From the Book - Revised tenth anniversary edition
pt. I. How boys and girls learn differently -- 1. How the brain learns: inherent differences between boys and girls -- The wide spectrum of gender in the brain -- How the brain works -- How boys' and girls' minds are different -- Developmental and structural differences -- Chemical differences -- Hormonal differences -- Functional differences -- Differences in processing emotion -- Why the brains are different -- A brief history of brain difference -- The role of hormones in the womb and at puberty -- 2. How brain-based differences affect boys and girls -- Areas of learning-style difference -- Deductive and inductive reasoning -- Abstract and concrete reasoning -- Use of language -- Logic and evidence -- The likelihood of boredom -- Use of space -- Movement -- Sensitivity and group dynamics -- Use of symbolism -- Use of learning terms -- Learning differences and the intelligences -- Time and sequence -- Space and place -- Applying the intelligences to brain-based gender difference -- The state of boys and girls in our schools -- Advantages for boys, challenges for girls -- Advantages for girls, challenges for boys -- Applying brain-based research to gender advantage -- Studies based on political assumptions -- The political search for workplace privation -- Creating the ultimate classroom --
pt. II. Creating the ultimate classroom for both boys and girls -- 3. The ultimate preschool and kindergarten classroom -- The foundation of early learning: bonding and attachment -- Day care, preschool, and kindergarten community building -- The case for preschool -- Parents as teachers -- The parent education coordinator -- Nutrition and learning -- Carbohydrates, proteins, and the school day -- Fatty acids -- Dealing with aggressive behavior -- Aggression nurturance -- Increasing empathy nurturance and verbalization -- Discipline techniques -- The outdoor classroom -- Directing boys and girls to academic excellence -- Teaching math and spatials -- Language development -- Special education -- Creating a tribe: bonding and school-home alliances -- Use of psychotropic medications -- The ultimate preschool and kindergarten classroom for both boys and girls -- Tips for parents --
4. The ultimate elementary school classroom -- Structural innovations -- Use of school time -- Class size, number of teachers, and teacher-to-student ratio -- Using group dynamics and group work as a basis of pedagogy -- Use of computers and other media in elementary school -- The outdoor classroom -- Bonding and attachment in elementary learning -- Handling students' emotional stress -- The role of the mentor -- Community collaboration: mentors from outside the school -- How to provide discipline in the elementary classroom -- Learning from past mistakes -- Discipline techniques after and offending act -- Discipline techniques to prevent undisciplined behavior -- Motivation techniques -- Character education -- CHARACTERplus -- Integrating character education into the whole school -- Dealing with cruelty, hazing, and violence -- Zero-tolerance policies -- Innovations for academic excellence -- Innovations for teaching language arts, especially reading and writing -- Innovations for teaching math and science -- Standardized testing -- Special education, learning disabilities, and behavioral disabilities -- Class within a class -- Fast ForeWord -- Other spatial stimulants and use of movement -- The multisensory approach to reading problems -- Cooperative and competitive learning -- Sports and athletics -- The ultimate elementary classroom for both boys and girls -- Tips for parents --
5. The ultimate middle school classroom -- Structural innovations -- Single-sex education -- Rites of passage -- Use of uniforms -- Classroom size and other innovations -- Bonding and attachment -- The early adolescent's drop in self-esteem -- Handling students' emotional stresses -- Community collaboration -- How to provide discipline in t he middle school classroom -- Strategies for providing discipline -- Mandatory sports -- Character education -- Innovations for teaching language arts and math and science -- Girls and computer science -- Special education -- Rethinking special education through the lens of gender and the brain -- Innovations for dealing with behavioral elements of special ed -- The underachiever as a special ed category -- The power of bonding -- The ultimate middle school classroom for both boys and girls -- Tips for parents --
6. The ultimate high school classroom
Communication and conflict resolution
Peer leadership, not peer pressure
Character education and service projects
Time and time-of-day innovations
The innovations students are asking for
Full psychosocial education, not just sex education
Innovations to improve academic learning
Teaching mathematics, science and technology
Teaching reading and literacy
The ultimate high school classroom for both boys and girls
What high school students are saying: their fears.
