Not dating them... teaching them.
Hands down, my classes of boys are far more challenging to teach than my classes of girls. You see, while I know a lot about high school boys, I know way more about high school girls. I can understand how to present material in an interesting and creative way when I'm catering to the female brain, but it's still hit or miss when I'm creating lessons for boys.
Today was a boy day (our school does block scheduling - A days I teach girls, B days I teach boys.... It doesn't break down that way for all teachers, and not all teachers have gender segregated classes, but for me it does). I have several comments about high school boys.
1. I doubt that I will ever cease to be astounded by what boys do. The things that come out of their mouths and what they are aware of/not aware of doing/saying/hearing, etc., mystify me. Most of the time, I don't even want to know what's going on in their minds.
2. It is incredible what boys are capable of retaining mentally without being aware of what they know. My guys probably know way more than the girls do, it's just almost like the information is stored in individual files in their brains and nothing makes sense until one by one, connections are made. Today in World History, we reviewed the semester in preparation for their midterm exam next week. We talked through the whole semester and they provided all of the information. However, before they got to the right answer, they would throw out multiple very wrong, often illogical wrong ones. When reminded to stop and think before blurting out an answer, they quickly retrieved the name/concept/etc. from wherever it was hidden in their brains.
3. Boys should always shower. If not daily, then every other day. My classroom is almost toxic by the end of the day. Seriously, this is not healthy.
4. Boys often exceed my expectations. Today, 3 of the 9th graders stayed after school for a full 50 minutes for exam review. It was voluntary (requested, actually), and I have never seen them so focused.
5. After a day of teaching boys, I am both exhausted and energized. They take everything I have and yet I don't dread them, I love them. Also, I laugh SO much with them.
1 comment:
1. You definitely don't want to know.
2. Guys are masters at retaining ridiculous amounts of factoids. Find a topic they truly love (football, videogames, music, etc.) and it will be absurd how much we can come up with.
3. Bi-daily would probably be best.
4. Going back to your second point. If they get interested in something the focus factor is insane. And it doesn't even have to be on something worthwhile.
5. You love boys!
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