Differently
Literate: Boys, Girls and the Schooling of Literacy
by Elaine Millard. This gives insight into children's habits
of literacy engagement at home and school revealing a connection
between gender roles and attitudes towards reading and writing.
Published by RoutledgeFalmer. ISBN: 0750706619
DfES Gender and Achievement site. Website for teachers
that aims to offer help and guidance on gender and achievement
issues by sharing successful experiences of schools and LEAs,
providing up-to-date information from the DfES and its partners,
and offering an overview of recent research on gender and
educational achievement. Visit www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/genderandachievement/
Getting
it Right for Boys - and Girls by Colin Noble and Wendy
Bradford. Published by RoutledgeFalmer. ISBN: 0415208858
Making
Gender Work by Judith Baxter. Booklet that aims to
help teachers ensure that boys and girls have the same opportunities
in the classroom. Cost £4.50. Contact: National Centre
for Language and Literacy, The University of Reading, Bulmershe
Court, Reading RG6 1HY. Tel: 0118 378 8820.
Reading
the Difference: gender and reading in the primary school
edited by Myra Barrs and Sue Pidgeon, Centre for Literacy
in Primary Education. ISBN: 187226705X. Contact: CLPE, Webber
Street, London SE1 8QW. Tel: 020 7401 3382.
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Boys
and writing edited by Myra Barrs and Sue Pidgeon,
Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.
The gap between boys' and girls' achievement in literacy is
greatest in writing. This collection of articles was written
by participants in a CLPE project which gave teachers the
opportunity to develop classroom strategies to improve boys'
writing. Two key themes emerged from the project: changing
boys' attitudes to writing and finding teaching techniques
to give boys 'ways in' which they felt familiar with and where
they could succeed. Several teachers noted that their target
group preferred activities where they had some choice or where
a challenge was set, although this by itself was not enough
to improve the quality of writing. Visual stimuli, ICT, video
and drama were quickly identified as good ways in; nonetheless,
the success of the whole range of strategies hinged on improving
motivation, attitude and purpose, and the use of this support.
Of course, these points are not restricted to the teaching
of writing to boys: good practice in writing benefits all
pupils. Published December 2002. ISBN: 1872267262. Cost: £14.00.
Contact: CLPE, Webber Street, London SE1 8QW. Tel: 020 7401
3382.
Boys Can Do Better Booklet produced by Kent County Council
in association with local schools. The aim of this booklet
is to inform and provide teachers with ideas for raising the
standards of boys' writing in their schools without any detrimental
effect on girls. The case studies included have been written
by Kent teachers and are based on work implemented in their
classrooms. The working group, analysed the data and explored
different strategies to raise boys' achievement in English.
The group investigated ways to harness and document good practice
across the county.
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Boys Can Do Better: improving boys' literacy in the secondary
school Video featuring two 30 minute programmes, filmed
in two schools, providing information on the scale and nature
of boys' under attainment in literacy; successful strategies
to improve literacy among boys; and practical techniques that
teachers can use in supporting boys literacy. The programmes
reflect two approaches to improving boys' literacy: those
that an individual teacher can adopt to raise standards of
boys' literacy and those that involve the whole school and
teaching staff. They are also based on two reports, Can
Do Better published by the QCA and Improving Boys'
Literacy published by the Basic Skills Agency (see below).
Cost £13.99 (reference A810). Contact: Basic Skills
Agency publications order line. Tel: 0870 600 2400.
Can Do Better. A report with practical suggestions
for improving boys' enthusiasm for and attainment in English.
Cost: £3.00. Contact: Qualifications and Curriculum
Authority, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN. Tel: 08700 606015.
Website: http://orderline.qca.org.uk
The Chelsea Bunny: literacy workshop by Paul
Blum. This book, written by Reading
Champion and primary teacher Paul Blum and illustrated
by pupils, is for upper primary/lower secondary pupils. It
follows the story of the Chelsea Bunny, a football-loving
rabbit, up to Cup Final Day. The book aims to address stereotypes
of male behaviour while also providing activities for oral
and written literacy work at the end of each chapter. Cost
£10. ISBN: 1903616182. Contact: Learning Design Ltd,
Ground Floor South, Towpath House, Limehouse Court, 3/11 Dod
Street, London E14 7EQ. Tel: 020 7093 4051. Website: www.learningdesign.biz.
