This excerpt examines possible constructs to explore why adolescent boys are successful outside of school, yet struggle with school and school-assigned reading. The authors apply the principles of "flow," (joy, creativity, and the process of total involvement with life) to four detailed case studies of high school boys, and their results offer insight into strategies for teaching reading to adolescent males.

This excerpt examines possible constructs to explore why adolescent boys are successful outside of school, yet struggle with school and school-assigned reading. The authors apply the principles of "flow," (joy, creativity, and the process of total involvement with life) to four detailed case studies of high school boys, and their results offer insight into strategies for teaching reading to adolescent males. The chapter is arranged by the characteristics of "flow": (1) a sense of control and competence; (2) a challenge that requres an appropriate level of skill; (3) clear goals and feedback; and (4) a focus on the immediate experience. Finally, the authors address consequences which become apparent through their analysis of these case studies and their connection to "flow," and they devote time to discussing these consequences in terms of sequencing curricula. (author/bebrown)

This resource is a great way for career-technical teachers to understand the needs of adolescent boys and to meet those specific challenges in the classroom. This full chapter excerpt from the book details what career-technical teachers have always suspected about their students--that boys have different learning styles and interests than girls.

This resource is a great way for career-technical teachers to understand the needs of adolescent boys and to meet those specific challenges in the classroom. This full chapter excerpt from the book details what career-technical teachers have always suspected about their students--that boys have different learning styles and interests than girls. Add to that key reading research on adolescent literacy and the result is an easily accessible resource to help career-technical teachers strategically plan and create lessons around the development and needs of adolescent boys. The excerpt is lengthy, a 33-page PDF file, though the reading is well worth skimming and scanning in order to see connections between the career-technical classroom and the learning strategies for adolescent boys. (jrs)