Underachieving Boys In Key Stage 2

This assignment will look at the key issue of underachieving boys in Key Stage 2, focusing on reading and the different factors that influence boys reading. These include looking at how different role models have an effect on their learning, and different techniques which can be used to help support young boys break the gender gap and begin to enjoy reading.
Introduction
Reading is an aspect of English which is fundamental for children to achieve and show an interest in by the time they leave Primary School, as The Department for Education (2015) state that pupils who have the ability to read are more likely to be successful in school, gain respectable qualifications and pursue a positive career. However, research has shown that there is a

Sullivan (2004) states that young men relate to male figures in their lives, therefore this stresses the importance of having a male influence who reads to try and engage young boys with reading. During placement, this topic had a lot of emphasis and time put towards it, to try and improve the attainment level of boy’s reading as it is an aspect of learning which is vitally important. It is essential in everyday life, and those children who grow up struggling to read, can create detrimental effects on their later life e.g. when applying for jobs. As a result it is important we act accordingly to try and support boy’s and encourage them to

This is represented in a report by the Literacy Trust (2012) who says sports personalities; positions and cool kids inspire a greater proportion of boys than girls to read more, which are typically, all male role models. This shows the importance of having a male father figure within a boy’s life to try and improve the reading ability of them. Having said this, there are still some popular role models for children who value reading, including within school, family and the community. This leads on to ensuring that school reading strategies are implemented to try and promote the love of reading by involving parents (Spooner and Woodcock, 2009). Therefore, ABC Literacy (2007) have developed an idea, where a sports mentor is put in place and provides a reading group for young boys, reading a range of materials which are catered for their needs. This also allows for the involvement of fathers as they are invited into the group, to support that child with their ready, thus initiating a positive role model. This program will therefore allow for the father to son interaction, and once the child has seen that his father is reading, hopefully it might encourage the young boy to read also, and shake off the stereotypical aspect of reading being just for