The Gender Gap: What’s Happening in Today’s Classrooms?

In a recent video added to EdFlicks, Francis Wardle, a professor of child development and the author of Oh Boy: Strategies for Teaching Boys in Early Childhood describes an experience he had as a Head Start Director. In talking with the Disability Coordinator, whose job it was to identify children who were needing extra help and support, he learned that twice as many boys were being identified as girls.

He began observing in his classrooms to see where teachers (who were all women) were spending most of their time. He noticed they predominantly were in the Art Area and Dramatic Play Area. He then tracked where girls and boys spent the majority of their time and learned that most of the girls were also in the Art or Dramatic Play Areas, while most of the boys were in the Block Area. Wardle noticed that teachers were only going into the Block Area to deal with behavioral issues. This observation began a life-long interest for Wardle in exploring the gender gap in early childhood education.

We’d like to hear your experiences with gender issues in today’s early childhood classrooms - in all aspects. Please share in the comments what is happening in your setting. What are the important discussions you’re having? Thank you!

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