The Gender Gap in Reading
As the school year is unfolding, you may find that your son is struggling with reading, or simply showing disinterest. Across North America, boys are trailing behind girls in reading. There has been, and continues to be, much research and attention focused on this very important issue. Psychologists and educational researchers have identified a few areas that appear to undermine both interest and skills in boys' reading; social media, video games, curriculum, and male role modeling.
If your son is experiencing frustration when reading, don't wait! Arrange a meeting with your child's teacher and talk about the concerns you are seeing at home. Ask the teacher for feedback regarding how well your son is decoding words, developing comprehension skills, ( including critical thinking skills- even in kindergarten), and making connections between self and text and text to the world.
It is important to note that most children, while able to decode words at a young age, cannot fully comprehend and make connections when reading until about the age of 6. In fact, some Scandinavian countries don't even begin to teach reading formally until the age of about 6. Their graduates are some of the most successful students.
What can you do to help your son read?
1) Make connections through reading- seek a variety of reading materials based on your son's interests and tie the main ideas of the content to real-life events or experiences.
2) Take advantage of technology. Many boys are more interested in reading if they use an e-reader or iPad. Many electronic reading devices have interactive features that are engaging and support reading skills. Audio-books, even for a very young child are also very successful. Have your son read along silently while listening to books.
3) Don't reject what boys are reading! Many boys become quickly disinterested if parents and teachers give them a negative reaction when they select a graphic novel or book with some off-colour humour or gore. Of course, books have to be age appropriate, however keep in mind that many boys are far more interested in "action" than reading about relationships- at least when they are emerging readers. Many males prefer non-fiction to fiction.
4) Model! Parents, especially dads, can set an example by reading a variety of materials and taking the time to go with your son to the library or bookstore. Read with your son daily, even for 15 minutes, and share ideas about the main ideas, making relevant and meaningful connections to real life.
5) Be supportive and positive- if your son becomes frustrated when reading, take a break and read to him. Often when a child has trouble decoding, ( word attack), they lose the meaning of rich literature and story. It is very important to encourage reading comprehension so make the time to talk about the text. Share reading, or read to him.
For more ideas or information about gender issues in reading, I recommend the following books:
Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men- Dr. Leonard Sax
Why Gender Matters- Dr. Leonard Sax
The Element: Why Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
Raising Cain- Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys- Dr. Dan Kindlon
websites- public libraries sites; guysread.com