Gender Differences in the Classroom

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Gender Differences in the Classroom

• Ashley Green
• November 2nd, 2007
• EDCI 4900

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Introduction

• I have chosen this topic because I am curious
  about the differences between male and female
  learning in the classroom. I think this is a big
  issue in todays education system and it should
  be addressed.

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Overview

• This presentation will explain the differences
  and learning styles of male and female students
  in the classroom. It will also discuss how
  teachers treat the different genders differently.
  Same sex schools will also be addressed.

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Differences in Boys Girls

• The Brain Develops Differently
• - The language area of the brain develops before
  the spatial relations/geometry in girls
• - In boys, it is the opposite.
• If you were not aware of the differences, a
  teacher may assume the boys can not write and the
  girls cant do math.

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Differences in Boys Girls

• Areas of the Brain Mature Differently
• - Some of the regions involved in mechanical
  reasoning and visual targeting mature four to
  eight years earlier in boys.
• - The parts that handle verbal fluency and
  handwriting mature several years earlier in
  girls.

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Differences in Boys Girls

• The Brain is Wired Differently
• -In girls, emotion is processed in the same area
  of the brain that processed language.
• -In boys, the brain regions involved in talking
  are separate from the regions involved in
  feeling.
• This is why girls are more open to talking about
  their feelings.

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Differences in Boys Girls

• Respond to Stress Differently
• - Stress enhances learning in males.
• - Stress impairs learning for females.

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Different Learning Styles

• Girls- prefer cooperation, open-ended and
  organized activities
• Boys- prefer competition and individualism
• Teachers can apply these different learning
  styles to their classroom to make it fair for
  both genders.

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Different Learning Styles

• In todays classroom, educators have developed
  practices that favor the girls more than the
  boys.
• -Cooperative learning groups
• -Feminized literature
• -Personal essays
• -Gym/recess softer sports

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Todays Classroom

• Boys in a typical classroom often develop
  negative feelings toward school because the
  teachers correct their boyish behavior and
  teach a curriculum better suited to girls.

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Same-Sex Schools

• Boys and girls are different, but one should not
  be educated at the others expense. This is what
  is happening with the boys in todays classroom.
• Co-ed schools actually reinforce gender
  stereotypes.

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Same-Sex Schools

• Same-sex schools help improve student
  achievement.
• Fewer social and discipline problems are also a
  result of same-sex schools.
• The No Child Left Behind Act supports same-sex
  classes and schools by allowing federal funds to
  be used to develop and support same-sex programs.

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Summary

• Boys and girls are very different in their
  learning styles and their mental differences. In
  todays classroom, there is a problem of showing
  favoritism towards girls. This is affecting the
  boys achievements. Same-sex schools is a good
  solution to this problem and should be
  implemented in more classrooms.

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Websites

• National Association for Single Sex Public
  Education (http//www.singlesexschools.org/home.ph
  p) Offers information regarding federal funding,
  research, history, and links to single-sex public
  schools in the U.S. Link to Dr. Saxs research
  (http//www.whygendermatters.com/)
• U.S. Department of Education (http//www.ed.gov/in
  dex.jhtml) Offers education information from the
  United States education department. It has
  information for students, parents, teachers, and
  administrators. More opportunity in single-sex
  classroom (http//www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/20
  06/10/10242006.html)
• Commonwealth Education Organization
  (http//www.ceopa.org/) Gives much information
  on issues and problem in todays education.
  Gender bias information (http//www.ceopa.org/Gen
  der.html)
• TEA (http//www.teateachers.org) Has a lot of
  valuable information on the teaching world and
  how to avoid gender bias in the classroom
  (http//www.teateachers.org/teachctr/New20Teacher
  /Avoiding20Bias20in20the20Classroom.pdf)
• Scholastic (http//www2.scholastic.com/browse/home
  .jsp) Has information about helping children and
  teachers improve on reading skills. Gender
  differences in learning (http//teacher.scholastic
  .com/products/instructor/Mar04_gendergap.htm)

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Print Resources

• Ripley, Amanda. Who Says a woman cant be
  Einstein? TIME. 7 Mar 2005. p.55
• This article talks about the brain differences in
  males and females.
• Girls get extra school help while boys get
  Ritalin. USA Today. 28 August 2003.
• This article addresses how females have an
  advantage in the classroom.

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