Getting the Best Out of Boys
By Peter Barnes

Sometimes I envy teachers who work in all-girls schools. In my experience, girls are better organized than boys. I've found that girls also write with more detail and often take more pride in their work. Boys are smart; they just find ways to avoid excelling in school. Here are three boy "types" you'll see and strategies to help each type maximize its learning potential.

The racers
These boys think a school day is a seven-hour race wherein every assignment must be completed at super-human speed. Complete sentences and legible handwriting are ignored as they rush to be the first to say, "I'm finished!" The unspoken hope is that if they work fast enough, I'll run out of assignments and they'll get the remainder of the school year off. These students are capable of high-quality work, but not without a fight. A teacher quality check before any assignment goes in the inbox is essential. Re-doing sloppy work eventually becomes more difficult than slowing down and completing assignments correctly the first time. Good communication with parents is also key. When parents and I are both double-checking work and pushing for top quality, even the worst cases of hurryitis are ultimately cured.

The future jocks
These boys love to talk about the touchdowns they scored in last night's game, but would rather not discuss the book they're reading. Future jocks are hard to reach because, in their minds, school will not help them get closer to the NFL or the NBA. These boys work best when separated from teammates or other athletic types in the classroom. They often respond well to competitions – earning stickers or prizes like homework passes gives them motivation to stay on task. Future jocks also like overcoming challenges. For example, if you tell them no one has ever solved a particular math problem, they're likely to pour their hearts into becoming the first to do so.

The undercover smart kids
Each year I have at least one boy who is embarrassed by his intelligence. Undercover smart kids enjoy difficult projects and love receiving good grades, but also worry about being labeled "nerds." They rarely raise a hand or volunteer to come to the board and prefer to ask questions when no one is looking. It helps to put these boys near the front of the classroom – this makes it easier for them to participate without looking like they are trying too hard. Praise must be given subtly since drawing attention increases embarrassment. If treated sensitively, these boys can be convinced that being smart and being cool are not mutually exclusive.

Peter Barnes teaches fifth grade in New Albany, OH.

March, 2007, Vol.37, No.6