Welcome to the first installment of the
Mom2MomEd book club! This month we will be reading The Trouble with Boys: ASurprising Report Card on our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parentsand Educators Must Do by Peg Tyre.
Tyre is an investigative journalist who
interviewed many parents, children, teachers, and educational experts to conclude
that the current educational system used in much of the United States is simply
not addressing the needs of boys. In fact, she posits that the system as it is
actually hinders boys and is causing many of them to fall further and further
behind academically. She discusses the problems identified by parents and
teachers, what is and isn’t normal “boy” behavior, and what can be done about
the growing challenges faced by many boys in school today.
Malea:
I first came across the book in graduate school when I was
assigned to read and respond to several chapters in a course called “The Art of
Teaching”. I enjoyed the book so much that I borrowed it from my professor. At
the time, I was also tutoring a 5th grade boy who was having nothing but
struggles academically.
His teachers were frustrated with his classroom
behaviors.
His parents were frustrated with his inability
to perform academically.
The boy was frustrated with all of the pressure
being placed on him at home and at school, yet he was not capable of “fixing”
the perceived “problems” himself.
I used quotations around “fixing and “problems”
because while this boy did have real challenges, it seemed to me that the
biggest “problem” was simply that he a was a boy--a very normal boy--facing expectations
beyond what most boys his age could realistically achieve.
I remembered the book last week when McKenzie
was telling me about some challenges she has faced as a mom of a very smart boy
who wasn’t “performing” academically on assessments in pre-school. It seemed
like a good time to revisit this book and to introduce it to McKenzie.
Plus, I am the parent of a boy as well! My son’s
early academic challenges and “problems” were similar to what McKenzie and her
son have experienced and I hope that we’ll be able to share insights from our
own experiences and from this book to help you with your own children, whether
you have boys or girls, as you navigate their educations.
McKenzie:
During one of our Mom2MomEd meetings I had to stop and vent some of my
frustrations to Malea in the hopes that she would tell me that I wasn’t crazy!
My son is super smart. He can rattle off details
about prehistoric animals, identify the parts of a plant, and tell you all about
what you will find in the atmosphere.
However, if you ask him to sit and write
or practice reading he will look at you as if you are trying to poke his eyes
out with a hot needle and he'll completely lose it.
It makes me crazy! So crazy that I even went as far as to
convince myself that something was wrong with him. Then, I started thinking
about how difficult it will be for him in school and how teachers are going to
get frustrated and label him as defiant.
Following some pretty frustrating sessions of
trying to get him to focus, I gave up. As soon as I had the ear of
someone who would listen and get it (Malea) I had to let it all out.
That’s when Malea told me about this book and also that my son was
normal!
We knew that it was not only timely to read The Trouble with Boys, but also that it likely would be
immediately helpful to my situation. We ordered it together right then
and there.
Since I have a younger son (5 years old) and
Malea’s son is older (17), it’s reassuring to know that she really gets it.
Plus, she has raised a pretty awesome son so I can’t help but respect her
advice!
(Edited by Malea to add: Awww, thanks! Your kids are truly wonderful! Don't let their spirited natures be forced into boxes they simply don't fit into!)
I’m excited to read this book and learn some new skills that will help me in parenting my son (and my daughter too!). I’m also eager to have the opportunity to reflect and help you by tying the topics and lessons into your situation and life as well!
Check out our other posts in this series:
- Post #2: Introduction through Chapter 3
- Post #3: Chapters 4 through 6
- Post #4: Chapters 7 through 9
- Post #5: Chapters 10 and 11
- Post #6: Coming soon!
Be sure to grab a copy at your local library or click HERE to order from Amazon.
Please note, the Amazon link is an affiliate link.
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