Boys and literacy: Ignite your son's imagination with reading and writing

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Do boys face unique issues when it comes to literacy? Not necessarily, but some boys need special support when it comes to things like appreciating reading, writing and the expression of feelings. Here's how parents can help their sons.

Problem: Boys don't see male reading models, at home or in the culture at large.

Solution: Model reading by the whole family. Make time for boys to see the men in their lives reading.

 

Problem: Boys don't have a network of friends telling them what books to read. Boys often don't get committed to "personal reading" opportunities in school.

Solution: Make sure there's book-talk in the home. Make a point of recommending books. Help boys find the reading that matches their interests.

 

Problem: Boys don't always like to, or find it hard to, express feelings and emotions. Such expressions, they feel, go against the traditional idea of masculinity.

Solution: Work at developing a vocabulary of "feeling words." Allow the expression of feelings to be delayed (return to things later) or deflected (through role-playing).

 

Problem: Boys often prefer explicit instruction and don't handle hidden assumptions well.

Solution: Be explicit about laying out processes. Show how things are done, step-by-step, in reading, writing, listening, speaking and thinking. Let them hear you thinking aloud.

 

Problem: Boys may like quick answers. This can lead to premature conclusions, with limited evidence.

Solution: Walk them through the process of gathering evidence, deferring the drive for "the answer." Compare it to detective work: uncovering the evidence, without any presumptions.

 

Problem: Boys like to understand complex systems (mechanics, electronics, etc.).

Solution: Help them to appreciate cultural objects (books, films, etc.) as complex systems. Think about how they are "put together."

 

Problem: Boys may have difficulty with verbal organization, but may respond well to visually organized material.

Solution: Show them how to use "visual organizers" such as flow charts, webs, tree charts and other diagrams.

 

Problem: When writing stories, boys often don't elaborate. Their stories may lack a sense of motivation, mood, manner, or any morality implied by a struggle.

Solution: Ask specific questions that lead your son to elaborate. Be the curious, interested reader who wants to hear more. Eventually, your son may begin to ask himself the same sort of questions when writing.

 

Problem: The role of "masculinity" in their lives is sometimes confusing, often defined in opposition to femininity, and at odds with literacy.

Solution: Talk with them about how men and women are portrayed in literature and the media, and what might be the benefits and costs of those portrayals.

 

This tip sheet was originally prepared by Bruce Pirie.

 

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