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Boys do read – but they do so in a different way!

Gender-specific reading promotion in school years 3 to 6 at schools in Saxony

They achieve lower scores in reading competence tests and display a less positive motivation for reading than girls: the reading conduct of boys has increasingly become a matter of interest. Boys and girls differ strongly as regards their preferred reading and the intensity of their reading behaviour, and school as well as the families need to react to this difference. When promoting reading in an approach that is aware of gender aspects, it is important to recognise the needs and desires of male readers and to accept them, thus strengthening their motivation to read according to their wishes.

The project Jungen lesen – aber anders!“ (Boys do read, but they do so in a different way)  was launched by the Ministry of Culture and Sport of the state of Saxony, together with Stiftung Lesen, in order to focus on the reading behaviour of boys in school years 3 to 6. Furthermore, the project intends to raise awareness in teachers at Saxon schools and parents alike for the possibility and necessity of specifically targeting boys’ reading motivation. The brochure “Jungen lesen – aber anders!“ provides teachers with worthwhile information regarding the reading interests of boys, methodological-didactic ideas for schools as well as recommendations for media that appeal to boys.

In order to support reading promotion at home, teachers will receive leaflets listing tips and suggestions that can be handed out to the parents.

A training course on the topic of promoting reading with boys will enable teachers to improve their knowledge on the topic.

This project is run by Stiftung Lesen (Germany)