Encouraging Integration of Genders

• Encourage each of your students to get to know one another and interact with one another. Elementary school students may often segregate into same-sex groups. Assign group projects with equal amounts of boys and girls in each group and foster activities and games in the classroom that encourage both sexes to work together to solve problems.
  
  

Avoiding Stereotyping in the Classroom

• One of the best ways to counteract gender typing in the classroom is to avoid making your own gender stereotypes. It is important to explore your own beliefs and opinions about gender so that you can realize and understand any hidden stereotypes you may have. Once you have recognized your own gender biases, you should avoid reinforcing these stereotypes in the classroom. For example, do not create bulletin boards that feature pink for feminine things and blue for masculine things. Avoid asking only boys in your classroom to lift heavy objects or reach tall shelves. Don't just ask girls to help with decorating in the classroom.
  
  

Communicate with Students about Gender Issues

• Gender typing is ingrained in many American classrooms. Students are exposed to gender typing and stereotypes throughout their lives and they may not even be aware of it. Communicate with your students about gender typing issues. Talk to them about common gender stereotypes. Use literature or historical examples to discuss the effects of these gender typing issues. Encourage students to brainstorm about the ways that they can reduce gender stereotyping in school and later in the workplace.
  
  

Help Children Develop Healthy Attitudes about Gender

• Gender typing can cause students to become biased toward the opposite sex and confused about gender issues. Students with teachers who consistently treat boys as stronger or better at math and girls as more creative and more well-behaved than boys, may actually begin to believe that boys are better at math and girls are better at art. This can be dangerous in the long run, causing both genders to form negative stereotypes. Fostering a community where students are free to express themselves without feeling confined by gender is an effective way to counteract gender typing. Teachers can do this by asking students to share their opinions about gender issues, showing examples of successful men and women who have broken down traditional gender barriers and getting parents involved by sending out educational newsletters to parents about how gender typing can be present in the home.