Writing is a Boy Thing.

They just need to believe it.

Somewhere during adolescence, creativity starts feeling a little more taboo for boys. Of course, certain types are ok, like taking up guitar or drums, or becoming a connoisseur of fragrance (I did NOT see that one coming), but writing doesn't seem to be on the list as it may have once been.

That's a shame for many reasons, but for now we'll just stick with one: it's a shame because it's an imperative skill for school. And not just high school; application essays are a critical piece of getting into college (which says nothing about the part writing plays in their mental health, but that is a topic for another day). There is a lot of research that suggests this is an even bigger problem for boys than for girls, making their participation in writing education even more critical.

 According to ASCD, a global non-profit that provides research-based resources for and advocacy to educators, boys often are drawn to nonfiction and alternative forms of writing. To engage boys in writing, they suggest, “use non-fiction action and adventure stories, comics, graphic novels, humor, and high-interest nonfiction. Just bringing in the teenage male perspective is huge.” My program is designed with this in mind.

Boys are no less capable of writing compelling pieces than girls, but they often feel more self-conscious about sharing and lack confidence in their skills. They might think there is only one way to write, and I will show them there isn't. We’ll be reading a lot of texts from male perspectives, that are funny or a little irreverent, and that are more relatable to modern teens.

This will be a low-pressure, non-performative writing group, where kids can share if they want, how they want and when they want. They're welcome to watch others take risks first and then build up their courage to share in their own time, if at all. They will still walk away with tools they can carry with them as they grow as writers. 

Resources for more on this topic:

https://www.teachingtimes.com/knowledge-banks/boys-reading-and-writing/