Gender Differences in the Classroom

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Classroom Management Chatboard

Gender Differences in the Classroom

by Michael K.

Sep 28, 2013

I have a high school French 4 class with 15 seniors, all of whom are girls. It is the only class I teach that is not mixed almost 50% boys and girls, and it is the smallest class I teach, so my classroom of 31 desks looks large compared to the student body. I have noticed that the class is much different than any of the other 6 classes I teach.

At the beginning of the school year I noticed that the students had their cliques and, when given the opportunity, sat by and worked with only those students/friends. I changed the seating arrangement and got feedback from the students that they want to sit by their friends. It's an elective course, the students are all motivated and good, and there are very few behavior issues that I have to deal with.

The point is, however, I want the class to be able to work with various people and to not be so cliquey. I incorporated a seating chart and a grouping technique to get students to work with various partners, instead of the sam...See More

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Sara On 9/28/13, Michael K. wrote:

Girls will receive this far less well and maybe not at all well from a male teacher and while I understand your good intentions I think you risk being misunderstood. Do you do the same thing in your classes with both boys and girls?

Cliques can have both boys and girls in the same clique and there a...See MoreOn 9/28/13, Michael K. wrote:

Girls will receive this far less well and maybe not at all well from a male teacher and while I understand your good intentions I think you risk being misunderstood. Do you do the same thing in your classes with both boys and girls?

Cliques can have both boys and girls in the same clique and there are certainly cliques at the workplace. That there are cliques does not mean that you can't work outside your clique.

Is every grouping of friends a clique? I'd say let them sit wherever and if want them to work together, them put them in projects with people outside their clique.

But frankly as a man you take a risk. The relationships between women or girls is different in nature from the friendships that boys have. That would be difficult for me to explain in any brief way but if this were my class, I'd celebrate that I had the opportunity if such a small class with no behavioral issues where everyone is motivated and good. Do you have such classes routinely at your school? Have you had many such glasses in your career with no behavioral issues and where everyone is motivated and good?

I have not had that experience often and on the rare occasions that I have had it we have a wonderful journey of learning. We go farther and deeper into the subject than I ever dreamed possible .

If you have such an opportunity at hand, why monkey with it? And so near to the beginning if the year? It may happen that through the year the cliques will naturally break down in your class as your class becomes a community from the shared endeavor and exciting journey that is learning a language. Let French work its magic.

Would you rather force them apart - which will not work - or have them come together of their accord?

thing in your classes with > I have a high school French 4 class with 15 seniors, all of > whom are girls. It is the only class I teach that is not > mixed almost 50% boys and girls, and it is the smallest > class I teach, so my classroom of 31 desks looks large > compared to the student body. I have noticed that the class > is much different than any of the other 6 classes I teach. > > At the beginning of the school year I noticed that the > students had their cliques and, when given the opportunity, > sat by and worked with only those students/friends. I > changed the seating arrangement and got feedback from the > students that they want to sit by their friends. It's an > elective course, the students are all motivated and good, > and there are very few behavior issues that I have to deal > with. > > The point is, however, I want the class to be able to work > with various people and to not be so cliquey. I > incorporated a seating chart and a grouping technique to > get students to work with various partners, instead of the > same students/friends every time. I believe that this is > teaching them how to work in the future with their > colleagues, as when we are adults, we do not get to always > work with our friends. > > Any advice that you may be able to provide, or experiences > in dealing with situations like mine would be greatly > appreciated.

Oct 5, 2013

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