Yes, I have just completed Dude, Listen To This! It's a DVD about boys as writers, and it is an extension of my book, BOY WRITERS: Reclaiming Their Voices (Stenhouse).

2) What is the basic content of this DVD?

"Dude, Listen To This!" was filmed at Albert S. Hall, an elementary school in Waterville, Maine. The DVD has three sections.

In the first section we get to watch a "boys writing club" at an elementary school in Waterville, Maine. Here we see 4th grade boys passionately sharing their writing, listening hard, laughing, and responding to each other.

One thing I really like about this section is that it challenges the notion that boys don't like to write, and would prefer not to. I have found that boys will write with zest and passion IF we are willing to meet them on their own turf, in other words, be more generous about what they choose to write about and how they express themselves.

In the second section I follow these boys into a classroom, and conduct a writing lesson, and confer with students. While it's wonderful if we can create "hot-house environments" (like a boys writing club) to nurture boy writers, what's even more important is that we make sure boys keep their stride as writers when they are in the regular classroom.

The third section shows a "teacher study group." This group (led by Jennifer Allen) has been reading Boy Writers and examining these issues throughout the year. I participate in this discussion, too. We see the teachers sharing their successes at connecting with boys and motivating them as writers. In this spirited discussion, teachers frame questions and unresolved issues They talk honestly about how their teaching of boy writers has changed during the past year. 

3) Why is the topic of boys and writing so appealing to you?

In an odd way, the issue of boys and writing reminds me of the "green movement." Right now it's quite trendy to talk about sustainability. Celebrities have embraced the environmental movement. We see green issues of magazines, a "green Super Bowl," and so forth. All fine and good, but the issue of global warming and environmental degradation is a serious one that will not get fixed overnight.  Will we lose interest in a  few years? In a similar way, we have recently seen some attention paid to boys struggle in reading and writing.

But this issue will not be solved quickly. I wonder: will we lose interest in this issue, and move to something new? I hope not.

The issue of boy writers should concern us all. Anecdotal evidence tells us that boys continue to struggle in writing, but there is a great deal of empirical evidence, as well. The National Assessment of Educational Progress in Writing recently released their results for 2007. They showed the most significant gender gap of all the national assessments, girls ahead by 20 points, and double the proportion of girls showing proficiency in writing than boys. 

4) Who publishes this and where can readers get a copy?

The DVD is published by Stenhouse Publishers. For more information go to:
http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9130&r=&REFERER=

5) Who is this likely to appeal to?

I think anyone (parents of boys, teachers, administrators) interested in the issue of boy writers, and why they are not flourishing as a group in school, will be interested in "Dude, Listen To This!"  But I think this DVD will be particularly useful for coaches or instructional leaders, individuals who do professional development, and want to explore this issue with teachers.

6) What do teachers need to listen to in regards to this instructional video?

Jennifer Allen is a very wise educator. She contributes a great deal to this DVD; her perspective is invaluable. Otherwise, I would hope teachers would simply watch this video and enjoy it. I suggest they pay attention to their own reactions. For example, teachers might note: 

1) Connections--what parts of the DVD did you connect to? What makes sense?

2) Quotables--did you hear anyone say something in a way that you wanted to write down the precise wording?

3) Disagreement--were there parts that you disagreed with?

I don't expect all teachers to agree with everything on this  DVD. My purpose in creating
" Dude, Listen To This!" was to stir up discussion.

7) Dude, very catchy title. Where did you get it from?

I came up with it myself. Living in a household with lots of boys, I often hear my boys "dude-ing" each other. Again, I wanted an upbeat title that revealed real boys joyfully engaged in writing.

8) Any last comments?

Well, I just want to say that this DVD, along with my book BOY WRITERS, are certainly not the last words on this important subject. Not at all!  There is still a lot more that needs to be said!

Published August 19, 2008