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Create a positive learning environment

For boys, creating an environment in which reading and writing are highly valued and celebrated is crucial. But many boys also need to understand that reading and writing is not an ‘elitist’ sport – it is everyday, everywhere and for everyone.

Photo by MTJ Media

What you can do: … the whole school Make sure all staff and pupils feel ownership of the public spaces in the school as well as their own classrooms. Involve children in creating the school learning environment – ask them to contribute ideas Use displays to reinforce learning and to celebrate achievement – ensure children take an active part in producing them and setting them up Make good use of signs and labels throughout the school and involve children in creating and installing them. For boys, this reinforces the idea that reading has a real purpose and is for everyone

… in your classroom

• Every classroom should have a reading corner or a comfortable area where children can explore and freely select reading materials
• Provide a wide range of rich and engaging reading resources
• Make connections between reading and popular culture beyond school, e.g. favourite films, television programmes, computer games, sports events etc
• Ask children what kind of things they’d like to read – particularly if you’re not familiar with the latest popular trends – and ask them to help with the selection of books
• Create colourful displays involving the children in selecting the subject and creating the display
• Create an area for pupils to display their thoughts and ideas about their reading – their likes and dislikes, recommendations etc

…in the school library

• For pupils who struggle or are disengaged with reading, the school library can be quite a threatening place. These children need to be encouraged to visit and interact with the library and its resources, so it is vital that you create a space that feels both safe and exciting
• Try creating a theme for the library or an area of the library – something that will draw in the boys such as a jungle or castle. Make it an exciting place to be, with lots of displays and posters
• Display some books with the covers showing – these are much more inviting than rows of spines
• Make the seating area comfortable and inviting. Provide toys and puppets for younger children to share books with
• Use boys and other reluctant readers as librarians or library monitors. Give them a special area of the library to look after, reflecting their personal interests if possible. Allow older children to monitor the early years’ section so they can be ‘important’ to the younger children

An example of a practical activity

Create a multisensory display with children that will encourage interaction and talk around a topic. Make use of textures, materials and objects that children will not be able to resist touching and exploring. Support reading and writing by including books, letters, magazines or examples of children’s own writing or drawing as part of the display. Include labels and questions to prompt discussion.

With older children, you may want to assign this activity to a group of pupils and encourage them to create a display about a book they’ve read, a place they’ve been or something that inerests them. This gives them a purpose and an audience for their work – something boys respond well to – and draws on pupils’ own knowledge and interests.

If you would like more information about the reasons for some boys’ underachievement in literacy and how we can overcome this we suggest you read the Project X Handbook: Get the Boys Reading and Writing: The Essential Guide to Raising Boys’ Achievement.