Jenna Munguia EDSS 530 Student Survey Analysis I created an online survey (using Google Forms, see attached)

to get to know the students in the two periods of Spanish 2 that I am teaching this semester at La Costa Canyon High School. My coteacher and I assigned the survey as a homework assignment on the first day of the semester and received initial responses from 51 (~86%) of the 59 students enrolled in periods 3 and 5. I learned a great deal about my students from the survey, which focused on their feelings toward school in general, their feelings about Spanish (and this Spanish class, including homework), their learning preferences, their interests/activities/likes-dislikes, and their use of technology. Feelings toward School The great majority of my students like or really enjoy school now, although there is a general trend of increasing ambivalence and even dislike toward school over time (see chart). This is particularly noticeable starting in middle school, which garnered more dislikes than any other group of grade levels. It was interesting to note that the students in my third period class have more positive feelings toward school across the grade levels than my fifth period class, as they selected really enjoyed most often while fifth period selected liked more often. The four most mentioned things that my students are looking forward to this semester are learning more Spanish, getting a good grade, playing sports and vacation (spring break, summer). They are dreading quizzes/exams, dramas (oral presentations in Spanish class), homework, and hard classes. While it is encouraging to find that most of my students enjoy school, it is important to realize that many students start to dislike school as they move up in grade level. Considering the list of things that my students are dreading about this semester, it is easy to conclude that as school becomes more challenging, they tend to associate more negative feelings with it. As a teacher, particularly in a difficult elective, I need to work hard to create a fun and engaging learning environment. Knowing that my students are motivated to learn more Spanish and earn a good grade in the class, I feel more confident
Strongly Disliked Neither Liked Really Disliked Liked Enjoyed Nor Disliked Now Middle School Grades 4-6 Grades 1-3

Feelings About School Over Time

holding them accountable for their learning at home. This also builds a case for incorporating some flipped classroom methods. Feelings about Spanish The top reason why my students said they are taking Spanish is to fulfill credit requirements for college. A close second was to learn the language and become fluent, with developing a skill for the future as the third most popular reason.

How do you feel about Spanish?

Period 5

The vast majority of my students said they like Spanish, although more students were ambivalent about the subject than those that said they really enjoy it. Only four students in my fifth period class said they dislike Spanish. My students favorite part of class is Matamoscas, a

Period 3 Strongly Dislike Neither Dislike Like Nor Dislike Like Really Enjoy

vocabulary/grammar review game where students compete head-to-head to swat the correct picture or word requested by the teacher. The hardest part of class for the students are the quizzes/exams, followed by the dramas. The majority of the students feel that the amount of homework assigned in class is just right, although about 20% of the students feel that there is too much homework. Most students (31%) said they spend thirty minutes to one hour per night doing homework for all classes, but quite a few students said they spend 1-2 hours (25%) or 2-3 hours (24%). If they could change one thing about the class, most students
< 30 min 30 min - 1 hr 1-2 hr 2-3 hr > 3 hr
P. 5 P. 3

Avg. HW Per Night

said that they would not have a quiz every day. Quite a few students said they would not change anything and several said they would have less homework and easier quizzes. Despite the fact that most of my students are taking Spanish to fulfill credit requirements for college, it was encouraging to see that many students have positive feelings about the subject. It was useful to learn which students are ambivalent toward or dislike Spanish; I can focus on continuing to encourage those students and get to know them better so that I can help make this semester a more positive experience for them. Learning that a good amount of my students feel that too much

