The brain is divided into two hemispheres, the left and the right.
As remarked by the American social philosopher, Michael Gurian, the left section is mainly associated with verbal skills, while the right one is with spatial skills.
As boys tend to use the right hemisphere more, and girls tend to use the left more, there are substantial differences in brain development and language processing between boys and girls, particularly in reading. Boys mostly memorize words as whole units. This approach, however, due to the limited number of words that can be stored, makes it challenging to become proficient readers over time. On the other hand, girls can easily store letter sounds which are not subject to number limitations. Relying on this kind of acquisition, an unlimited number of words can be processed as they are not merely memorized for their grapheme.
The implications for teaching are significant. The “whole-word” or “global reading” method, which focuses on memorizing word graphemes instead of phonological awareness, will likely disadvantage students, impeding long-term reading success. Therefore, teachers should privilege a skill-based approach, emphasizing letter-sound relationships. Ultimately, the method would help cater to a broader range of learners and contribute to stronger reading and writing development.
Bibliography
Gurian, Michael. Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents Wiley. Kindle Edition.
Jolly Learning, https://www.jollylearning.co.uk
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