Getting high school boys to read is a difficult task for many teachers and parents. Four years ago, De Pere (Wis.) High School teacher Rob Guyette tried a new approach, and it has worked with tremendous success. Using his personal background as a graduate of all-boys Abbot Pennings High School in 1988, Guyette developed an all-boys English program at De Pere. In the first year, he had 14 freshmen boys register. This fall, more than 175 boys will be enrolled in the English 9 and English 10 classes, which focus not only on reading, but on community service and turning the boys into successful men who are leaders and achievers. Guyette shares the story of a year in his classroom, highlighting the ups and downs of a year as a teacher while also showing how he makes the single-gender setting work. The book is a must-read for anyone looking for ways to get high school boys they know and love to read more, or for anyone interested in today's public school classroom.
