Student Interest

Survey
By Mariely Sanchez

Dear Fellow Teacher,

One of the things I like to do at the beginning of the year is to have each student
complete an interest survey. This survey helps me learn more about each of my
students personal interest.
How do I use this information? Well, I have my students participate in the 40 Book
Challenge which is an idea I learned after reading The Book Whisperer by Donalyn
Miller. Students are to try and read 40 chapter books from nine different reading
genres throughout the school year. The Student Interest Survey comes in handy by
allowing me to learn more about each student so that I may be able to offer book
recommendations. The survey is especially handy when I have a student who doesnt
particularly like reading or doesnt know what books to read.
During the first week of school, I have students complete the form. I then review each
survey and meet with students as needed to talk about what books theyve read and
what books they would like to read. Enclosed in this document is the Student Interest
Survey I use with my students. Its a two page survey that I copy double-sided for each
of my students.
I hope youll find this idea helpful and that it will help you get to know your students a
little better as you begin your learning journey together. If you have any questions or
concerns, please feel free to email me at pencilsandmagicwands@gmail.com.
Sincerely,

Mariely Sanchez
Author of the Blog Pencils and Magic Wands
http://pencilsandmagicwands.blogspot.com

2012 Mariely Sanchez

Student Interest Survey

Name: _________________________________ Date: _________________ Age: _______
1.

If you could be anything in the world when you grow up, what would you be? Why? (Realistic answers only. Not
a horse or a time traveler.) ___________________________________________________________

2. What are your hobbies (things you like to do regularly for fun)? __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. If you could travel any place in the world, where would you go? ___________________________________
4. Do you take any special lessons outside of school? What? (Music, sports, dance, acting, singing, etc.) _______
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. What kinds of activities do you like to do with friends? _________________________________________
6. What kinds of activities do you like to do all by yourself? _______________________________________
7. What is your favorite sport? ____________________________________________________________
8. What is your favorite TV show? Why? _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
9. What is your favorite movie of all time? ____________________________________________________
10. What is your favorite animal? ____________________________________________________________
11. What is your favorite food? _____________________________________________________________
12. If you could be like any one great person, whom would you choose? _________________________________
13. What do you do at home when you have time to do anything you wish? ______________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
14. Set a goal for yourself regarding school in the coming year. Be specific. (Not I want better grades.) ______
__________________________________________________________________________________
15. If you were given $1,000, what would you do with it? __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
16. Check the subjects you like to do most in school:
Art

Math

Reading

Writing

P.E.

Science

Music

Social Studies

Spelling

Other: ________

17. When did you last read a book? What was the title? ___________________________________________
18. What is your favorite book of all time? _____________________________________________________
19. What magazines do you like to read? ______________________________________________________
20. What parts of the newspaper do you like to read? ____________________________________________

2012 Mariely Sanchez

Student Interest Survey (p. 2)

21. If you had one wish, what would it be? Why? _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
22. If you could talk to any person from history, who would it be? Why? What three questions would you ask that
person? ___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
23. What did you like MOST about the things your teacher did last year? Why? _________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
24. What did you like LEAST about the things your teacher did last year? Why? ________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
25. If you could have an author write a story just for you, what would you have the author write about? _______
__________________________________________________________________________________
26. Do you think its important to be a good reader? Why or why not? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
27. Put a check () in the box that tells how much you like each of the following types of stories?
Types of Stories
Animal Stories
Funny Stories
Fantasy & Myth
Space
Science
Adventure
Sports
Westerns
History
Informational
Real People (Biographies)
Romance
Science Fiction
Horror
Poetry
Short Stories
Mysteries
Comic Books
Magazines
Newspapers
Picture Books

2012 Mariely Sanchez

One of My
Favorite Kinds

A Lot

Somewhat

Not Too
Much

Not At All

Terms and Credits

Thank you so much for downloading my Student Interest Survey. I hope you will find
value in this resource. Please feel free to email me at pencilsandmagicwands@gmail.com
if you have any questions or concerns.
Copyright: Mariely Sanchez 2012

Terms
Downloading this document entitles you to single classroom use only. You may reproduce
the material in this document for use in your classroom only. I would appreciate your
respect towards my work. If other teachers are interested in this activity, please direct
them to visit my blog at http://pencilsandmagicwands.blogspot.com or my Teachers
Notebook store at www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/pencilsandmagicwands.
In addition, I ask that you do not share this document district wide and never post ANY
part of this lesson online or resell any part of it either. I appreciate your help,
cooperation, and honesty.

Credits
Graphics in this document were used with permission from the following:
Thistlegirl Designs www.thistlegirldesigns.com
(Learn N Play, Reading Kids, and Sports Fun)

Digital Bake Shop www.etsy.com/shop/DigitalBakeShop

(Winter Deco Frames-Commercial Sets)

Graphics from the Pont www.fromthepond.com

(Scribble Pages Set and Little Fuzzy Jump Borders Set)

Fonts used in this document are from:

Kevin and Amanda www.kevinandamanda.com

(Font used were Oh {Photo} Shoot!, Wish I Were Taller, and Digs My Heart)

Check out My Blog!

Be sure to visit my teaching blog:
http://pencilsandteachingwands.blogspot.com
With much thanks,

Mariely Sanchez