Failing
Boys? Issues in Gender and Achievement edited by Debbie
Epstein, Jannette Elwood, Valerie Hey & Janet Maw. Includes
challenges to a number of the many myths that surround the
issue of boys' academic achievement plus a series of case
studies and a useful catalogue of surveys, educational
research and quotes from relevant educational documents.
Published by Open University Press. ISBN: 0335202381.
Focus
on Boys: Guidance on Improving Attainment, Particularly in
Literacy Guidance commissioned as part of Northern
Ireland's Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment
School Improvement Programme. Provides schools with issues
to consider and specific steps to take to improve boys' attainment.
Contact: Northern Ireland's Council for the Curriculum, Examinations
and Assessment. Tel: 028 9026 1200 or visit www.ccea.org.uk.
Improving Boys' Literacy: a
survey of effective practice in secondary schools
by Graham Frater (March 2002). A useful survey of effective practice in
secondary education based on visits to fourteen mixed secondary
schools. Cost £4.50 (reference A1241) or download free of charge from: www.basic-skills.co.uk/resources/resourcessearchresults/detail.php?ResourceID=2066832572
Improving Writing at Key Stages 3 and 4, QCA/00/392 1999 £6 from QCA on 01787 884 444
Boys are more sophisticated writers and better spellers than girls despite their poor performance at English GCSE, according to a three-year study by the QCA. But boys are outclassed in English exams because they write short, action-based stories and include less explanation than girls. Boys have many strengths in English, including greater technical skill and better vocabulary than girls. Boys used capital letters, full stops, commas and clauses more accurately than girls. They also tended to write longer sentences than their female classmates, an analysis of 300 A, C and F grade exam scripts from 1998 found. This report includes examples of children's writing and ideas on how to improve writing. Learning FC. Pack of curriculum resources for literacy,
numeracy amd ICT at key stages 2 and 3, on the theme of football.
Developed particularly to support the Government's Playing
for Success scheme of study support centres in football
clubs, the pack is also a useful resource for schools. Available
free - quote reference LFC1. Also available on the DfES website
at www.dfes.gov.uk/playingforsuccess.
Contact: Prolog, Unit 8, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham
NG15 0DG. Tel: 0845 60 222 60. Fax: 0845 60 333 60. Email:
dfes@prolog.uk.com.
Raising Boys' Achievement - Resource Packs: A set
of materials that have been trialled in Kirklees schools including
posters, video, leaflets and exercises. Complete pack £60
or smaller packs to suit needs of each school. Please note:
these materials are being updated in 2005. For more information
contact Kirklees School Effectiveness Service. Tel: 01484
225 793. Website: www.kirkleesmc.gov.uk.
Also see Kirklees' approach
to raisng boys' achievement .
Securing Boys' Literacy: a survey of effective practice
primary schools by Graham Frater. Report from the Basic
Skills Agency based on a survey of effective practice in 12
LEAs. It lists boy-oriented measures to improve literacy skills,
including support, rewards and sanctions, with case studies.
Cost £4.50 plus p&p (reference A918). Contact: Basic
Skills Agency Publications. Tel: 0870 600 2400. Website: www.basic-skills.co.uk.
Self-esteem for Boys: 100 tips by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer.
ISBN: 009185587X. Published by Vermillion.
The Football Kit. Teaching resource produced by Hopscotch
Educational Publishing for upper primary and lower secondary
pupils. It includes a series of fiction and non-fiction books,
each with corresponding teachers' notes with lesson plans
and activity sheets written to match NLS requirements. The
full pack, including six copies of each book for group work,
costs £130. An inspection pack of three books and sample
activities is £14.99. Books and teachers resource packs
can be purchased individually. Contact: Hopscotch Educational
Publishing on 01249 701701. Website: www.hopscotchbooks.com.
