
ERIC Number: EJ709054
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Dec-1
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1481-1782
EISSN: N/A
Challenging the Gender Divide: Improving Literacy for All
Parsons, Les
Teacher Librarian, v32 n2 p8 Dec 2004
Teacher-Librarians are rushing to the front lines to help battle the latest crisis on education. A gender gap exists in reading proficiency: boys do not read as well as girls. The challenge of enticing boys into reading has led teacher-librarians into a variety of inventive and proactive experiments. They have started "boys only" reading clubs, for example, and when necessary have enlisted male staff members to help run the clubs and serve as role models. They have purchased materials specifically for their appeal to boys and organized "gender specific" book displays in their libraries. As some schools move toward reorganizing reading classes on the basis of gender, some teacher-librarians have even considered the unthinkable: Should the library collection be reorganized in the same manner? This article examines the source and nature of this current "crisis," and solutions for teacher-librarians to put into practice.
Descriptors: Library Materials, Role Models, Males, Library Services, Reading Attitudes, Gender Differences, Reading Skills, Literacy, Females
Scarecrow Press, 4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706. Web site: http://www.scarecrowpress.com.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Media Staff
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A