A close friend of mine who also teaches high school moved to a different area a couple of years ago. She's been teaching for about 20 years and is an incredible teacher, but since she moved she's been having trouble relating to the boys in her class. Another teacher at the school recommended the book, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. She hasn't quite finished it yet, but says that it's wonderful, and recommends it to anyone raising boys or working with them.
I bought the book a couple of days ago, and I'm not very far into it, but I can tell already that I'm going to love it! I have two sons, 8 and 14, and the book focuses on boys in the "second decade of life." My 14 year old is very in tune with his emotions, (and expresses himself well) and talks to me constantly. We have an excellent relationship. I can see my 8 year old clamming up in the future, though, and maybe this book will give me some insight on how I can navigate through some tough times we may have coming.
In class, I tend to do better with boys, but there's always room for building better relationships. The same publisher published another book about girls, Reviving Ophelia, and I think I'll read that next.
Have any of you read either of these books? If so, what did you think? Raising Cain was originally published in 1999, but was updated and re-released in 2009. I'll post a link to Raising Cain on amazon.com in SWH.
Happy reading!
http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Cain-Protecting-Emotional-L...
I read "Real Boys" by Pollack. It was given to me by a teacher friend who only had a daughter and wanted a perspective on boys. It was great! I even got my husband to read it. Lots of good thoughts, but with all books like this, just take what you want out of it, and leave the rest!
No I haven't read either of them but then I am not big into homogeneous personalities.
I like "Bringing up Boys" by James Dobson. Some parts I totally ignored, but I find that I do that with most parenting books. I'll have to look at the others - thanks!
I have not read either of those, but welcome the recommendation! I'm always looking to glean new information.
I did want o pass on another book that I've been reading... though it's probably geared toward understanding younger boys. It's called "The Way of Boys."
Good luck!
our school recommended both of those books, (Cain and Opheila) so I plan on reading them. I've read the Dobson book, bringing up boys and I do recommend it.
I loved Raising Cain...it made me feel so much better about my boy being a boy...the rough and tumble/name calling/boy stuff...AND made me realize how terribly important kindergarten and first grade are to a boys overall school experience. That they can check out by second grade if they don't feel up to their peers academically and that they are "good" at reading and math.
I will be looking up these other book recommendations...thanks for the question!!
