Blogs Second grade teacher Candace Craven, from Syracuse, NY, enrolled in Course 738: Gender Matters with Learners Edge.
Most classrooms no longer have rows of uncomfortable chairs with no attempt at collaboration and interaction.Included in Candace’s coursework was a classroom diagram illustrating how she will set up her classroom using the strategies she learned in the course.
Also included were the ways Candace will differentiate a math lesson according to the different ways boys and girls learn.
Classroom Set Up: 2nd Grade
(Given the ideal student teacher ratio is 15:1, this classroom set up only has 15 students.)
The male students (represented by orange) are better at seeing in bright light, so they are seated near windows. Their seats are also arranged on the outsides of tables, allowing them to stand during independent work and move around the room without disrupting instruction.
Meanwhile, seats farthest from the teacher are reserved for girls (represented by purple), who have superior hearing. The meeting rug, group work, and teacher tables foster a multitude of group dynamics as they allow co-ed or single gender interaction. Classroom instruction would be student-directed using a structure such as Daily 5, which encourages self-regulated learning.
This is evidenced by the existence of a leveled library, in which students independently book shop and place their choices in their book bins. Students also have the option to work at tables or on the rug during independent or small group time.
Math lesson objective: add 2-digit numbers with regrouping
* Boys: Two-dimensional representations of addition on a white board suffice when teaching boys how to add 2-digit numbers with regrouping. They can learn the concept and practice on their own dry erase board. Assessments should be given using multiple-choice formats, in which students have to circle the correct answer.
* Girls: Since abstract concepts such as regrouping are difficult for many girls, it may be helpful to teach this lesson using manipulatives, such as longs and cubes. Longs and cubes are base-ten blocks that represent tens and ones. Working in small groups, girls can add 2-digit numbers using manipulatives, rather than the traditional paper-pencil strategy. Once mastery is expected, girls can be assessed given oral questions/directions.
If boys or girls are not meeting expectations for this skill, various modalities and strategies should be explored to ensure mastery. This may include animated tutorials using multimedia or reading stories about addition.
Do you integrate different strategies to better teach to boys and girls in the classroom? Do you think gender matters in the classroom? We would love to hear what you think!
Learners Edge is passionately committed to providing you with continuing education coursework, materials, and tools that will help you succeed in your classroom and in your career.
Offering more than 100 print-based or online courses for teachers, you can earn the graduate credit you need for salary advancement and meet your professional development needs. Contact us today to get started!