What Works in Secondary Schools - Catching up with basic
skills A practical analysis of effective practice in raising
standards of basic skills. Contact: Basic Skills Agency publications
order line. Tel: 020 7405 4017.
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Teaching with comics. A website created for teachers,
parents and librarians has articles, reviews and lesson plans
about teaching with comics. The website, created by an early
years teacher in Canada, is based on the theory that 'if you
can't get a boy to read or write anything but that same boy
has a different Spider-Man t-shirt for every day of the week
you might be ignoring his greatest motivator'. For more information
visit http://comicsintheclassroom.net/
Books to Enjoy with Boys in Mind - booklist
of recommended titles.
Books for
boys (Word document)- suggestions collected from delegates
at the NLT primary conferences in 2005.
http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
Books for Boys blog by Max Elliot Anderson, with links to his author's website and another blog page with over 50 pages of reviews.
Boox A magazine promoting books and reading, produced
by teenagers, for teenagers. Contact: The Reading Agency,
PO Box 96, St. Albans AL1 3WP. Website: www.boox.org.uk
Boys
and Reading edited by Myra Barrs and Sue Pidgeon.
Centre for Literacy in Primary Education. A collection of
reports on projects and practical suggestions to widen boys'
reading, suggested by teachers in both primary and secondary
schools. Contact: CLPE, Webber Street, London SE1 8QW. Tel:
020 7401 3382.
Boys'
literacy ploys for boys: selections, recollections and strategies
to get boys reading.
Comic-zone.co.uk
A site which sells graphic comics, particularly good for engaging
reluctant male readers.
Impact. A series of books for struggling or reluctant
readers at secondary school. Includes plays, fiction, non-fiction
and re-tellings of traditional tales and covers reading ages
of six years up to 10 years. Contact: Heinemann Education.
Tel: 01865 888084. Website: www.heinemann.co.uk.
Reading Champions. The National Reading Campaign's
Reading Champions project uses role models to encourage boys
to read for pleasure, providing a framework to help schools
to nominate their own boys as Champions, alongside famous
role models. It provides downloadable resources and free posters.
More
Riveting Reads: Boys into Books 11-14. Produced by the School Library Association and commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills to support the reading of boys in Key Stage 3. It aims to provide information about titles which might attract and enthuse boys about reading for pleasure. For more information visit www.sla.org.uk/boys-into-books-overview.php
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See also specialist book suppliers for reluctant readers
Reading Champions book boxes Reading Champions has joined forces with Badger Publishing to produce three specially selected collections of books for boys. The three selections are for key stage 2 and key stage 3. All of the books that appear in the book boxes have been written by a Reading Champion author, recommended by a famous Champion or chosen by teachers and professionals who have used them successfully to engage boys with reading. The selections avoid well-known favourites and instead strive to offer a list that is eclectic, rich and diverse. The books cover a great variety of subjects, styles and formats to excite even the most reluctant boy; graphic novels, non-fiction, sport, humour, poetry, horror and adventure are all represented. There are books for reluctant or struggling readers, alongside challenging novels for the ardent reader.
To order the boxes, please visit the Badger website:
Box for ages 7-9
Box for ages 9-11
Box for ages 11-14
Books that have worked well with boys. This list was compiled following the 2005 NLT primary conference. Delegates were asked which books they find work particularly well with boys. View the list.
Boys into books In 2007 the DCSF commissioned the School Library Association to produce a list of book recommendations (by Eileen Armstrong) for boys in key stage 3 (11-14), as part of their Riveting Reads series. For more information visit www.sla.org.uk/boys-into-books-overview.php
Boyz Own A starter reading list for boys who are reluctant or less able readers. Contact: Books for Students, 22-28 George Street, Hull, HU1 3AP Tel: 01482 384660 Fax: 01482 384677
Department for Children, Schools and Families. The DCSF have compiled a reading list that is particularly engaging for boys at Key Stage 2 level. Titles listed include The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales and The Hobbit. Visit the Standards site : www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/genderandachievement.
www.guysread.com
The Guys Read website is a US web-based literacy program designed to get boys and men reading.
