MRS. MORHARD AND THE BOYS: BEHIND THE PAGES

Check out this article in the Atlantic that talks about how and why children learn through movement It's especially important for boys, who are constantly on the move! http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/05/why-young-kids-learn-through-movement/483408/

Jeremy’s worried about going to kindergarten. It’s in a big brick building. Will he get lost? He likes the idea of riding the school bus, but how will he find his classroom when he gets off? He wonders if he’ll make friends. Will his teacher be nice to him? Kindergarten is a new experience, even if your boy has been in preschool. He needs to feel comfortable, not fearful. His first impression can affect his attitude about school and his learning. This is especially important for boys. There are some things you can do to make sure he gets the best start: • Register him early so he can be comfortable with the school and the school has time to learn about him. • Present kindergarten as an exciting new experience. Ask him what he thinks school will be like and correct any misunderstandings or fears. • Talk about and visit his school, bus stop or walk the route to school. Let him meet his teacher. • Encourage him to be independent. Give him opportunities to follow d...

Jeremy is always running or jumping or climbing. When he’s outside, it’s fine. But when he’s inside racing from the kitchen to the dining room to the family room over and over again, it drives his Mom crazy. Especially when she’s trying to get some work done.   Why can’t he just sit still? Does he need to spend so much time running around? The answer is yes; it’s his nature. He needs to move. It turns on his brain. When he’s not active, three-quarters of his brain shuts down. It’s not like that with girls. When their bodies are still, 90 percent of their brains stay active.  That’s why it’s often difficult for boys to sit and listen. They fidget. They don’t pay attention. When he’s moving, his brain is alert. And that’s important to learning So it’s important to give your boy enough time and space to move around and expend his boundless energy. Make sure he gets lots of outdoor play. When he’s inside or the weather is bad, find a special place or activities that a...

My interview "Getting Boys to Love School" on Education Radio is now live on the Bam Radio Network . Hosted by Rae Pica, and also featuring Richard Hawkins. Rae Pica his the author of many books on education. Richard is the co-author of "Reaching Boys: Teaching Boys" and former headmaster of Cleveland's University School. You'll find the interview here: http://www.bamradionetwork.com/…/3708-getting-boys-to-love-… Getting Boys to Love School Rae Pica with Richard Hawley, Ruth Hanford Morhard, Heidi Veal  Boys continue to struggle in our educational system.  In this segment, we look at proven strategies to get boys to love school.  Follow:  @ bamradionetwork  @ raepica1   @ ruthmhrm  @ vealheidi  #edchat #edreform #ece #earlyed #AskingWhatIf

I did an interview this afternoon on the BAM Radio Network-WSCR with authors Rae Pica and Richard Hawkins. The topic was "Ensuring Success for Boys." Rae hosts the show and is the author of numerous books on education. Richard is the co-author of "Reaching Boys: Teaching Boys" and is also the former Headmaster of University School in Cleveland. I spoke about my book " Wired to Move: Facts and Strategies for Nurturing Boys in Early Childhood , focusing mainly on the importance of incorporating movement in the classroom. It'll be up on the internet soon.  Watch for it.

Jennifer sits quietly on the couch, reading. Josh has a book too, but it’s opened up like a teepee on the floor—it’s become a garage for his bulldozer. You’ve tried to read to him, but he gets antsy and starts wriggling. He’s just not interested. Is it really that important? Yes it is. Reading is going to be critical for him in school and in his everyday life. Studies show that boys, on average, are 6 months to 1½ years behind girls in reading and writing at all elementary school levels. It’s not that boys aren’t as smart. It’s because their brains work differently. The language centers in a girl’s brain develop earlier and work more efficiently, but we can help boys close the gap through reading. If he’s not interested, how do we do that? It’s hard for young boys to sit still--so while you’re reading to him, talk about the pictures, let him act out the stories, make sounds or move like the animals, planes or other things in the books. And choose books about things t...

Frustrated Because He Doesn’t Follow Directions?  Here’s Why and What to Do You’re in a hurry. You need to get groceries. Your five year-old son is zooming the remote–controlled car he got for Christmas back and forth from the great room into the kitchen, where you’re trying to clean up after lunch. You nearly trip over it. You tell him to pick the car up, put it back on the shelf in his room and get his coat on so you can go. He grabs the toy and heads toward his room. Halfway there, he drops to the floor and starts playing with it again.   You feel like screaming. Why does he always do that? Why can’t he follow directions? Well, he can. Just not the way you expect. Boys are best at focusing on a single task at a time. That’s the way their brains are built. When they’re young, it’s hard for them to remember more than one direction at a time. Your best bet is to tap him lightly on the shoulder to get his attention. Give him the first instruction and ask him to re...