More on Dan Hodgins and the Crockus

Backstory here: Dan Hodgins is roaming about the country at early childhood education conferences, prattling about the "crockus", a "recently discovered" structure in the brain which is reputed to be four times as large in girls as in boys, thus requiring differing educational approaches for girls than boys.

Of course, there's no such thing as the crockus, and no substantive evidence for gender apartheid in education.

1. Allegedly, Hodgins has a PhD.  In what subject, I'd like to know, and granted by which institution?

2. Where has he been spreading this nonsense?

Dan Hodgins is sometimes identified as  Dan Hodgins, Ph.D.  I would sure like to know where, when, and in which discipline he earned the degree.

According to Zoominfo,

since 1985, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, program      director of Early Childhood Education Program, B.A. and M.A. from               Central Michigan University.

from http://www.mcc.edu/3_academics/divisions/ss_faculty.shtml, retrieved 9/21/07 at 6:00 pm PST.

Hodgins standard bio/blurb:

Dan Hodgins is an exceptional teacher and internationally known presenter. His interactive style is both entertaining and informative. Dan Hodgins is the coordinator of early childhood education at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan. Dan has a unique understanding of young children and their teachers gained by over thirty years in the field of early childhood education. Dan’s insightful presentations are filled with practical and effective strategies educators can use the next day/

Hodgins bio/blurb from 2007

Dr. Dan Hodgins, Ph.D. :Dan Hodgins is an exceptional teacher and internationally renowned presenter. He has given keynotes, seminars and presentations in over 35 states. He has a unique grasp of children and family issues learned from his 30 + years of experience in the field of early education and care. Dan’s interactive style is both informative and entertaining. His insightful presentations is based on current research and filled with practical and effective strategies that can be used immediately. Dan has received the National Community Education Family Advocate Award, the Catalyst for Change Award; the National Community College Educator Award; Friend to Head Start; 4-C Child Advocate Award and continues to be recognized. Dan has been interviewed on many television shows and appears in many major newspaper and magazine articles across the country.

 

Hodgins' conference appearances:

• October 10, 2002 Copper County Focus on First Five (Hancock, MI)
  
  • “Boys! Boys! Boys! Understanding their behavior, learning style and classroom needs.” Hodgins will touch on topics such as differences in learning styles between boys and girls, parent-child bonding issues and positive discipline. The discussion focuses on boys from preschool through grade 3.
• November 6 2004 Looking Through The Eyes of Boys and Girls  keynote speaker (75 minute address)  Delaware Association  for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference 
  
  • Boys and Girls Do Learn Differently  Dan Hodgins: This keynote will look at supporting how boys and girls learn differently in the classroom. Based on brain science research we will look at how boys and girls are different and how to create the ultimate classroom that supports the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of boys and girls.
• March 4 2006: Oh, Boys! Teaching with Gender in Mind,  keynote speaker (75 minute address)  to the Association  for the Education of Young Children of Western New York
  • Teaching with Gender in Mind A look at supporting how boys and girls learn in the classroom. Based on brain science research we will look at how boys and girls are different and how to support the ultimate classroom that supports the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of boys and girls

• May 18, 2006, Looking Through The Eyes of Boys (available as Apples Video Magazine, #148 available in DVD format for $50.00.  Link to pdf of purchase form)
  
  • Join us as we spend time with Dan Hodgins and other professionals in the early childhood field as we explore the work through the eyes of young boys. Learn about brain differences, pause states, testosterone spikes, and the physical/spatial needs of boys.
• September 30, 2006
• March 3, 2007 Lakeland Community College, Kirtland, Ohio: Boys and Girls Do Learn Differently: Addressing the Needs of Both Genders
  
  • The conference is aimed at parents and educators with a quest for more knowledge about the learning differences between the two genders.
    
    Conference objectives include:
    
    • Learning to support boys’ need for physical movement
    • Acquiring skills and effective strategies to support literacy development
    • Developing activities to create appropriate and supportive learning environments for boys and girls
    
    Known for using humor in his lectures, Dr. Hodgins’ expertise in early childhood education has reached both national and international audiences. Over 30 years of experience as an educator and director in Early Childhood Education, enables him to share a vast wealth of knowledge with others in the field. Now retired from his position as Coordinator of Early Childhood Education at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich., he continues to travel and lecture around the country.
• February 1-2, 2007: Early Child Methodist Conference, Houston: Gender Differences
• March 10, 2007, Maple City, MI 49664: Leelanau Early Childhood Conference Keynote Speaker:
  • Every child has needs. The child who is healthy emotionally and socially usually has those needs met. The child who is not healthy emotionally or socially will do whatever it takes to meet those needs. This will be a discussion of the 10 most common unmet needs of children and how to create support systems.
• April 16-17, 2007: North Dakota Family Based Services Association’s 2007 Conference: Change, It's Our Thing
  • Dr. Dan Hodgins, Ph.D, Early Childhood Specialist : Boys and Girls Do Learn Differently
    
    • Do boys really learn differently than girls?
    • How can I nurture attachment and bonding while being firm?
    • How do I deal with discipline issues with boys?
    • What does a supportive environment for boys and girls need?
    • What about those boys? Rings out from around the country. If you find yourself asking these questions, this workshop is for you. Increase your awareness of boys and girls: how they learn, how to educate them based on brain science research, and how to create the ultimate environment that supports boy’s and girl’s needs.
    • Objectives:
      • Analyze how and why boys learn differently than girls
      • Learn how to sensitively support the different learning styles of boys and girls with language
      • Practice techniques that nurture bonding and attachment with boys
      • Learn skills and effective strategies for dealing with boys’ aggressive behavior
      • Develop activities and learn how to create appropriate, supportive learning environments for boys and girls
        
           
• May 30, 2007:  Boys and Girls Can Do Anything,  keynote speaker (75 minute address)  to the  New Jersey Association  for the Education of Young Children Annual Meeting
  • This presentation will look at supporting how boys and girls learn differently in the classroom. Based on brain science research we will look at how boys and girls are different and how to create the ultimate classroom that supports the physical, social, emotional and cognitive developments of boys and girls.

