The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind in School and Life,   ISBN:9780787995287

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Growing up without a father figure or brothers, I guess I never realized all the differences between boys and girls. This book helped me, an adult female educator, to see how boys think and learn very differently from girls. Sadly, there were no courses available to assist me in understanding how to differentiate instruction based on gender. After reading this book, I feel strongly that educators should be provided more instruction on how to meet the needs of all students; learning disabled, academically gifted, at-risk students, average students, and especially gender specific students.

The authors provide specific examples of strategies for parents, educators and administrators to help foster a better understanding of gender related differences. These strategies have been proven appropriate for baby to high school ages. Many strategies require a great deal of cooperation and communication between the student's family members (immediate or extended as well as other "tribal" members) teachers and community personnel. Guiran and Stevens emphasize the importance of reinvesting family members' involvement in order to overcoming this "crisis" in education.

One of the most important concepts I gained from this book was the importance of identifying the differences between boys who demonstrate symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) from those who are just exuding "boy energy". Too many boys are being identified with ADD/ADHD. Are we doing all that we can as educators to meet the needs of our boys in the classroom? I'm afraid I have not.

This elementary educator will be incorporating more movement during instruction and "brain breaks" between subjects. I will allow my boys more time to work on one task and not expect them to "multi-task", because I now know that this is difficult for them. I will also provide them with more choices in their assignments. There are many different means of assessing students' understanding. This book has forced me look at my teaching and planning in a different light. Small changes have already been implemented. One is that sometimes I just have to allow my boys to "bond" by walking away and ignoring a little rough housing. I used to require them to stop so they wouldn't get hurt. After reading this book, I may have been hurting them more by not allowing this "bonding" time. So yes, you can teach old dog new tricks. It's never too late to learn!

Mrs. T.

Customer Rating: 

I am only about halfway through this book. Self-help books are always a tough read for me. Nevertheless it is interesting. Unfortunately thus far I am not enlightened. I am glad I can identify my son in some of the passages and it reaffirms what I have always believed (that he is just a boy). But I guess I was hoping for the key to arousing his interests. Not a bad book to this point. Maybe the second half will reveal more.

Customer Rating: 

Good book by a well known, great writer. Check out his other titles, too!

Customer Rating: 

I recommend this book to anyone who is raising a boy or teaching boys. It is a fairly easy read with lots of great information about how boys think, learn, etc.

Customer Rating: 

This book is an especially good read for any one who interacts or teaches childresn. This book helped me to understand why my personality and my classroom management style of "sit-still" and "be quiet" is contrary to the nature of boys.

I did learn a lot.