Who's Better At Solving The Rubik's Cube, Boys Or Girls?

Shaker Heights, Ohio (PRWEB) July 6, 2009 -- The Center for Research on Girls (CRG) at Laurel School, a leader in putting the world's best research to work for girls, will present findings at a national conference from July 14-16 in Shaker Heights. Ann Klotz, Head of Laurel School, explains, "We're fitting the pieces of the puzzle together to revolutionize math and science education for girls." The research reveals that:

* Boys outpace girls in spatial skills by the first grade; but an emphasis on spatial skills teaching for girls can wash out this difference. Encouraging girls to play with Rubik's cubes is an effective way to help them develop spatial skills.

* Girls are more likely than boys to doubt their ability to tackle hard work; but girls' grades improve when they learn to think differently about their potential to master challenging material.

* The very existence of the negative stereotype that boys are better than girls can cause girls to score lower on math tests; but girls can be taught to disregard stereotypes and improve test scores.

From July 14-16, 2009, over 30 educators, from as far away as California and Montreal and as close as the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, will attend the curriculum-changing workshops at Laurel School that will impact day-to-day teaching of girls in independent and public schools - single-sex as well as coed.

* Topics will include how to boost spatial relation skills in girls; teaching girls to trust their ability to master challenging material; why it's important for girls to tinker, especially with technology; teaching girls to disregard stereotypes and improve test scores; and how to engage girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields.

A nationally recognized school for girls and the site of pioneering research on the development of girls, Laurel School is the ideal home for the Center for Research on Girls. Now beginning its third year, CRG develops progressive educational initiatives, sponsors original research and connects faculty and parents with meaningful research on girls and their education.

For more information on the Center for Research on Girls at Laurel School, the July conference or any of its curricular initiatives, visit www.LaurelSchool.org/CenterForResearchOnGirls or contact Julie Donahue, Director of Communications, at 216-455-3028 direct, 866-277-3182 toll free

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