Senior+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

 * What does the word respect mean to you?

There should be a minimum level of respect that's just given, but people can earn more or lose respect as well. You should get more respect as you get older; younger ones need to tread lightly.
 * Where does respect begin in a relationship?


 * What do you do to show respect to other students and your teachers?

Students can't seem to work together (hostility during homecoming weeks). Mean to each other. Younger students are VERY disrespectful to other students and teachers: they feel like ignorance is an excuse. They don't realize what they need to know.
 * Describe what it looks like when students don't respect each other.

Don't think bullying is a problem. Approached as "teasing" but could see where it might be taken as bullying if it happened too much. There are people who get picked on so much that it might be hurtful. There are always kids that you "mess with." Sometimes the actions of seniors get translated badly by underclassmen. There are some of our actions that should not be copied. Middle school is where the biggest problem is. It has followed them up to the high school.
 * Students have said that bullying is a problem. Tell me what you think.

Could teachers and students come together and set leaders to spread respect? Should be small groups with mentors for the younger students. This is a next year solution (build it into the school day).
 * How could students and teachers address bullying?

small group meetings with older student mentors.
 * Do you have any ideas about what action we could take to improve respect between students?

Ideas for improvement:
Need to have a "pow-wow" between seniors and underclassmen. Show them what disrespect is. Explain their end of the deal to them. Really think a meeting with younger students would help. They are losing academic time by being disrespectful. They've seen disrespect be portrayed as ok.

Seniors need to set a better example. Also, mid-middle school years need to especially work on respect and bullying issues.

Our Senior class has to act different first; we need a senior meeting. Set expectations for juniors in a class mtg with them.

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:
You can tell when a teacher is having a bad day; impossible to be happy every day. Bad teaching day includes no diversity in the class.
 * How do you know teachers are having fun at school?

they laugh with you and have conversations. They are more friendly. Most of the teachers seem to have fun at school. They are enthusiastic. Reflects on the students because they aren't sleeping in class.
 * What does it look like when a teacher is having fun?

A lot of kids have fun with electronics. Hands on things are good. Student options within projects are great. Gives us the ability to pick how we learn best. Rubrics seem straightforward. Don't find the rubrics limiting. Changes in mid-stream are bad, though. I think I'll succeed.
 * High % of students enjoy participating in class, high % enjoy working on projects, but high % say school is boring. What do you think about this?
 * What makes you want to take risks in class?

"You can predict the future with your past. If you aren't good at it, you don't want to try it."
 * What makes you not want to take risks in class?

Reading Anthem by Ayn Rand - thought-provoking. Budget Development - sooooo relevant!!! Reading Gala - Had lots of choices. Independent and deep thinking. Helped connect students with things they hadn't thought about. Student discussion time.
 * Describe a challenging assignment that you've enjoyed.

The research paper (better rubric might have helped) Didn't feel like we had all the tools we needed. Students needed to stop procrastinating, that might have helped. Once we had more explanations, we did better. Communication is key. Need more give and take. Important to go over the rubric. there are sometimes assumptions that we know more than we do as students.
 * Describe a challenging assignment that you did not enjoy.

interactive learning, speaking your mind, projects are good.
 * What does fun learning look like?

Seniors need to be inspirations to the underclassmen. Students need to have a good attitude. Mentors might help this, instilling humor and guidance. Students need to be openminded to their learning; give teachers a chance. There will always be some topics that are boring.
 * What ideas do you have for students and teachers to make learning more fun?

Possible Follow Up Questions:
What constitutes fun? Interesting and challenging topics.

Ideas for improvement:
Establish a protocol for teachers when giving project directions. Students mentor each other with giving directions. Students need to ALL have a voice: technology can help, but not a cure-all.