Single-gender Schools Get Great Response in Cleveland

After reading "Single-gender Schools Get Great Response in Cleveland" are ther ideas in the article that apply to Littleton Public Schools? Arapahoe High School?

How do Students Benefit from Single-Gender Classes?

After reading "How do Students Benefit from Single-Gender Classes?", which statements in Tiffany's position paper have you found to be true? False?

Have you found differences in their language processing?

It was with great interest that I read this article from ScienceDaily about gender differences in language processing. It seems that with the aid of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) researchers have shown there are biological differences in how males and females (at least ages 9 to 15 year olds) process language. Males in the study relied on the brain’s visual connection when reading words and the auditory part of the brain when hearing words read aloud. In contrast, females “showed significantly greater activation in language areas of the brain than boys” and there was a correlation between this activation and the accuracy of their performance.

The article implies that, because males process language through a more sensory mode and not as abstractly as females, we should be teaching and assessing the two genders differently. Related to this I have found in my classroom:

• When giving directions orally I use concise instructions for males and elaborate for females.
• When using the computers for instructions, I have the males type their summary and the females verbalize their findings.
• When giving written tests, I permit males to ask questions during the test which allows me to prompt them whereas females rarely need a prompt.

So, what have you found in your classroom?

Niwot High School

I received the following email this week...

My name is Becky Smith, and I am part of the IB program at Niwot High School. I am a senior. As part of our program requirements, we have to do a presentation on a topic of our choice about a knowledge issue prevalent in today's society. My classmate and I chose the rise in single-gender classrooms in schools. We would truly appreciate your input, and your stance on this position.

My students and I have been communicating with Becky, and now I hope some of you will do the same. If you or your students are interested in participating please leave a comment below. Thanks!

Glamorous equals Reckless and Dumb

My twenty-six year old son sent me this article from the National Review partly because he knows I am involved in single-gender education and partly because our family watched the television show The Wonder Years regularly when it was on the air. In the article, Danica McKellar implies that our young females are still combating the urge to dumb themselves down for the sake of being attractive. It is this implication that I want to address, as well as get your opinions and feedback.

In the four years I have taught single-gender mathematics classes, the female classes have all said they benefited from being in a math class without their male peers. My all-female classes have said over and over again that they are more comfortable asking questions, they feel support from their female companions, and they like the relationship we develop. Some female students have said they earned the highest grade in math when they were in a single-gender class. Now I wonder if the experience of being in a single-gender math class, for only one year, can change the way female students view themselves. I think it can. And, I think it is the best way to help female students overcome the stereotype of glamorous equals reckless and dumb.

Because I also teach co-ed classes, I have tried to figure out how to develop this same reaction in a mixed-gender class. It takes constant prodding and praise to teach female students that it is OK to be smart. It takes continuous effort to battle the cultural belief that being nerdy is unattractive.

So what do you think about the article? What have you discovered about students’ view of intelligence?

Are we doing the right thing?

I read an article from Time magazine titled The Boys Are All Right and it was reassuring regarding what we are doing at Arapahoe High School. The article investigates the notion that the boy crisis is only a myth, and concludes that there is hope for males of today because we are paying more attention to them. The books that call for a change in how society in general, and schools in particular, deals with the male population were the result of statistics and behavioral indicators from the 80's and 90's. During that time a large percentage of boys were in trouble with the law, drinking too much, having sex without protection, and performing low in all academic areas in school. The article claims that these trends are now leveling off and, in some cases, taking a turn in the other direction.
Investigations four years ago at Arapahoe High School showed our male population was falling behind in academic performance as well as participation in leadership roles. As a result, we began offering single-gender classes in some subjects along side of their co-ed counterparts. Teachers, administrators, and parents have met regularly over the past few years to discuss ways to meet the different educational needs of our male and female students. It has been this continual investigation of best practices that has contributed to the success of this group. It is my belief that the trend here is also taking a turn for the better. I believe we are doing the right thing. Now, how can we prove it is working??

Welcome to the AHS Single Gender Blog

Thank you for setting up this blog, Barb. I think it will be a great avenue to share information and ideas on teaching a single gender class.