As part of the Premier League Reading Stars (PLRS) initiative, each Premier League Club nominates a Reading Champion, who in turn nominates a favourite children's or adults' read - this becomes the 'reading list' at the heart of the scheme. View this booklist. PLRS is a partnership between the National Literacy Trust, the Premier League, and the Football Foundation, and is supported by the Arts Council, England and Waterstones.
Booktrust has a list of books which will interest the boys in particular. View the booklist at www.booktrusted.co.uk/books. Select "Search for books" for relevant titles.
www.dad.info
This website is a one-stop information shop for dads and their families. It provides a library of facts and information plus content produced by leading writers. The website is a resource that services can use with dads.
Dads and Lads. The YMCA have produced a range of resources for supporting fathers and their children. Packs include Making Memories DVD/Video, Playing for Time, Dads and Lads Parenting pack. Visit www.ymca.org.uk/pooled/articles/BF_WEBART/view.asp?Q=BF_WEBART_116092.
www.dads-haven.co.uk This is a busy online community where fathers can take part in discussions ranging from parenting to sport. It also links to parenting information and issues surrounding fatherhood. www.dadstuff.co.uk
Website with tips on fun activities for dads to do with their
children, based on the book Dad Stuff by Steve Caplin and
Simon Rose.
Engaging Fathers: involving parents, raising achievement (ref DfES/0314/2004) DCSF toolkit for practitioners on engaging fathers in children's education.
For more information or to download this resource visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/familyandcommunity/
The Fathers Day card has great suggestions of reads for dads to enjoy with their kids and on their own. The card has been produced by Tom Palmer with the support of Jane Mathieson, Time to Read coordinator. Download the card (.pdf)
The Fatherhood Institute (formerly Fathers Direct) is a registered charity and a 'fatherhood think-tank'.
Contact: Fatherhood Institute, 9 Nevill Street, Abergavenny NP7 5AA. Tel: 0845 634 1328. Email: mail@fathersdirect.com.
Website: www.fatherhoodinstitute.org. It produces a wide range of useful resources including:
- Working with Fathers: A guide for everyone working
with families. This user-friendly 32-page guide is full
of practical tips and strategies and sets out a six-step
process for engaging effectively with fathers and other
male carers, in both dedicated and mainstream services.
Price: £6.95
- Engaging Fathers in their Children's Learning: Tips for practitioners
- A resource for Muslim fathers: Connecting With God and Your Child: A Father's Guide to Prayer and Praise.
Through a separate partly-owned company, DAD, it provides information directly to fathers and their families - visit www.dad.info.
Father's Involvement in their Children's
Education. By Rebecca Goldman, NFPI (now Family and Parenting Institute), 2005 (ISBN 1 903615
38 0). To order this publication visit: www.familyandparenting.org/publications
Five Minutes reading promotion - aimed at dads with a text readability level between 9 - 14 (Entry Level 3 to Level 2) who have children 0 - 10 years.
Getting the Blokes on Board - NLT magazine for practitioners on involving fathers and men in reading with their children (NLT, 2007)
Reading for the Future. A report exploring the views
of boys aged 4, 7 and 13 on reading and their fathers' role.
Fathers also talk about their experiences of supporting their
sons' reading. The report concludes with recommendations to
practitioners on how to involve fathers in early years settings,
and how to encourage young boys to become and remain readers.
ISBN: 1899120947. Price: £4.50. Contact: Save the Children
Publications, c/o NBH International, Estover Road, Plymouth
PL6 7PY. Tel: 01752 202301
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Girls' Voices: are they on the agenda? Report of
the Newham Girls' Voices project which aimed to give
girls an opportunity to inform policy and practice for educational
behavioural difficulties, particularly in the development
of whole school approaches to supporting the emotional needs
of young women. The project worked towards losing the labels
EBD and SEN, with their language of deficit, to move towards
a more inclusive system in which the needs of girls are met.
It considers national and local policy and practice, including
girls' perspectives on these, and concludes with recommendations
at LEA and school level. Cost £4.
Contact: The Girls' Project, Tunmarsh Centre, Tunmarsh Lane,
London E13 9NB.
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