Focus+Group+Overview

=Focus Group Leaders:=

You will meet with a group of 5-6 students in your grade level and facilitate a question/answer session.

__**1. Introduction/Explanation:**__
Begin with a brief introduction to start the session. Make sure to highlight who you are, why the students are with you (to help with your work to improve the school based on the MyVoice Survey) and how they were selected (randomly). You might make a connection between the meaning of aspirations as being both a dreamer and a doer. Tell them that this team is preparing to do something about the dream of making our school responsive to student voices.

Sample starter:

//"Thank you for being willing to help us with this project. Let me tell you a little about what we are doing and how it will work. You might remember taking the My Voice Survey back in October. A group of students and teachers looked at our survey results and are in the process of developing a plan to improve our school. We randomly selected students to help us clarify some of the things we noticed in the survey. We would like to ask you a few questions to help us dig into some of the issues students brought up in the survey. The entire process will last no more than 30 minutes. We will ask the group a few questions. Anybody can respond. Mrs. ___ will help us out by typing up a summary of responses. She is not recording your names and what you say specifically. We will keep your comments anonymous when we compile the information."//

__**//2. Question/Answer Session://**__
//Rotate through the established set of questions on your template in each of our three focus areas. If you need to follow up on something a participant says you may go off the script to make sure you understand what they are telling you. You do not need to worry about recording. Your staff leader will type up a summary of statements and prepare the report. You may need to draw in/engage quiet participants into the conversation. Keep an eye on the clock and be aware of how much time remains in your focus group session so that you are able to address all three areas.//

__**//3. Closing://**__
//Thank the students in your group for sharing their thoughts. Tell them that their input will be very helpful in developing a plan for improving our school.//