homework is assigned in Spanish class and that many students already spend several hours per night doing homework, I will be more cognizant of assigning key activities and avoiding needless repetition. The daily quizzes also seem to generate a great deal of anxiety for many students. I might consider ways to help them prepare/study more effectively and also think about including some days without quizzes during the semester. Learning Preferences The top-two most-liked subjects by my students are English and Math, with Science as the next most-liked subject. Only two students said that Spanish was their favorite subject. Many students said that they like their favorite subject because they are good at it. My third period class is fairly balanced in terms of academic strengths (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), although a slight majority of students feel that they are strongest in the domain of writing. Most students in my fifth period class feel that they are best at reading and writing, with speaking and listening as their weak domains. A majority (about 40%) of my students prefer to work with a partner, while the rest of the students are divided between those that prefer to work alone (~29%) and those that like to work in small groups (~27%). Just over half of my students say that they learn best by seeing (visual) and another 37% say that they learn best by doing/touching (kinesthetic). The top three conditions cited by my students as keeping them from learning are distractions, noise, and boring activities. Based on why students like their favorite subject, it seems that they value mastery. It makes sense that because most students in Spanish 2 find the class challenging and are just beginning to learn the language, Spanish would not be their favorite subject (yet!). As a language teacher, it is important to help students see evidence of their progress and encourage them, letting them know that although they are not yet fluent, they are still growing their language repertoire as they master specific concepts along the way. Knowing that my students need more opportunities to develop their speaking and listening skills, I can place greater emphasis on these domains in my class. We already frequently do partner activities in class, but we might consider incorporating more small group activities for students that prefer that format. With many visual learners, using the PowerPoint slides to accompany our lectures will be an effective tool. The Matamoscas review game that we play in class is well-suited for kinesthetic learners. Activities where the students show their answers using hand signals will also appeal to students who learn best by doing/touching. I now know that my students prefer to learn in an environment free from distractions and noise. Knowing this, I will continue to maintain order in the classroom, with an expectation that all students participate and respect their peers by remaining on task.

Interests and Activities The most-liked book by my students is Catcher in the Rye, with Hunger Games and Divergent rounding out the top three. Catching Fire is the most popular movie, with Anchorman in a distant second. My students are involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, with the most common being sports. Most students listed two or more extracurricular activities that they are involved in. The most-mentioned hobby/interest was sports, followed by TV/video games/computers and hanging out with friends. Overall, my students have a wide range of hobbies and interests. A large number of students are unsure what they want to be when they grow up, but many said that they want to be doctors, followed by lawyers, professional athletes, and writers. Nearly half of my students wish they could fly (superpower), followed by reading minds, being invisible, and controlling time. Several students mentioned Marilyn Monroe, Zac Efron, and Jennifer Lawrence as the one famous person (dead or alive) that they would like to meet. Knowing about my students interests and activities allows me to find ways to connect with them. I can also incorporate things they like in my lessons as a way of making the content relevant and engaging. With a snapshot of what my students lives are like outside of the classroom, I can better support them as individuals with unique passions and aspirations. As a teacher, it is important to remember that beyond teaching Spanish skills, I am also a role model for my students. Technology My students use Instragram the most (78%), followed by Snapchat (57%), and Facebook (27%). Most students said they would write a love letter to their phone, followed by computers. 92% of my students have access to more than one device at home, with a majority having three to five devices available. A Smartphone with internet access was the most common device to have, followed by a laptop computer and a tablet (iPad or other). My students are immersed in on-demand social interaction via online networks and they value this connectivity. They are accustomed to consuming content at a fast pace and are able to stay connected using a variety of devices. Based on this information, it is appropriate to expect my students to be able to complete assignments requiring internet or computer access. It might also work well to establish a class social network, such as a Google+ community or an Edmodo site, which the class can use to share resources, prepare for quizzes/exams, and even submit assignments. Reflection As a teacher, I will strive to be accepting, encouraging and respectful toward my students. I will be focused on creating an inclusive environment in my classroom, where students from all walks of life

will have an opportunity to maximize their learning. I will be dedicated to getting to know each of my students and use this awareness of their background, personality, and learning style to inform the implementation of the curriculum. I will be aware of how my own background and biases might influence my disposition in the classroom and strive to minimize any negative impact or disadvantage that this could create for students who are different from me. I think the key is to be open and flexible, always putting the needs of the student first and being prepared to accommodate and support the diverse learning needs of each individual.