7th+Grade+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?

Understanding the Issue:
What does the word respect mean to you?
 * doing what's right
 * treating people how you want to be treated
 * treating yourself well (self-respect)
 * people aren't ignored
 * using manners

Where does respect begin in a relationship?
 * with yourself
 * people like you for who you really are not who you try to be
 * being nice (even if you don't like someone)
 * asking people who are struggling if they need help
 * trust people

What do you do to show respect to other students and your teachers? Describe what it looks like when students don't respect each other.
 * don't talk when they're talking
 * talking to them
 * listening to what they have to say
 * raise your hand in class
 * being nice
 * don't gossip
 * arguing
 * backtalking
 * bullying
 * cussing at each other
 * calling racist names
 * disagreeing with people on purpose
 * people get hurt
 * rumors
 * people making bad choices

Students have said that bullying is a problem. Tell me what you think.
 * it's not dramatic here (like punching)
 * Verbal (talking about each other), name calling, gossiping
 * It needs to be taken care of, but it's not a huge problem

How could students and teachers address bullying?
 * Some students try to stop it but some students just watch
 * Teachers separate the kids that are fighting
 * Students should tell the ones who are bullying know that it's not cool and not alright
 * Students should be nice to those who are doing the bullying
 * Students should try understand why the bully is bullying
 * Teachers that students respect should pull students aside and talk to them when they see students being bullied or when they sense there is a problem
 * Have some after school sessions for teachers and students to give input
 * Bully needs to get some kind of help
 * Students should try to understand what they bully is going through and help talk them through stuff
 * Students can show kindness to bullies
 * Students can try to befriend bullies

Do you have any ideas about what action we could take to improve respect between students?
 * More students working together to help each other
 * More team building activities during class
 * Random acts of kindness
 * Being nice on purpose
 * Getting to know different people (not your clique)
 * Doing projects where the whole class or whole grade has to work together

Differences between boys and girls:
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= = 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:
How do you know teachers are having fun at school?
 * smile
 * laugh
 * don't yell
 * doing fun things in class
 * social with students not just in their chair typing
 * body language
 * jokes around

High % of students enjoy participating in class, high % enjoy working on projects, but high % say school is boring. What do you think about this?
 * It's boring when you can't relate what you're learning to life & how you could use it in your future
 * It's more fun when it relates to something you like
 * It's fun when things are new
 * It's fun when you have surprises and things like that
 * Learning in groups and with hands on stuff is more fun than learning out of a book
 * When students can give input into what they're doing it's more fun
 * When you have subs teachers make you do book work which is very boring
 * Reading by yourself is boring and sometimes you don't understand it

What makes you want to take risks in class?
 * trying something different to see if the outcome is different
 * trying something that you are personally interested in
 * trying something that is more fun
 * like what you're learning better
 * easier to ask questions
 * not caring if you're right or wrong
 * not feeling afraid to say what you want to say

What makes you not want to take risks in class?
 * looking stupid
 * afraid that people might make fun of you
 * afraid that you might fail
 * feeling like everyone else knows the answer and you'll feel stupid if you ask

Describe a challenging assignment that you've enjoyed.
 * Jeopardy - in a group, competition, there's a reward
 * Performing songs - something different, related to us, helped us remember because it was something we enjoyed
 * Webquest - designing things, interesting, combing fun & hard
 * Debating - learn from what other people think
 * Having enough time to work on a project

Describe a challenging assignment that you did not enjoy.
 * CATS testing - snacks were good but it was testing for a whole day and it lasted too long
 * When stuff is the same and there is no variation
 * Reading out of textbooks & answering questions
 * Packets
 * Bookwork
 * Projects that last a really long time

What does fun learning look like?
 * presentations
 * skits/plays
 * group-work
 * songs
 * discussions
 * something new (not knowing what to expect)
 * everyone is participating
 * people are working together to help each other

What ideas do you have for students and teachers to make learning more fun?
 * Teachers should get more student opinions
 * Teachers should try new things
 * Students can take risks & get out of our shell
 * Doing more hands on things and projects/games
 * Wiki and backchanneling
 * Different people in different classes (morning and afternoon classes aren't exactly the same)

What ideas do you have for students and teachers to take more risks?
 * Students & teachers should NOT be afraid to try new things
 * Ask questions to show others that it's OK to do that
 * __Be encouraging to others__ when they speak out & try to take a risk
 * Work together
 * Let others know they're not going to be made fun of