Sue Scheff: New Study Shows Boys Struggle in School – Could it be their attention span?
by Sue Scheff on Mar 19, 2010
Source: Connect with Kids
Boys Hate School
“Some of my teachers, they just get up there, they lecture, they write notes on the board for an hour and a half and that’ll be the class period and you can’t keep your attention very long.”
– Kevin, 16 years old
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
Sue Scheff: Increasing Your Teens Study Skills
by Sue Scheff on Mar 10, 2010
Motivating students today can be a challenge. Many children are very bright, intelligent and have the ability to get excellent grades, however are underachievers. This can be extremely frustrating to parents as well as teachers.
PS Youth Outreach Center located in Lauderdale Lakes, offers Broward County youths an opportunity to learn better study skills, prepare for SAT’s, ACT’s as well as GED preparation. PS Youth also helps teens and young adults with career development by offering assistance with resume writing, interview tips, filling out applications and computer classes.
Paula Scott, President of PS Youth Outreach Center, said they are planning a Summer Camp which will also foster educational growth and retention during the summer months as well as incorporate some fun, educational activities. PS Youth’s one-on-one tutoring rate is very low, in comparison to other tutoring and private educational services.
PS Youth Outreach Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which serves at-risk youth between the ages of 5-22 who reside in Broward County. The agency was founded in 2006 as a reaction to the numerous youth of Broward County who are under-served or unaware of the many services available.
Education is a privilege which many of our youth become discouraged to follow through with. Whether discouraged by social distractions, familial distractions, or simply a lack of guidance, these youth need to be helped through education.
PS Youth is approved by FDOE and the School Board of Broward County. Call today and learn more! 954-358-0625 or email at info@psyouth.org . Are you able to sponsor a student or have school supplies to donate? Learn more, click here.
Be an educated parent, it can help your child reach their greatest potential.
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: ACT, FCAT, Parenting, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, PS Youth Outreach, SAT, Study Skills, Sue Scheff, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: FCATs start today in Florida – Could Facebook and Video Games be the cause of a decline in grades?
by Sue Scheff on Mar 09, 2010
If you live in Florida and have children that attend public school, the FCAT‘s (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) is part of public school testing. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® (FCAT) is part of Florida’s overall plan to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. The FCAT, administered to students in Grades 3-11, consists of criterion-referenced tests (CRT) in mathematics, reading, science, and writing, which measure student progress toward meeting the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) benchmarks.
The Sun-Sentinel reports Education experts say the drop-off can be attributed to many things – a progressively more difficult test, students’ backgrounds and a decreased focus on teaching students to read in upper grades.
Then there are the distractions, such as playing video games or connecting with friends on Facebook.
The numbers tell the story. Only four of Broward’s 32 high schools had at least 75 percent of students reading at grade level in the past five years, according to a Sun Sentinel analysis of FCAT reading scores. That’s compared with 98 of 140 elementary and 23 of 41 middle schools.
Overall in Broward, 37 percent of 10th-graders and 57 percent of eighth-graders scored a 3 or higher on last year’s state reading test. Broward’s eighth-graders performed slightly higher than the statewide average of 54 percent, while 10th-graders mirrored the statewide figures.
Parents need to get involved. They need to learn how to set boundaries and simply unplug from the distractions. Struggling students also might have a problem getting motivated to take tests, parents need to encourage their children and help them to understand the importance of education.
Source: Sun-Sentinel
Be an educated parent, you will have successful teens!
Read more on Examiner.
Tags: Educational Testing, FCAT, parenting advice, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Study Skills, Sue Scheff, Teachers, Teen Help
Sue Scheff: Parent Resources – Help Raise Your Teens Grades
by Sue Scheff on Feb 03, 2009
CRAMSTER.com has been helping parents with their children that are struggling with completing homework or needs help understanding and learning study skills. Take a moment to review their free offer that can help you help your teen.
Source: Cramster.com
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Sometimes answers in the back of the book just aren’t enough. Read our step-by-step solutions to actually understand how to solve the problems. And, unlike a solution manual, if you don’t understand the demonstrated steps, you can ask our community for clarification.
Expert help at any time, day or night.
Ask or answer questions on the Cramster Q&A Board to understand difficult problems and stop getting stuck at the same place. The Q&A Board is moderated by experts and, unlike teachers, you can ask them questions at night, too.
Proven results
Our exit surveys continually prove the worth of Cramster.com’s resources. 91 percent of members said Cramster helped them keep the grade they desired, while 60 percent said using Cramster improved their grade above what they had expected.
A safe, confidence-building online experience
With the ability to remain anonymous, students no longer have to worry about asking “dumb” questions or seeking too much help. As a parent, you can learn anonymously and at your own pace as well. Additionally, our team of moderators works around the clock to ensure the safety of all members. As a McAfee and VeriSign secured site, your child’s personal information is completely safe with us.
Tags: CRAMSTER, Homework, Parenting Teens, Parenting Tips, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Study Skills, Sue Scheff, Teen Help, Teen Study Skills
