Gender - Internal Factors + Gender Differences in Achievement - Teacher Attention

Question 1

Is teacher attention the same for boys and girls?

Answer 1

The way teachers interact with boys and girls differs.

Question 2

What did Jane and Peter French find about classroom interaction and attention?

Answer 2

Jane and Peter French (1993) analysed classroom interaction, where they found that boys recieved more attention as they attracted more reprimands.

Question 3

What did Francis find about teacher attention?

Answer 3

Francis (2001) found that while boys got more attention in the classroom, they were disciplined more harshly and felt picked on by the teachers, who tended to have lower expectations of them.

Question 4

What did Swann find about gender differences in communication styles from teachers?

Answer 4

Swann (1998) found that boys dominated whole-class discussions. Whereas, girls preferred pair-work and group-work and are better at listening and cooperating.
When working in groups, girls’ speech involves turn taking and not hostile interruptions that characterised boys’ speech.

Question 5

What may teachers’ attention explain about how they view pupils?

Answer 5

This may explain why teachers respond more positively to girls who they see as cooperative, than to boys who they see as potentially disruptive.

Question 6

What might teacher attention lead to for girls?

Answer 6

Teacher attention may lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy in which successful interactions with teachers promote girls’ self-esteem and raise their achievement levels.