year old Will studies… it’s often at the last second. And his friend Kevin, 16, says his report card has more C’s and B’s than A’s.

Kevin admits, “I try and get through with the least amount possible. I honestly don’t want to work very hard. I just want to get through school, go to college, finish that off, get a job.”

In fact, new research shows that twice as many 12th grade girls are “proficient” at writing compared to boys and 41 percent of girls are “proficient” readers, compared to only 29% of boys.

Educational Psychologist Donna Wood McCarty, Ph.D., says, “To tell you the truth, I am deeply concerned about our boys in this country.”

Could the problem be the way classes are taught?

Experts suggest that many boys simply can’t sit for an hour or more while listening to a lecture… at least not as well as girls.

Will agrees. “Well, my last two periods are always the long lecturing teachers kinds of periods so I usually fall asleep.”

Dr. McCarty says, “I think that teachers should really attend to the fact that boys probably learn better in more actively learning situations and where they’re able to move around… do something… or where there’s some sort of visual-spatial component.”

Research is on-going about the different learning styles of boys and girls; in the meantime, experts say, parents can appeal to their school to appreciate the value of an active and energetic boy. “We’ve got to find ways in the school systems to help celebrate what boys bring to a classroom, and the energy and excitement they bring and the challenges they bring and help teachers learn to embrace that,” Dr. McCarty says.

She also she says – appeal to your son’s competitive spirit. Explain that right now school is the most important challenge in their life. “‘You as my son are going to have to recognize that your future depends on you being able to cope with this environment and deal with it as best you can.’ And I think if you throw down that gauntlet to your boy that might be an approach that might be meaningful.”

Related Information

What can parents do to help their sons perform better academically? Experts at the University of Illinois Extension say parents can do a great deal at home to enhance learning. First, it is important for parents to understand their son’s learning style – the way he processes information. Most children show a preference for one of the following three basic learning styles:

• Visual learners absorb information by watching. They call up images from the past when trying to remember. They picture the way items look in their heads. Forty percent of students fall into this category.
• Auditory learners tend to spell phonetically. They can sometimes have trouble reading because they don’t visualize well. These students learn by listening and remember facts when they are presented in the form of a poem, song or melody.
• Kinesthetic learners are taught best through movement and manipulation. They like to find out how items work and are often successful in the practical arts, such as carpentry or design. These students make up 50 percent of secondary students and have difficulty learning in a traditional setting.

How can you determine your child’s learning style? Here’s a simple way that might help. Ask him what comes to mind when he hears the word “dog.” Some people see a picture of the animal, others hear a bark and others feel the soft fur of the animal. Those who see a picture of a dog in their mind’s eye or see the letters are probably visual. Those who hear the bark are probably auditory learners. Those who feel the soft fur of a dog are probably kinesthetic. If your son is not performing well in school, you may want to explore the way information is being presented in class and approach the subject with your child at home using a different learning style. It is also a good idea to discuss this with your child’s teacher.

Tips for Parents

Helping students who are having trouble in school is something parents and teachers can do by working together. Experts say that when your son is experiencing academic difficulties, parents and teachers can assist by trying one or more of the following approaches:

• Make time to listen to your child’s fears or concerns and try to understand him.
• Set appropriate boundaries for behavior that are consistently enforced.
• Emphasize the importance of study skills and hard work, and follow through at home and in school.
• Arrange tutoring or study group support for your son at school or through community organizations, such as the YMCA.
• Provide a supportive home and school environment in which education is clearly valued.
• Become more involved in school activities by attending sporting events, concerts, science fairs, plays, etc., to show support for the school.
• Meet as a team with the student and a school counselor to share expectations for your son’s future and to figure out how to support his learning environment.
• As your son gets older, help him think about career options by arranging for visits to local companies and colleges.

References

• Family Education Network
• ERIC Clearinghouse
• University of Illinois Extension

Tags: Connect with Kids, Education, Parenting, parenting advice, Parenting Blogs, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Study Skills, Sue Scheff