Meeting the Developmental Needs of Boys Through Movement, Experiential Learning and Relationship-Based Teaching
At Cherokee Creek Boys School (CCBS), we are passionate about understanding and supporting the unique developmental needs of boys ages 10 to 15.
That’s why we were honored to welcome renowned gender and brain research expert, Michael Gurian, as our guest speaker for a recent Family Seminar.
His virtual webinar, “Saving Our Sons: A New Path for Raising Healthy and Resilient Boys”, brought together CCBS families, the CCBS team and a wider virtual audience to explore the science behind how boys grow, learn and connect.
Michael Gurian is one of the world’s foremost gender experts and a pioneer in applying neurobiology and brain-based research to parenting, education and public policy.
Through the Gurian Institute which Michael co-founded, his work provides practical, science-backed strategies to help boys and girls thrive. The Institute conducts international research, develops pilot programs and trains educators and parents in gender-based learning.
In his presentation, Michael emphasized the developmental and neurological differences between boys and girls … differences that often show up in learning styles, behavior and classroom performance.
One Key Takeaway
Boys benefit from more physical movement and kinesthetic learning. The frontal lobes of boys’ brains which help with impulse control and self-regulation develop on a different timeline than girls’ brains, affecting how boys respond to traditional classroom environments.
Gurian highlighted new research from Stanford, that involved both scientists and AI. Both were able to identify male and female brain scans with 100% accuracy, even in fetal MRIs. These biological distinctions underscore the need for environments that acknowledge and support how boys naturally learn and grow.
He also explored how boys bond through both aggression and nurturance via activities like roughhousing, sports and shared adventures. These behaviors, often misunderstood, are key to helping boys form healthy emotional connections. When we better understand boys’ wiring, we can guide them more effectively toward empathy, responsibility and resilience.
Boys, A Rescue Plan
Michael’s latest book, Boys, A Rescue Plan: Moving Beyond the Politics of Masculinity to Healthy Male Development, offers a roadmap for supporting boys in becoming emotionally strong and socially-connected men. He encourages parents, teachers and community leaders to move beyond outdated myths and toward a more science-based understanding of what boys truly need.
One of the most impactful points he made is that teaching with boys’ brains in mind benefits ALL students.
Michael also highlights CHEROKEE CREEK Boys School as a leading example of a school that effectively supports boys in ways that others can learn from!
Research shows that teachers often spend 10 to 15 minutes of every hour managing boys’ behavior … time that could be reduced by using teaching strategies aligned with how boys learn best. When classrooms are structured to support boys, overall engagement and academic outcomes improve … for both boys and girls.
“What are little boys made of? Frogs and snails and puppy-dogs’ tails. That’s what little boys are made of.”
CCBS … A Boy-Friendly Therapeutic Boarding School
At CCBS, we’ve embraced this approach from the beginning. We are proud to be the first therapeutic boarding school named a Gurian Model School.
Our “boy-friendly” curriculum and classrooms are designed to meet the developmental needs of boys, using movement, experiential learning and relationship-based teaching to build resilience and character.
Michael Gurian’s work affirms what we’ve long believed: when we meet boys where they are … with compassion, understanding and evidence-based strategies … we unlock their full potential and create a better learning environment for everyone.
What else have you have discovered about helping boys learn and grow? Please share any ideas or tips in the comments below.
Learn More About Michael Gurian, His Work and CCBS’s Boy-Friendly Environment
Think your son can benefit from our CCBS boy-friendly therapeutic boarding school?
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