Student Surveys

High Performing Student

This student acted a little shy even though I told him I would not use his name and the survey was not a big deal. I think he may have felt singled out because of the way my host teacher announced to the whole class that I was going to interview him. I could tell he has apprehensive so I tried to talk to him a little bit first, but he was still unwilling to share much.

1.       Do you enjoy school?

Yes, most subjects.

2.       What kind of student are you?

I work hard and Im successful.

3.       What do you do for fun outside of school?

I like to swim, fish, and play basketball.

4.       How would your classmates describe you?

Fun, entertaining, and…humorous.

5.       Who are you friends with? What do you and your friends do together?

We mostly play basketball together and watch movies.

6.       Tell me a good memory you have about school?

I felt pretty good when I scored above mastery in every subject on the West test last year.

7.       Tell me a bad memory about school?

I don’t have any.

8.       Describe a “good” teacher or tell me about a favorite teacher in the past.

In sixth grade I really liked my teacher…she was more permissive and laid back.

9.       What is one thing you wish your teacher knew about you?

That sometimes I’m just joking around and they shouldn’t be so serious.



From giving this survey and from observing him in class, I can tell that this student is very reserved and quiet around teachers and other authority figures, and the complete opposite- funny, talkative, outgoing- around his peers. I can tell he has a self-esteem investment in his grades and has high standards for himself.

 

Struggling Student

This student was also unwilling to elaborate, although I did manage to have a short conversation unrelated to the survey.

 

1.       Do you enjoy school?

Sometimes.

 

2.       What kind of student are you?

Pretty good…I'm better at some subjects than others.

 

3.       What do you do for fun outside of school?

I play video games and play on my computer.

 

4.       How would your classmates describe you?

I have no idea.

 

5.       Who are you friends with? What do you and your friends do together?

We go to the movies, play basketball, and go to church together.

 

6.       Tell me a good memory you have about school?

I remember in second grade my teacher always gave us marshmallow candy to eat, and that was pretty awesome.

 

7.       Tell me a bad memory about school?

Failing classes.

 

8.       Describe a “good” teacher or tell me about a favorite teacher in the past.

A good teacher is more calm and doesn’t yell for no reason.

 

9.       What is one thing you wish your teacher knew about you?

Nothing.


It seems important to me that this student's worst memory of school is failing classes. Sometimes I err in assuming that students who fail alot of classes "just dont care". Its true that many of them claim that they don't, but this student is proof that it really does have an impact on them, and they would like to make better grades. They just need extra help in some area. Although I know report cards are a useful and necessary tool, I cant imagine how destructive it would be to a teenager's self-esteem to get a report card that calls him a failure every semester. This student does seem somewhat socially isolated, but he seemed to imply in the interview that he has friends outside of school.