Frosh+Focus+Groups

= Focus Area One: Respect =

Statements from the My Voice Survey:

 * 1) 43% of students feel bullying is a problem
 * 2) 39% of students say they respect each other
 * 3) 52% of students respect teachers
 * 4) 50% of students feel that they are supportive of each other
 * 5) 21% have difficulty fitting in

Central Question

 * 1) What does the word respect mean to you?
 * 2) Where does respect begin in a relationship?
 * 3) What do you do to show respect to other students and your teachers?
 * 4) Describe what it looks like when students don't respect each other.
 * 5) Students have said that bullying is a problem. Tell me what you think.
 * 6) How could students and teachers address bullying?
 * 7) Do you have any ideas about what action we could take to improve respect between students?

Possible Follow up questions:
A bigger problem than bullying is the rigor of classes and those who struggle. Sometimes other students do the work for them. Student tutors might help (like the college model). Some people don't have the ability to stay after school for help. Need in-class time for student mentoring following a formative assessment.

school lunches - it's hard to learn when you're hungry.

Understanding the Issue:

 * What does the word respect mean to you?

People have to earn my respect, while some students said you have to give it first. Pretty split on this issue.
 * Where does respect begin in a relationship?

Use good manners (ma'am, sir); no back talking or disrespect. Don't tear down others opinions. If you don't like their opinions, don't say anything. Help struggling students.
 * What do you do to show respect to other students and your teachers?

Cutting people off while they're explaining their opinion. Calling peoples opinions stupid. This is a form of bullying. It's meant to be kidding, but people take it too far. Being unfriendly (no smiling, no eye contact). Making fun of other students.
 * Describe what it looks like when students don't respect each other.

Yes. It's the worst problem we have. The problem is a few students doing a lot of the bullying. We see this across all classes, but more in 10th and 11th grades. Middle school is worse. Very bad. There are some students who get picked on more than others. This isn't the biggest problem of the school (2nd group statement). Lot of peer pressure and immaturity level. If certain kids are together, they are more apt to bully.
 * Students have said that bullying is a problem. Tell me what you think.

The kids need to have more respect. Teachers seem to address it, but maybe they could give harder punishments the next time. People are afraid to take up for other kids, because they think they're going to be made fun of. You should tell a teacher or stand up for them yourself.
 * How could students and teachers address bullying?

It's your own decision. You can't force that on someone. We've had lots of assemblies; by now, if you haven't changed you aren't going to. We should try to be good influences. Not something you could really teach. We need harsher discipline. Might help to have teachers in hallway. Need good communication between students and teachers about things that go on. Kids don't want to be a snitch. Kids may not even know the whole situation if they aren't involved.
 * Do you have any ideas about what action we could take to improve respect between students?

Ideas for improvement:
Maybe have high school mentors for the middle school, but sometimes the kids aren't even looking up to the kids who are trying to help. Girls are going to look up to girls and boys are going to look up to boys. Use peer mediators. We should try to be good influences. Not something you could really teach. We need harsher discipline. Might help to have teachers in hallway. Need good communication between students and teachers about things that go on.

Differences between boys and girls:
Girls bully others for looks and social stuff (gossip). Guys bully in regards to interests (sports).

=

= = Focus Area Two: Fun and Excitement/Risk Taking =

Statements from the My Voice Survey:

 * 1) 54% of students enjoy being at school
 * 2) 48% of students feel that teachers make school an exciting place to learn
 * 3) 31% of students are afraid to try something if "I think I might fail"
 * 4) 72% enjoy participating in class, 77% enjoy working on projects with other students, 42% of students say school is boring
 * 5) 59% of students feel teachers have fun at school

Central Question:

 * 1) How do you know teachers are having fun at school?
 * 2) What does it look like when a teacher is having fun?
 * 3) High % of students enjoy participating in class, high % enjoy working on projects, but high % say school is boring. What do you think about this?
 * 4) What makes you want to take risks in class?
 * 5) What makes you not want to take risks in class?
 * 6) Describe a challenging assignment that you've enjoyed.
 * 7) Describe a challenging assignment that you did not enjoy.
 * 8) What does fun learning look like?
 * 9) What ideas do you have for students and teachers to make learning more fun?

Understanding the issue:
You can tell when a teacher is excited about what they're teaching. They just show it. Students learn better when they can laugh about it. You can tell when a teacher is in a bad mood and it makes the class bad, so you know when they're happy as well.
 * How do you know teachers are having fun at school?

Teachers involved in the activity too.
 * What does it look like when a teacher is having fun?

School is boring if we aren't doing an activity. Would be less boring if we were doing hands on activities.
 * High % of students enjoy participating in class, high % enjoy working on projects, but high % say school is boring. What do you think about this?

I love hearing the approval of teachers. If I feel confident of success. I'm afraid I'll be made fun of if I get a question wrong.
 * What makes you want to take risks in class?

Afraid of being bullied or made fun of. What if teachers don't approve?
 * What makes you not want to take risks in class?

Making a movie (working with the people was the hard part)
 * Describe a challenging assignment that you've enjoyed.

Worksheets might be hard, but they aren't fun. Sometimes I feel lost. Had to do a microsoft office products project, but didn't get any help. Feel like I'm totally on my own and can't get any help. "Something like that leads to cheating."
 * Describe a challenging assignment that you did not enjoy.

Being able to make up songs that go with the curriculum. Laughter. Acronyms. We get tired easily. Every group needs a mediator. Teachers need to trust our choices on who to work with, though. Different opinion: teachers should pick groups; we get more done.
 * What does fun learning look like?

Learn better with music. Start off with something fun in the class. Students need to ask questions and pay attention. Doodling helps with attention.
 * What ideas do you have for students and teachers to make learning more fun?

Ideas for improvement:
Teachers and students need to build on curiosity. Learning is learning and you have to be involved. Need more hands on activities. When we aren't working on projects or participating, it's boring. Students need to try harder to be engaged, though. Getting rewards for learning help. Working in groups or with partners. Two or three in a group is best. Any more and we're too loud. Hands on work; field trips.

**Differences between boys and girls:**