Boys and Girls Learn Differently®
Creating a Gender Friendly Classroom
Environment
Research
Strategies
(not all boys or girls, but generally)
Space floor space, table
space, paper space
Boys experience more through physical processing
and body movement.
1.
2.
Lighting
Vision is boys’ best sense in detecting and acquiring
information. See best in bright light.
1.
2.
Lighting
Girls can see equally well in bright and dim light.
Girls use all senses to process information.
1.
2.
Volume level
Boys hear less well than girls. Generally hear better
out of right ear. Boys have more ear infections
earlier (longer cochlea).
1.
2.
Touch
Boys less receptive to soft touch due to fewer nerve
receptors.
1.
2.
Eye contact
Boys maintain eye contact for less time than girls.
Boys’ chemistry impels them to practice less eye to
eye contact and more shoulder to shoulder. Boys
focus more on objects moving through space than
girls.
1.
2.
Developed by Dakota Hoyt
Gurian Institute – Learning through a Gender Lens
Visual
reinforcement
Pictures engage more areas of the brain for boys and
help the words “stick”. Too much visual stimulation
(stuff on the walls) can be distracting for boys.
1.
2.
Aggression
nurturance –
bumping, prodding,
pushing
Boys build strength, focus, attentiveness and
hierarchy through aggression nurturance. It is
important to pay attention to less competitive,
aggressive boys (pecking order/stress).
1.
2.
Empathy
nurturance
Girls nurture through empathy –comforting and
talking. If girls are aggressive it tends to be in a
more socially manipulative manner.
1.
2.
Transition between
activities
Boys are more single task oriented. They need time
and specific direction to transition.
1.
2.
Use of music and
art
Using music and art with instruction helps engage
both sides of the brain (whole brain).
1.
2.
Developed by Dakota Hoyt
Gurian Institute – Learning through a Gender Lens