Unique Reading Style

Have you ever noticed that boys select different genres of interest than girls? Some of the most popular readings for boys are comics, nonfiction, graphic novels, and statistical references. It is not that boys dislike reading, but they dislike "schoolish" reading. Boys are social readers and often sneak off into a corner to share with others while they read.

Boys have a unique style of reading. Consider the following mismatch of reading for boys at school.

Traditional "Schoolish" Reading

• Basal readers
• Reading aloud in a group
• Quiet, silent reading
• Start to finish reading
• Worksheets and skills
• Assessement-driven

Authentic "Boyish" Reading

• Comics, graphic novels, sports statistics
• Reading with peers
• Segmented reading based on interest
• Action-related reading
• Collective accumulation of books

Boys are not doing too well with reading at school. Yet, they are reading like crazy away from school. Maybe the mismatch is in what boys need and what schools are giving them...