Comics in the Classroom

There has been some debate about the use of comics within the classroom, especially as a strategy to be better engage boys or to at least expand what counts as text for our students.  This article isn't gender based, but an interesting article from the classroom perspective.
http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_18562585

Edweek blogs about acting out content.  There are several links to different studies.  From the blog:  researchers found that elementary mathematics students who acted out text in word problems were more accurate and less distracted than those who didn’t.
This is an important point for multiple reasons.  Clearly the need to move is important.  What is key here is that the movement is not just a "brain break" but is instructional!  Movement is linked with learning.  Yes, this is important for boys because of high activity levels, but also needed for girls because it is just good teaching!
 http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/07/13/36read.h30.html?tkn=LVRFWBCXg3ZGEFsx4ABylh%2F5%2Fmj8hvsUta9D&cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS2

Gender of the Teacher

This is a very common question:  does the gender of the teacher impact the learning of students.  This article claims, no.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/170861/teacher-gender-no-issue-pupils

Nature vs. Nurture

Another Nature vs. Nurture discussion with different twists. Worth the read.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2011/07/22/138603165/social-by-nature

Discipline

The gender breakdown is mentioned in the article, but most schools have a 60 to 75 percent rate of referral for males and 40 to 25 percent referral rate for females. This needs to be considered too.

Science and Girls

Making science more "girl" friendly.  Some may say stereotyping, but from the article:  But wrapping scientific subjects — at least initially — around female-friendly topics could kindle interest in scientific fields under-populated by women, Kerger says.
We have to consider the impact that gender plays.
http://www.miller-mccune.com/education/making-science-girl-friendly-pays-gender-dividends-33777/

Girls and Science

Take a look at the impressive results fromt eh Google Science Fair.  Interesting that they highlight the fact that "girls dominated."

Gender Differences and Physics

A Study that is being presented at the ASQ STEM Conference states this in the blurb:

The conclusion of the study is that the contexts in which physics questions are presented can have an effect on student response, and can show gender differentiation. To encourage participation of all students, instructors need to be aware of the contexts in which they present their material.

* There is no link to the actual study at this time.  If you find it, please reply and post.