If children read, they will be happier, healthier and wealthier as adults. It’s a bold statement I know , but reading really is magic and the statistics are true across all social groups. Reading develops empathy, creativity and intelligence. However, an ever-increasing volume of evidence indicates that gender is a significant factor in both choices of reading materials and reading achievement for boys and girls.
As they get older, boys increasingly describe themselves as non-readers. Few have this attitude earlier in their schooling, but, according to some experts, nearly 50 per cent describe themselves as non-readers by the time they enter secondary school.
“Boys’ underachievement is a major concern. Nationally, boys fall behind girls in early literacy skills and this gap in attainment widens with age … We want to give boys and girls the best opportunity to become powerful learners.” (UK Department for Education and Skills)
Studies have shown that often reading programmes in schools are unconsciously biased towards girls, with the discouragement of certain types of literature seen as unsuitable for school reading, insufficient guidance in finding books relevant to their interests, use of reading activities as a time-filler, and a limited selection of genres available in the School library.
Luckily, the latter issue at least is not true of the Barrow Hills Libraries which are overflowing with a richness of genres and styles. Every pupil has an allocated library slot during an English lesson each week as well as access during form times – some forms even hold their form time in the library once a week too, to allow extra time to browse the shelves or dip into a book. Additionally, the library is open three lunchtimes a week for children to come and read books, browse the shelves or play board games. We have also spent considerable time and thought on expanding ranges of books that often (but not always) appeal to boys more than girls like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Guinness Book of Records, Beast Quest, as well as a whole shelf of Barrington Stoke titles which offer great storylines for readers with dyslexic tendencies.
With much work being done in our School already to address the gender issue in reading, how can this be maintained when schooling at home?
Obviously access to books and materials is currently limited to what is available at home and online, but there is also a great opportunity for all the children to re-discover reading for pleasure. Remember … Any reading is good reading but boys in particular seem to like;
- books that reflect their image of themselves – what they aspire to be and to do;
- books that make them laugh and that appeal to their sense of mischief;
- fiction that focuses on action more than on emotions;
- books in series, such as the Harry Potter series, which can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity;
- science fiction or fantasy like Beast Quest, and later the Tolkien books;
- newspapers, magazines, comic books, football cards, non-fiction fact books and instruction manuals.
Interestingly, when they read these materials, many boys do not actually consider themselves to be properly reading at all so I have also published a version of READING BINGO this week both in the childrens’ online library classrooms, and also here, which would be a great way to encourage your boys, and girls, to dip into some reading everyday no matter what the genre. If they have read for the required period of time, that earns a tick on the bingo board.
Also, see below for the answers to the BHLibrary@Home Literary Quiz – Week 2.
Mrs Emmett, Librarian
