Graphic Novels Unlock Boys’ Inhibitions to Write

Writing teachers would agree that the most difficult population to inspire to write can be the boys that sit in front of you. I believe, in part, that is because so many of them prefer first to work in a non linguistic mode and secondly they enjoy writing and thinking about “boy” topics: hunting, rough play, super heroes…etc. It is my contention we should, within reason invite them to the writing table by inviting their writing topics as well as others. Of course there should be parameters set on just “how much” violence or language will or will not be acceptable in the classroom.

In Ralph Fletchers book, Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices , He writes about writing test scores indicate that boys have fallen far behind girls across the grades. In general, boys don’t enjoy writing as much as girls. What’s wrong? How can we do a better of job of creating boy-friendly classrooms so their voices can be heard? In Boy Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices Ralph Fletcher draws upon his years of experience as staff developer, children’s book author, and father of four boys. He also taps the insights from dozens of writing teachers around the US and abroad.