Spotlight: Boys and Literacy

Engaging boys in reading, writing, and conversation requires different strategies from those used with girls. Everything from classroom setup to book choice can affect boys' interest in learning and their literacy development. Stenhouse authors offer a range of proven techniques for reaching boys of various ages, races, and backgrounds. Explore this collection of resources:

Boys and Writing

Boy Writers
By Ralph Fletcher
Writing test scores indicate that boys have fallen far behind girls across the grades. In general, boys don't enjoy writing as much as girls. What's wrong? How can we do a better of job of creating "boy-friendly" classrooms so their voices can be heard?

Listen to an Author Conversation with Ralph Fletcher
Ralph talks to New Hampshire Public Radio about his book and how boys are influenced by popular culture

Boys and Reading

Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males
By Alfred Tatum
For those who truly wish to leave no child behind, the racial achievement gap in literacy is one of the most difficult issues in education today, and nowhere does it manifest itself more perniciously than in the case of black adolescent males.

Read an article by Alfred Tatum on engaging African American males in reading

Watch a video interview with Alfred

Even Hockey Players Read
By David Booth
This comprehensive overview of the challenging issues around boys and reading includes strategies and practical solutions for helping struggling readers.

Talking to Boys

Conferring with Boys (DVD)
By Max Brand
Max demonstrates the key elements of successful literacy conferences with boys--plenty of wait time, homing in on specific text, and discussing reading or writing strategies the student is using.

Watch Max Brand conduct a writing workshop in his video, Conferring with Boys
Windows Media (1.6MB)
QuickTime (6.7MB)