Gender Differences.....Really!!

Men and women are different.

Period.

I remember when the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus first came out—women everywhere felt validated that finally someone had recognized there were differences. It’s hard to believe that it took a book being published for the idea to be recognized.  And then the idea filtered into the world of education and gender differences in learning. 

The most obvious difference in a classroom setting is gender, yet it is the difference that is most often overlooked.  In the last two decades, brain research has gained profound knowledge about how boys and girls learn differently.  Let’s take a look at a few of those differences when thinking about how boys and girls learn differently.

1. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning

 Boys tend to be deductive in their reasoning abilities, while girls are inductive.  What does this mean?  Boys go from generalizations to specifics, able to make quick decisions more so than girls. While girls, on the other hand, begin with concrete examples and then think in terms of concepts.  In terms of school, boys are better at multiple choice tests and girls are better at giving examples in writing, for instance.

2. Abstract and Concrete Reasoning

Boys tend to be better abstract thinkers, while girls tend to be better concrete thinkers.  If math concepts are only presented on the whiteboard, boys tend to grasp the concepts more easily.  If given math manipulatives to explore the same concept, girls tend to find it easier.

3. Use of Language

It is no secret that, on average, girls use more words than boys.  The perfect example is when children are learning to talk.  Girls tend to use the words as they learn, whereas boys tend to work silently.  In group work, girls tend to verbalize much more than males.  Boys, however, find coded language, such as tapping on the desk and tipping their chair back if they are not engaged, much more interesting and rely on it to communicate.

4. Logic and Evidence

Generally, girls are better listeners than boys, because they hear more of what’s said and pay attention to the details better.  Boys, on the other hand, tend to hear less and will often times ask for clearer evidence to support a claim—asking why. 

5. The Likelihood of Boredom

Boys tend to get bored more easily than girls, especially in the classroom.  When girls are bored, they have ways of managing their boredom.  Boys are not able to manage their boredom as well, so in a classroom it can sometimes be seen as disruptive behavior. 

6. Use of Space

Boys use more space than girls when working.  Boys tend to spread their things out everywhere, especially younger students.  Sometimes this can be interpreted as boys being impolite or rude, but really they are just learning in the way their spatial brain learns.

7. Movement

Girls do not need to move around as much as boys while learning.  Movement for boys stimulates their brain and manages and relieves impulsive behaviors.  The boy who is always tapping his pencil or fidgeting in his seat is really just trying to stimulate his brain.  Being able to manipulate something in his hand—like a Koosh ball—may very well be the answer that is necessary to help him stay focused.

While there are always exceptions to the rules, I think it is fair to say that most girls fit into the girl descriptions and most boys fit into the boy descriptions above.  When we can understand that these differences exist, and we can acknowledge these differences, then we can truly teach each child individually.  I know that as a mother of a girl and two boys, these differences are quite real to me. 

But this isn’t all there is to it folks!  Stay tuned to next week when I continue this gendered brain informational piece.

Source of information:  Michael Gurian’s book Boys and Girls Learn Differently!