• July 24-26, 2007: General Services Association   18th Annual GSA Child Care Conference,  keynote speaker: The Extinction of Childhood.

  • Doctors are reporting that more and more children are visiting their offices with migraine headaches, stomach disorders and indicators of depression. What’s Happening?

    This workshop will discuss the following: What’s lost in our society for children? What are the signs/symptoms to look for stress in children? How to bring back childhood? If you are asking these questions you will want to attend this session and be part of the Bringing Back Childhood…
• September 20, 2007: New Jersey Association  for the Education of Young Children, Kenyon Chapter) “Boys and Girls Do Learn Differently: Understanding their behaviors, learning styles and classroom needs”
  
  • Do boys really learn differently than girls?
  • How can I nurture attachment and bonding while being firm?
  • How do I deal with discipline issues with boys?
  • What does a supportive environment for boys and girls need?
  • “What about those boys?” rings out from classrooms around the country.  If you find yourself asking these questions, this workshop is for you.  Increase your awareness of boys and girls:  how they learn, how to educate them based on brain science research, and how to create the ultimate environment that supports boy’s and girl’s needs.
  • Objectives: Analyze how and why boys learn differently than girls Learn how to sensitively support the different learning styles of boys and girls with language Practice techniques that nurture bonding and attachment with boys Learn skills and effective strategies for dealing with boys’ aggressive behavior Develop activities and learn how to create appropriate, supportive learning environments for boys & girls

Future Appearances

• October 17-19, 2007:  Sharing a Vision Keynote Address, Springfield IL
  • Well-known early childhood consultant and speaker Dan Hodgins, PhD,
    will present the keynote address at the opening session Wednesday
    evening titled “Looking Through the Eyes of Boys and Girls.”
    • Do boys really learn differently than girls?
    • How can I nurture attachment and bonding while being firm?
    • How do I deal with discipline issues with boys?
    • What does a supportive environment for boys and girls need?
    • “What about those boys?” Rings out from classrooms around the country. If you find yourself asking these questions, then plan to attend the opening keynote. Increase your awareness of boys and girls; how they learn, how to educate them based on brain science research; and how to create the ultimate environment that supports boys’ and girls’ needs.
      Dan Hodgins, PhD, is an exceptional teacher and internationally renowned presenter. His interactive style is both entertaining and informative.
      Dan has a unique grasp of young children and family issues learned from his 30+ years of experience in the field of early childhood education.
• April 10, 2008  Boys and Girls Do Learn Differently
• April 11, 2008 What About Those Boys?

News Articles

• Dan Hodgins' presentation on ADHD, Raising Children Who Take You to the End of Your Rope,"  October 17 2003 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Dan Hodgins article, What Children Can't Do.....Yet,  undated, from Early Childhood News.

Review of Hodgins from The Golden Corridor Association  for the Education of Young Children  (link to pdf file)

Last May (2006), I had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Connections conference sponsored by the McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership. The whole conference was wonderful, but my favorite part was the full day workshop I attended called “What About Those Boys” by Dan Hodgins. In the morning, he talked about the latest research on how boys learn and how their brains function differently than girls. In the afternoon, he talked about activities that will heighten boys interest for learning.

• Did you know that of all children expelled from preschool last year, 87% of them were boys?
• Did you know that boys are six times more likely to be misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD?
• Did you know that boys are four times more likely to commit suicide?

We learned that boys go into sensory overload earlier than girls. Some things that cause them to do this are walls covered with too much “stuff”, environments filled with too many choices, and too many signs that say things like “no running” and “be nice to your friends”. We also learned that boys’ brains go into pause mode after completing a task. To get them to focus again, we need to use “pause breakers” like shouting, spinning, jumping or clapping.

Another interesting fact is that boys have spikes of testosterone several times an hour. When we see boys who can’t seem to sit still at circle time, the problem can be physical and not behavioral. In other words, we may be asking them to sit for longer than is developmentally appropriate!

After reading this information, I hope you’ll be as excited as I am to know that Dan Hodgins is coming to this area to do a presentation for child care providers! He will be in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday, Oct. 18 from 7-9 pm. Dan’s interactive presentation style is both entertaining and informative. Come to this free workshop and learn about the boys in your programs and the older boys in your life!

Ho boy.

Comments

[Ed Darrell]

Fraud? Under the No Child Left Behind Act? Say it ain't so, Dan!

By the way, I ran into Crosley Shelvadore Friday, in the prep room between two of our biology labs. He's had a facelift, I think.

Have you been following this issue at Language Log?

[Miriam Beloglovsky]

I just attended a conference and hear Dan speak. I take my hats off to him, he is not only entertaining he backs everything he says with research and experience. It is time that the early childhood field embraces solid knowledge of what is best for children, instead of standards that compromise their development.

Miriam Beloglovsky
Professor Early Childhood Education
Cosumnes River College.