Collection has Begun

My data collection was started last week with a survey that I gave the students. As a part of my question, I want to know how the kids feel about the classes that they have been placed in. I think they have a pretty good idea as to why they are in the class that they are in and I wanted to gather their take on this type of grouping and hopefully gain some type of insight as to how they feel about themselves as a reader and the class that they are in. The survey looked like this:

Name: ______________________________________                   Date: 9/20/2012

Please rate your experiences with reading by recording your answer to the questions in the space provided.

1. What do you like most about reading at school?

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2. What do you like least about reading at school?

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3. Does your teacher divide your class into small groups at all during the class period?

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4. If so, what is your favorite part about being in small groups?

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5. If you answered yes to question 3, what is your least favorite part about being in small groups?

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6. Use the scale to rate yourself on your ability as a reader.

5 – Always  4 –Sometimes        3 – Not sure            2 – Rarely    1 – Never

I read most all words correctly         5          4          3          2          1

I understand what I read                     5          4          3          2          1

I am reading the same kinds of          5          4          3          2          1

books as my peers

I am a good reader                                   5          4          3          2          1

I don’t like reading because I am       5          4          3          2          1

not good at it

I love reading. I am good at it             5          4          3          2          1

7. If I could create my perfect reading class, who would be in it and what would we do? (Please be realistic).

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All students have completed this survey and I have organized the data based on the various responses from the students. There were several interesting comments and trends that I found in reading thier responses. For example, the reading class with the struggling readers reported to question 7 that they wanted to have class with their friends. Of course they all want to have class with their friends, they're fifth graders, but their friends are the kids from the class of advanced readers. When the advanced readers answered the same question, the kids they chose to have in their dream reading class were the kids they already had class with. I somehow can't help but wonder if this feeling comes from their opinions of themselves as a student as well as the stigma that may be placed on them for being in the reading class they are in.