Boys
Boys & Games: Using Puzzles to Improve Literacy Skills
It started with the great Pyramids. Then it continued with pharaohs, mummies and most recently hieroglyphics. When my student discovered his newest interest, I discovered another way to make our sessions fun and improve his literacy skills at the same time.
One of the books on Egypt included hieroglyphic puzzles in which we matched the symbols to the letters of the alphabet that they represented. Once all the symbols had been matched to letters, we were left with a message or riddle that related to the story. He was eager to try the next one and the next one after that. When all the puzzles in the book had been solved, I scrambled to find similar puzzles that would continue to engage him and encourage his thinking skills.
Technology and Boys' Literacy
Those troubled that the advancement of technology is turning our kids into imbeciles should take a look at this article from Wired magazine: Clive Thompson on the New Literacy.
Getting Black Boys to Read
There is a definite, though debated and not widely recognized literacy gap in the United States between males and females. You will probably not be surprised to know that this gap widens even further when we consider African American Boys.
How We Are Failing Black Boys
Read this excerpt from the article Are schools failing black boys? by Celeste Fremon & Stephaine Renfrow Hamilton:
Magazines for Boys
There’s no better way to catch your child’s attention than by handing him a glossy magazine filled with things he’s interested in. Chances are, he’ll probably start reading said magazine. He might even (GASP) enjoy it!
Magazine subscriptions are relatively cheap (reason #1 Why Boys Like Magazines!)
Summer Reading Programs that Get Boys Reading
Summer Reading Loss
Jack Prelutsky Helps Boys to Love Poetry
Engaging an active boy in poetry reading and writing may seem an impossible, even ridiculous undertaking. However, there are amazing resources available to help you learn how to get the active, aggressive and disruptive boy in your life to love poetry.
What Kinds of Poetry Boys Like
Digital Storytelling: Engaging Boys with Technology
Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways that people relate to one another. Through stories, whether fact or fiction, we share experiences and communicate information to one another. Digital Storytelling - which utilizes technology to tell stories - is a modern interpretation of an ancient form of communication.
How it Works
With digital storytelling, boys tell their story using various technologies and media instead of just the traditional paper and pen. They use visuals and audio narration such as: photos, artwork, video clips, music and audio clips. These materials are combined together to create a multimedia story.
Motivating Teenage Boys to Read
The challenge in motivating teenage boys to read is really getting them to read AGAIN. Most boys read when they are young, in the primary grades. For various reasons they lose the interest in reading as they get older. By the time they are teenagers, it may have been years since they read a book on their own.
