Boys vs. Girls

     After last week's discussion on teaching boys, I've started to notice some of the differences that we talked about in my own students, one in particular.  Zach is seven and cannot sit in a chair.  He is constantly standing when he works, and at the rug, he always sits up on his knees or wobbles around in a crouching position.  He is in constant competition with other students in the class (whether those students know it or not) and has a serious desire to prove to the teachers that he is smart.  He is constantly touching things and feeling the need to grab at things he or other people are working with.  All of these traits I see as being very male characteristics.
     Now that I see these differences in my male and female students, I need to decide what to do with the information.  After much reflection, I think it makes the most sense to stick with my current teaching methods, but make sure that I keep in mind these gender differences as I'm teaching.  Does it really matter if Zach sits while he works?  Little things like that can easily be overlooked, but as far as totally revamping teaching methods, that's just not realistic.  Even if my classroom were to be completely neutral as far as teaching to gender, if a majority of teachers do teach to girls over boys, boys need to learn to adapt.  By not preparing boys for that teaching difference, they will struggle in later grades.