Connolly, P. (2004) Boys and Schooling in the Early Years. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

What can be done to tackle boys' underachievement in the early years?

Boys’ underachievement in education has now become a global concern, taxing the minds of governments across the Western world. Boys and Schooling in the Early Years represents the first major study of its kind to focus specifically on young boys and achievement. It makes a powerful argument for the need to begin tackling the problem of boys’ lower educational performance in the early years.

The book includes one of the most detailed and up-to-date analyses of national evidence regarding gender differences in educational achievement – from the early years through to the end of compulsory schooling. Together with original and in-depth case studies that vividly capture the differing experiences and perspectives of 5-6-year-old boys, the book sets out the nature of the problems facing young boys in education and highlights a number of practical ways in which these can begin to be addressed.

This is essential reading for all those working in the early years, who are concerned about boys’ lower levels of achievement, and want to know what they can do about it.

Contents

Introduction

PART I: The rhetoric and the reality of ‘boys’ underachievement’

1. ‘Boys’ underachievement’: the evidence

2. ‘Boys’ underachievement’: the explanations

PART II: Theorising boys and masculinities in the early years

3. Vygotsky, Bourdieu and the social contexts of young children’s development

PART III: Case studies of young boys and schooling

4. Worlds apart: introducing South Park and North Parade

5. Home-school relations in South Park

6. ‘Fish in water’: the schooling habitus of young middle class boys

7. Home-school relations in North Parade

8. ‘Fish out of water’: the schooling habitus of young working class boys

PART IV: Implications for practice

Conclusions: working with young boys

Further Details

ISBN: 0-415-29840-7 (hbk) 0-415-29841-5 (pbk)

Visit the book's Companion Website

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