Girls tend to prefer concrete reasoning. Girls like learning math concepts with objects they can manipulate. Boys tend to work silently. Boys also enjoy jargon or coded language. They like symbolic texts, diagrams and graphs, and they get into an author s imagery patterns.
Girls like to talk things out as they learn and put ideas in clear, everyday language.
They prefer written texts and tend to be more interested in the emotional workings of literary characters. Boys seem to need movement to stimulate their brains and manage and relieve impulsive behavior. Teachers should put boys to work handing out papers and sharpening pencils. Stretch and movement breaks or allowing a boy to squeeze a Nerf ball in his hand can help. Warren Foxworth, head of middle school at St. Mark s School of Texas, an all-boys school in Dallas, says he has found Gurian s ideas about how to address the different style of boys helpful not just in terms of teaching academics, but also in terms of guiding his students toward making mature decisions.