First, let’s remember that the author of the study points out that more observations/research related to gender learning needs to be explored further before forming any conclusions. However, I do agree with the gist of the article. For example, I know that, much to my chagrin, I teach differently to boys than girls in my classroom. Although I think I am pretty good at calling on boys and girls equally, I do believe that the tone of my voice and/or body language is different when I communicate to boys versus girls. (I can’t say for sure but I suspect this is true.)

It is very disheartening that less men choose a career in teaching. It is especially sad that of the men who do choose education, so very few choose to teach the youngest students, grades pre-K through 5. When my son was young, maybe third grade, I spend a morning in his class and noticed that the teacher, a woman, interacted very differently with the boys than the girls. Her tone of voice was different, and even the words she used to give directions were diffent, and I am sure this impacts learning. That is when I realized that, in reality, just as you pointed out, men are likely to have had different experiences than women, hence expectations are different.

But man, how to apply this to our schools today! First, how do you attract more men to the field? Right now, at my school, the science faculty for grades 6 through 12 has 13 women, 6 whom teach JHS science. Only one man teaches in the JH (not many qualified male applicants during the past few years when positions were available), and the remaining 7 teach HS courses.