2026 - New Energies to begin a new year
What we do know
Girls mature faster than boys
We educators/parents can clearly see that boys and girls display some obvious differences in the way they learn and in the speed at which they mature. Simply watch any group of middle school students leave school at the end of the day. You will see young women gliding out of school mostly well dressed and usually well groomed. Their appearance is much as is the nature of their conversations. They will be talking about books, homework, boys, governance of their school council etc... The boys on the other hand make it clear that they care less about their physical appearance, their hair or who might or might not be looking at them. Chances are that they will be talking about sports or technology or occasionally girls or...not likely talk of a favourite book.
This has consequences on many aspects of their education none more significant than testing practices that often dictates much of their future.
We test our kids too often and too early.
A grade three girl is hypothetically asked to read a particular the work of William Shakespeare. She smiles noting that Shakespeare is one of her all time favourite writers. The same work is placed before a grade three boy. His response is more likely to be that he would prefer go outside back to the game he was playing with his friends. The result of these poorly advised reading tests will indicated that the girl is a reader and the boy is not. It might be a disability or any one of a number of other problems but you can be sure that they boy(s) now sees himself as a non or a reluctant reader.
Are men really from Mars and women from Venus? Or do we teach our children to believe that that is just the way things are.
I have learned that books that interest boys and girls (men and women) vary substantially. I have learned this through my life experience.
My wife Vicki belongs to a book club. It's something women do. We men are suppose to go to the bar and watch a game with the boys. I have little interest in reading the books she and her club reads. Likewise, they would not be interested in the books that I enjoy. That to say...
If you are a boy/man or a teacher of boys, might I suggest two or three books that worked for me:
The story of Jacob Fagin from his perspective as a clever but poor Jewish boy in19th century London; a harsh upbringing, tutelage in pickpocketing and his evolution into the leader of a gang of child thieves...themes of fate, societal antisemitism and the morality of choices...including the fraught relationship with Bill Sikes. Enter, Oliver.
Or how about this?
An atmospheric, feminist retelling of the early life of famed villainess Morgan le Fay, set against the colourful chivalric backdrop of Arthurian legend.
When King Uther Pendragon murders her father and tricks her mother into marriage, Morgan refuses to be crushed. Trapped amid the machinations of men in a world of isolated castles and gossiping courts, she discovers secret powers. Vengeful and brilliant, it's not long before Morgan becomes a worthy adversary to Merlin, influential sorcerer to the king. But fighting for her freedom, she risks losing everything – her reputation, her loved ones and her life.
As we all know, a stand alone is nice (Fagin is one) however, give me a good series that makes me think...wonder... I like to travel and this series is...worth reading.
During the test flight of a prototype faster-than-light craft, Lt. Commander Ky is flung into an ancient past that never existed. Rome has fallen, defeated by the mighty Carthaginian Empire, its survivors chased off the continent and onto what had been the remote province of Britannia. Hounded by the Carthaginians bent on conquering the known world, Rome is on the verge of destruction. Stranded and alone, except for a tactical AI implanted in his head, Ky has lost everything and must find a way to live in a world different than anything he's ever known.
For Ky to survive, he needs a new home. For the Romans to survive, they need a miracle. But can a man from the future work with people so far in his past, or is this match doomed to failure?
Enough... Be healthy and escape through a good book.
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