Pay Attention to the Girls in Your Classroom

Pay Attention to the Girls in Your Classroom

Girls are overshadowed by the boys in our classrooms, who tend to be more aggressive in answering questions and demanding of our time.  As girls progress through school, they tend to fall more and more into the background, not getting the attention they need.  Girls begin to feel as if they are not as smart as the boys, and unfortunately, our society reinforces this.  Boys are given toys that encourage critical and creative thinking, such as LEGOS and robots, whereas girls are given dolls, makeup, and clothes.  Boys are taught to be thinkers, while girls are conditioned to care about their appearance.  In your classroom, it is important to focus on girls as thinkers, leaders, and problem solvers.  Design instruction that places girls in leadership positions and incorporate lessons that place girls at the forefront of hands-on activities.  Choose novels or stories that highlight the accomplishments of female leaders and bring female mentors in the fields of science, technology, and engineering into your classroom as guest speakers.  When we consciously pay attention to the girls in our classes and put a stop to the stereotypes thrust on female learners, we will encourage and inspire our girls as leaders and thinkers.