Assignment:
Give at least two examples of the functional differences between the genders that impact learners. As a teacher, how might you meet the gender-specific needs of learners taking into consideration the functional differences? Describe/discuss some strategies. Provide specific examples in two subject areas e.g. language arts, math, P.E., music, science, etc. Use the text and any outside source for references in your post.
Anyone who has been around kids for any length of time knows that girls and boys are fundamentally different in certain aspects of learning and behavior. This is a topic of conversation and amusement among family members and parents in general. However, these functional differences tend to be a source of frustration for teachers as these little boys and girls enter the classroom environment.
One functional difference is that boys tend to learn better in noisy, environments. Parents with boys can relate to the fact that boys can have the TV on loud while at the same time be playing with toys on the carpet in front of the TV. When boys play together they also tend to be loud and make loud noises with objects or with their mouth. Girls, on the other hand, often will play quietly either talking to themselves in hushed tones or not speaking at all. Another functional difference is that boys learn better when they are allowed time for unstructured activity while girls tend to favor face to face discussions.