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Learn Differently
based on the research and writings of
Michael Gurian
Debra Austin
Background
Brain Stem
Limbic System
Top of Brain
Left Hemisphere
Right Hemisphere
Emotional Processing
Girls
Process more emotive stimulants and more
completely than boys
More likely to process hurt and talk about it with
others
Emotionally tougher they talk or cry about
distress
Boys
Move information to limbic system and brain
stem
This response short-circuits intellectual and
academic learning
This emotive process takes longer and involves
less reasoning
10 Brain-based Differences
1. Deductive/Inductive Reasoning
Boys
Deductive
Start reasoning from general principle and apply it
Have advantage in fast multiple-choice tests such as
SATs
Girls
Inductive
Begin with specific, concrete examples and build
general theory, adding to their base
Have advantage in verbalization, writing, and giving
an example
2 Abstract/Concrete Reasoning
Boys
Better than girls at calculating something
without seeing it
Abstract is explored more by the male brain,
than the female brain
Boys like abstract arguments, philosophical
conundrums, and moral debates
Girls
Better when math is taught with manipulatives
3 Use of Language
Females
Produce more words than males
Prefer ideas conceptualized in normal language
with concrete details
Males
Use fewer words and often work silently
Find jargon and coded language more
interesting
Groups
Parity in word use in female groups
1 or 2 dominating males speak more
Boys
Hear less and ask for clear evidence to
support anothers claim
5 Likelihood of Boredom
Boys
Bored more easily than girls
Need more & varying stimuli to keep
them attentive
Once bored, likely to give up on learning
and may act out
Girls
Better at managing boredom
6 Use of Space
Boys
Spatial brains require more space
Need more physical space when they learn
Especially when younger
7- Movement
Males
Movement stimulates male brains
Helps manage impulse behavior
Girls
Do not need to move around as much while
learning
Tips
Give boys something to touch, chores,
modeling clay, or encourage doodling
Movement included in lessons physical
representations
Breaks stretch breaks change locations in
room
Pecking order
Important for boys and they are fragile
learners when low in the pecking order
Less popular girls perform better than
less popular boys
Males at lower end of pecking order
secrete more cortisol (stress
hormone), which can sabotage the
learning process. It forces the brain to
focus on survival rather than the
intellectual process.
9 Use of Symbolism
Both boys and girls like pictures, but
boys often rely on them in their
learning because they stimulate the
right hemisphere, which is where
many boys are more developed.
Boys like symbolic texts, diagrams, and
graphs because of the coded quality
Girls prefer written texts
Academic Performance
Girls study harder than boys
Girls choose harder courses in
middle and high school at a higher
rate than boys
Girls get 60% of the As and boys get
70% of the Ds and Fs
62% of the top 1/5 of high school
performers are girls
Classroom Behavior
Boys are louder, more physically aggressive,
more competitive, and prone to attentiongetter behavior than girls
Boys are less mature
Girls are more quiet, passive and sendentary
than boys
During puberty/adolescence boys seek
outward dominance and girls seen inward
excellence
Girls have longer attention spans than boys
Test Scores
Boys score slightly higher on SATs
Males are slightly better at storing singlesentence information than females
Male brains have a visual advantage in
working with and making quick deductive
decisions on lists (such as multiple choice)
Female brains think more inductively and
need substantial information to make a
decision
Females have the advantage on essay
questions
Educational Aspirations
Both boys and girls fear failure (boys
more than girls) due to parent demands
to compete in school and workplace
On average, 8th and 12th grade girls
have higher educational aspirations
than boys
60% of college grads are female and
college graduation is the most
consistent indicator of stable future
income
Athletics and
Extracurricular Activities
Boys tend to choose interactive social
activities that de-emphasize verbalization
and emphasize spatial and physical
aggression
Boys participate more in sports (and have better
funding) only 37% of HS athletes are girls
Resources
http://www.michaelgurian.com/
Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide
for Teachers and Parents
ISBN 0-7879-6117-5