Published: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 / Updated: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 12:13 AM

Jefferson Elementary testing single-gender classrooms

Teachers tailor curriculums to boys, girls

Amy Johnson is brave.

On the third day of school she tosses bags of candy to 21 fifth-grade boys and gives them this assignment: find a partner and write a paragraph about the first week of school using candy names; after unwrapping the treats and pasting the wrappers into sentences, eat the candy.

"Cool," shouts a chorus of students.

Some teachers might worry that pitching sweets to a bunch of energetic 10- and 11-year-old boys could make them louder and more active. But Johnson caters to that learning style.

She teaches one of Jefferson Elementary's two single-gender classes. Across the hall, Crystal Small teaches a fifth-grade class of all girls.

Jefferson Elementary is testing the program this year to see if test scores improve and whether students and parents approve.

Proponents say separating the sexes removes distractions, helps students focus and lets teachers cater to gender-related learning differences.

For example, research suggests that males learn better at cooler temperatures. Girls can sit still and focus longer but are prone to be distracted by noise and loud voices.

Jefferson Elementary's pilot program comes as a growing number of schools nationwide look to include single-gender education. The movement follows federal legislation from 2006 that made it easier for schools to separate sexes. In 2002, 12 public schools in the U.S. offered single-sex classes, according to the National Association for Single-Sex Public Education. Today the group counts at least 442 public schools.

One state has surged ahead of others -- South Carolina. It's home to about half the nation's single-gender programs. State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex has embraced the concept as part of his push for public school choice.

Last year, Rex hired David Chadwell as the country's first state official dedicated to single-gender education. Chadwell, a former teacher, travels the state promoting the program and organizes teacher training. Any interested S.C. school can call him.

In York County, the trend has yet to take hold. But it's starting.

In addition to Jefferson Elementary in York, Fort Mill Middle and India Hook Elementary in Rock Hill have launched single-gender classes. The Clover school district says it's looking into it.

It's not clear whether separating boys and girls boosts test scores. But anecdotal data suggests that people believe it does.

This year, the S.C. Department of Education surveyed more than 2,500 students, parents and teachers involved with single-gender classes from 41 schools statewide. Two-thirds of the students said the classes helped them in school; 75 percent of the parents and 80 percent of the teachers agreed.

At Jefferson Elementary, Johnson says she already sees results.

Boys who on the first day of class said they didn't like to write are by the third day excited about it, she says.

The candy helps. "It's a way to pull them in and get them excited about learning," says Johnson, a 13-year teacher.

The walls in Johnson's class are painted blue. Desks face the front of the room in pairs, while the temperature remains a frosty 69 degrees.

A giant drawing of the Incredible Hulk takes up half a wall near the ceiling.

When it's time to work on an assignment, the boys are free to go where they please. Some sprawl on the floor. Others dart to the bean-bag chairs in the corner. Some remain at their desks.

Sometimes Johnson tosses a football. Whoever catches it has to answer a question. When the boys get too fidgety, she has them stand and do jumping jacks.

"It's fun," says 10-year-old Noah Meek. "It gives us a chance to answer questions. (Before) the girls kept on answering all the questions faster."

Across the hall, Small's girls sit at tables arranged in a horseshoe. The yellow walls reflect the room's balmier 72 degrees.

The girls work quietly on essays about what they want most.

Small says she chose to teach girls because her personality matches their learning style.

"I'm very mellow," she says. "It's nice not having extra noise and moving."

Students aren't separated all day.

They get together for "activity" classes, such as gym and computer lab.

Johnson and Small say they discussed the program for nearly two years. After training with Chadwell, they got the go ahead from Jefferson Elementary.

"It just made sense to us." Small says. But "our class isn't for everybody ... some do better in mixed settings."

The school plans to look at test scores and comments from students and parents before deciding whether to continue or expand the classes.

"It's too early to tell," says assistant principal Ellen Green.

Kids say they're hooked.

They like the classes so much that during lunch, when they're free to mix, they separate themselves. They hope their sixth-grade classes will be single-gender, too.

"It's awesome," says 10-year-old Emily Varnadore. "It's a whole lot quieter."

"It's better," says 11-year-old Tykevious Brown. "Last year, the girls kept on passing notes to us, and we'd get caught."

Plus, "we don't have to dress up and impress girls," says 11-year-old Christopher Walton.

And "we get to have class without all the girls' sassing every day," says Justin Evans, 11.

The best part for 10-year-old Gracie Arnold?

"You don't have to sit with stinky boys."