Customizing Curriculum for the Single Gender ClassroomCustomizing Curriculum for

the Single Gender ClassroomPresented by: Jodi Lewitt & Dana Zacharko Presented by: Jodi Lewitt & Dana Zacharko

IntroductionsIntroductions

Jodi Lewitt

•Teaches 4th grade all boys

•Has taught 6 years in single gender and 8 years in the teaching profession.

• 2 BA’s in Elementary and Exceptional Education from Buffalo State University and a MA in Reading from Grand Valley University.

Dana Zacharko

•Teaches mixed 5th grade class

•Has taught 3 years single gender and 11 years in the teaching profession.

•BA in Sociology and Elementary Education from St. John Fisher College

Jodi Lewitt

•Teaches 4th grade all boys

•Has taught 6 years in single gender and 8 years in the teaching profession.

• 2 BA’s in Elementary and Exceptional Education from Buffalo State University and a MA in Reading from Grand Valley University.

Dana Zacharko

•Teaches mixed 5th grade class

•Has taught 3 years single gender and 11 years in the teaching profession.

•BA in Sociology and Elementary Education from St. John Fisher College

School DemographicsSchool Demographics• Woodward Avenue Elementary was built in 1966, with 232 students in

eight classrooms

• The school is located in DeLand, Florida and it serves students from grades Pre-K - 5

• Woodward is a family oriented school, deep in tradition

• Current enrollment – 680 students with 48 classrooms

• 70% are Economically Disadvantage (Title I School)

• Minority Population - 45%

• Special programs include – ESE (EB/D), ESOL, Gifted, and Single Gender

n Professional Development School – in partnership with Stetson University

n High performing school!

• Woodward Avenue Elementary was built in 1966, with 232 students in eight classrooms

• The school is located in DeLand, Florida and it serves students from grades Pre-K - 5

• Woodward is a family oriented school, deep in tradition

• Current enrollment – 680 students with 48 classrooms

• 70% are Economically Disadvantage (Title I School)

• Minority Population - 45%

• Special programs include – ESE (EB/D), ESOL, Gifted, and Single Gender

n Professional Development School – in partnership with Stetson University

n High performing school!

Getting to know you!Getting to know you!• How many of you have taught in a single

gender classroom?

• How many of you have never taught in a single gender classroom?

• How many of you are administrators? Teachers?

• What grade level(s)?

• How many of you have taught in a single gender classroom?

• How many of you have never taught in a single gender classroom?

• How many of you are administrators? Teachers?

• What grade level(s)?

5

Social LivesSocial LivesBoys

•Aggressive empathy•Physical relationshipsgroup/team moreimportant•Drama – I can one up you/ or derogatory statements •Talk, talk, talk

Girls•Nurturing empathy•Individual relationshipsacknowledged publicly•Drama- catty, under current, cliques

•Talk, talk, talk

6

StrategiesStrategies

Boys• Verbs• Focus on the how• Whole to part•Visual/tactile•Independent•Think more outside the box

Girls• Adjectives• Focus on the why• Part to whole• Verbal/linguistic•Group learning•Want to be told what to do and given specific parameters

WritingWritingWhat do you think of when you hear the word October?What do you think of when you hear the word October?

Alternate Writing Assessments for Boys

Alternate Writing Assessments for Boys

9

ScienceScienceWhat does a scientist look like?What does a scientist look like?

Boy’s point of viewBoy’s point of view Girl’s point of viewGirl’s point of view

10

11

Science StrategiesScience StrategiesBoys

•Teaching verbs•Focus on things that appear dangerous and “yucky”•Get them outside and moving•Experiential learning

Girls•Connect to what they can relate to•Teach nouns – make it relevant: eat it, wear it, use it•Need to encourage to take risks and think outside of the box

12

Social StudiesSocial StudiesBoys

•Telling stories of real men making choices•Emphasize technical aspects•Reenactments/Maps

**Once boys are engaged in the story introduce the social studies aspects.

Girls•Timelines•Foldables•Salt Maps•Guided Imagery

**Making connections emotionally with the women of the time period.

13

MathMath

•Give a problem and the answer, students have to decipher how the answer was reached.•If still don’t get it, give sequencing strips and try to put steps in the right order.•Boys tend to be able to spatially manipulate things in their heads and do not need manipulatives.•Use games to teach

•Give sequencing strips to arrive at the answer.•Use split notebook: step by step directions to solve problem with example alongside•Use manipulatives and videos•Use games to reinforce

BoysWhole to Part

GirlsPart to Whole

Implementation of Math Activities

Implementation of Math Activities

ReadingComprehension

ReadingComprehension

Boys•short, high interest • passages•build suspense•work on predictions •skill lessons: short and concise•incorporate movement

Girls•passage length does not matter•discussion: making connections•reading buddies•focus on skills

16

How would you teach it?How would you teach it?

• Using what you know and have learned about boys and girls, take the skill you have been given and brainstorm how you would teach it to boys and how you would teach it to girls.

• How would you access prior knowledge?

• How would you teach the skill?

• How would you cross the curricular areas?

• Using what you know and have learned about boys and girls, take the skill you have been given and brainstorm how you would teach it to boys and how you would teach it to girls.

• How would you access prior knowledge?

• How would you teach the skill?

• How would you cross the curricular areas?

17

Questions?Questions?

Contacts:Contacts:• Jodi Lewitt jslewitt@volusia.k12.fl.us

• Dana Zacharko dlzachar@volusia.k12.fl.us

• Customizing Curriculum for Single Gender Classroom website -- http://customizingcurriculumfor thesinglegenderclassroom.wikispaces.com/

• Wooward Avenue Elementary (386)943-7910

• Stetson University (386)822-7100

• Jodi Lewitt jslewitt@volusia.k12.fl.us

• Dana Zacharko dlzachar@volusia.k12.fl.us

• Customizing Curriculum for Single Gender Classroom website -- http://customizingcurriculumfor thesinglegenderclassroom.wikispaces.com/

• Wooward Avenue Elementary (386)943-7910

• Stetson University (386)822-7100

Thanks for Coming ! Thanks for Coming !

Enjoy the rest of the Enjoy the rest of the conference.conference.