Rethinking Reading for Boys in the Secondary Library

1. Rethinking Reading for Boys in the Secondary Library Alison Schultz – Liberty Senior High (10-12) Beth Marley – Liberty Junior High (8 & 9) Robin Lewis - South Valley Middle School (6 & 7) Teresa Barnett – South Valley Junior High (8 & 9) Susan Martin – Liberty Middle School (6 & 7)

2. Boys…. • Are 50% more likely to be retained a grade • Comprise over 80% of students diagnosed with ADD and ADHD • Are an average of 1.5 grades behind girls in reading • Take longer to learn to read than girls • Are far more likely to read for utilitarian reasons than girls are Baxter, Kathleen. Connecting Boys to Books, BER Institute, p. 100.

3. LPS Disaggregated Data MAP-Com Arts-06 By Gender

4. Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) 2006 State Disaggregate Data

5. Let’s process! • What do you think the MAP data says about gender differences in reading in Missouri? • What do you know about gender differences in your building?

6. What the research says… • Many boys do not consider themselves readers. • Things that interest boys – magazines, comic books, baseball cards, and instruction manuals – are not often found in the library or classroom and are not typically valued in the school setting.

7. Why is this an issue? • Boys tend to value reading less and see reading as informational rather than recreational. • Reading choices made for boys frequently do not reflect their preferences and are influenced by women.

8. And the Survey Says… Library media specialists surveyed 3rd -5th grade students about their reading habits and preferences. Most boys said that they DID like to read.

9. And the Survey Says… Boys liked: history, sports, realistic, war stories, biography, humor, how-to, comics, science fiction, ghost stories, adventure, science, chapter books, mysteries. Boys identified favorite authors: Rowling, Duprau, R. L. Stine, Pilkey, Seuss, Jack London, Shel Silverstein, Andrew Clements, Lemony Snicket, Ron Roy, Barbara Park.

10. How can we help? • Recognize that boys are social readers. • Support learning style: action-oriented and competitive. • Provide opportunities for boys to read the way they like to read. • Connect reading with their favorite activities. • Begin with an experience or project then read for information • Read novels with strong male protagonists. • Let boys observe other males reading.

11. How can we help? • Promote materials recommended by other boys. • Allow boys to read where they are comfortable. • Provide a wide range of reading materials – magazines, newspapers, comic books, etc. • Let them make their own choices at the library. Try to work with them so you both are happy! • Encourage reading of a series. • Get boys into the library and around books – Book Clubs and Reading Programs!

12. Library Action Plans • Each LMS in Liberty created an action plan. • Based on research • Change instruction, facility, collection development, signage, activities • Accountability • Examples…

13. Let’s process! • What adjustments can you make in your library to make it “boy-friendly?” • How can you motivate the boy readers at your school?

14. What do boys like in books? • Information they can use or talk about • Humor • Action NOT feelings • Plot-driven rather than character-driven stories. • Books that capture their interest immediately • Books with a male protagonist…one with an “attitude” or “edge”

15. What do boys like in books? • Characters like themselves. (Different ethnicities, races, & backgrounds who live in a variety of homes and communities) • The ghoulish, the gross, the disgusting!

16. Magazines Newspapers (especially the comics, sports, and entertainment) Nonfiction books Humorous books Adventure Sports/Outdoors Fantasy/Science Fiction Mystery and Suspense Scary Stories/Gross things Graphic novels Comic books Materials that Appeal to Boys

17. Graphic Novels – what are they? • A novel presented in graphic visual format • Not comic strips put together in a book. • Set up in the western style or the Japanese style (Manga). • May have a rating system that is useful in selection. A (All Ages)Y (Youth 10+)T (Teen Age 13+)OT (Older Teen Age 16+)M (Mature Age 18+)

18. Other Considerations • Be aware of changes in pop culture. • Note the visual appearance of a book. • Get input from boys. A good book for a boy... ...is one he wants to read!

19. Let’s process! • Take a moment to think about the books in your library.... what types of books do you already have that interest your boys and what  types of books could you add? • What things can you do to attract boys to those books? (Displays, a promotion in a daily broadcast or announcement, booktalks, etc.)

20. Programming For Boys: Why? • Boys are social readers. • Learning style is action-oriented and competitive. • Programming provides opportunities for boys to read the way they like to read. • Book Clubs connect them with materials they want to read AND the chance to read with others who like what they do. • Activities designed for boys affirm their reading choices and behaviors.

21. Reading Programs for Boys • Comic book clubs – Share what they are reading, comic book drawing, story boards, computer graphics. • Graphic novel book clubs – Share their interests with an audience who appreciates the genre. • Pizza, Pop and Paperbacks – Feature a male guest reader; have a selection of “boy books” available.

22. More Reading Programs for Boys • Series book clubs – Feature Harry Potter, Cirque du Freak, Series of Unfortunate Events, Inheritance (Eragon), Alex Rider Adventures • Online book clubs/blogs • Online quizzes for the Mark Twain, Truman, and Gateway Reader’s Choice award books • Read-Alouds of engaging books

23. Let’s process! • What programming ideas do you have that meet the needs or interests of your boy readers?

24. Educating Other Educators • Acceptance of boy-friendly materials • Reading lists and journals • Time to read • Sustained silent reading

25. Bibliography • Pilgreen, Janice J. The SSR handbook : How to Organize and Manage a Sustained Silent Reading ProgramPortsmouth, NH : Boynton/Cook Publishers, c2000. • www.soundzabound.com (subscription)