1. Boys and Reading, Truth and Misconceptions
Boys are People Too
Boys and Reading, Truth and Misconceptions
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

2. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Research
majority 69% boys/ 80% girls actually enjoy reading to some extent
43% boys/48% girls read every few days
41% boys reading is boring /45% nerdy
reading for pleasure drops primary to secondary 45% to 24%
66% boys & girls would read more if they had time
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

3. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Literacy
34 % of boys, / 26 % girls lack basic literacy skills
easier reading is considered to be, the more enjoyable the reading experience.
43% of boys do not associate reading for pleasure as being easy
boys who don’t read estimate their reading speed to be slower than that of their peers.
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

4. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Family and friends
young people who read every day
more likely to have a father who reads at least sometimes,
a mother who reads all the time,
siblings and friends who read.
lots of books to read at home
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

5. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Friends and Role Models
the biggest difference between readers and non-readers appears in the proportion who have friends who read
friends are the main source of advice of books to read
most boys don’t see men around them read or value reading
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

6. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Literacy Boys Enjoy
boys have a strong interest in electronic and graphic forms of literate practice
boys are willing to ‘do’ literacy in active, public ways (such as debating, drama, public speaking)
boys are eager to engage with ‘real-life’ literacy contexts and ‘real life’ literacy practices.
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

7. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Image
-ve identification with reading is associated with +ve identification with perceived masculine activities and qualities
home and school see reading as an interest more appropriate for girls than for boys
fathers often identify themselves as non-readers
boys are more likely to see it as boring and a bit nerdy.
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

8. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Interest
boys' imaginations are being captured by sport or computers; but 'real men don't read‘
reading 30%; tv 38% internet 31% computer games 27%
older boys who had lost interest in reading – do not see it as a bad thing, but was no longer of interest
65% boys reading is irrelevant
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

9. Do Judge a Book by its Cover
promote male friendly policies and materials but encourage books that expand students’ versions of masculinity
>> quantity & range of recreational reading
select books appeal to students – not books that adults read as youngsters or award winning books
improve locations, age, appearance (covers), display and presentation of books
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

10. Action: Promote Role Models
Recognise the critical role of the trusted adult mediator
present male, book-positive role models incl fathers and teachers sharing reading for pleasure
involve parents by compiling a good book list for them to buy from or developing a ‘take-home’ reading program
teachers talk about their process as a reader – eg. how they choose and read books
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

11. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Action: Attitude
Allow time for ‘free’ reading
validate personal choice ; allow in reading related activities in the curriculum
reduce the emphasis on the study of texts and extensive written responses and increase time for reading for pleasure and for discussion and ‘booktalk’
ensure that the roles of print-based texts and electronic materials are regarded as complementary and of equal importance
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

12. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Promote Peer Input
organise reading peer groups – so that students can enthuse each other
support fads, popular music, films with books
make reading a social activity
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

13. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
Action: Literacy
read aloud to students – injecting drama, being a mediator between the book and the students
use electronic media and attractive, accessible Websites to promote reading and involve in book- and reading-related activities. Australian Fiction; Fantasy Reading Online Quest
strike a balance between reading enjoyment and reading skill. An excessive emphasis on the technical may discourage some readers. For some students, a primary concern with grammar and phonics can result in the story being lost
engage in ‘critical literacy’ by challenging limited male stereotypes –showing students that books are not gender neutral – rather, they actively construct gender
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

14. Rosemary Horton Trinity College
What we do at Trinity
buy books, lots of books of all kinds – fiction collection doubled in last 4 years Books and Authors for Boys
listen to suggestions
run a book club with Mercedes girls and Dymock’s consultant
book reviews by staff members Personal Book Reviews
promote waybra and cbc awards
encourage use of ict and reading Australian Fiction; Fantasy Reading Online Quest
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College

15. Further investigations
Boys, Literacy and Reading
Books and Authors for Boys
Literacy Across The Curriculum
Boys Education
Personal Book Reviews (by staff)
Australian Fiction
Fantasy Reading Online Quest
August 7, 2018
Rosemary Horton Trinity College