Re: raising test(osterone) scores

["j.lees" <j.lees@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>]

Shocking comments!  Over the last several years, ETS (Educational Testing
Service) has gone to extensive lengths to re-norm their tests so as to
remove discriminatory questions.  At least in terms of gender, the result
has been to find that male and female score have equalized.  I believe
scores from non-dominate racial groups rose, as well.  What they (ETS)
also found was that boys do not read as well as girls.  I was actually
glad to hear this because in reviewing reading scores in our district,
one fact jumped out at us.  Boys reading proficeincy goes down over time.
 I do not believe our district is an isolated case.

Reading research, at least in our state, shows that girls read more, but
that they read a lot of fiction.  Boys score better on the SAT because
they read a lot of non-fiction (for fun), but do not read much fiction.
Boys do not read as much.  This can easily be verified in any library.
Just look to see what section of the library your students are in when
selecting books for recreational reading.

There is now a push to have students read across the curriculum, i.e. to
read more non-fiction.  Sadly, the curriculum people are addressing this
by devising classroom strategies to have students read social studies,
math, and  science textbooks in a more structured environment.  What an
opportunity for libraries to expand their program into other disciplines.

The whole issue of boys' reading interests and proficiencies seems to be
traveling below the radar screen.  I felt that even the AASL/AECT's new
guidelines (draft 5) were inadequate on this issue.

Instead of castigating this administrator, who may have just come across
some information on this issue, I say, "Right On!"  How can we review our
programs to specifically address boy's reading interests and develop
program and activities to promote and encourage their readings interests
and proficiencies (not to the exclusion of anyone else, but to recognize
that they too have unique interests).

One piece of this puzzle is to review our collections.  Check your
collection to see how much shelf and floor space you give to fiction and
non-fiction.  How out of date is your non-fiction collection? How out of
date is your fiction collection?  Go to Barnes and Noble, or some other
large book store, and compare your percentages with theirs.  You may be
surprised.



John Lees
Mt. Baker Middle School
620-37th SE
Auburn, WA  98002-8011
253-804-4555
j.lees@worldnet.att.net

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