Peter Horton - Educator

Unit 8: 50-Question Survey of Students’ Skills, Abilities, and Interests

To begin, this fifty-question survey is designed to learn about students’ interests in grammar, vocabulary development, language usage, writing, reading informational text, and literature. When starting a new school year, I make it a priority to get to know my students by conducting a survey. In this way, I gain valuable insights into their strengths, challenges, and preferences. The following, therefore, are questions that I include in my survey.

50-Question Survey for 8th Grade ELA Students

Section 1: Vocabulary and Grammar

1. What is your favorite word, and why do you like it?
2. How often do you learn new vocabulary words? (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Rarely)
3. Which part of speech do you find most challenging? (Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb)
4. Can you give an example of a simile?
5. How do you usually learn new vocabulary? (Flashcards, Reading, Writing, Other)
6. Do you enjoy learning about grammar rules? (Yes, No, Sometimes)
7. How confident are you in identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence? (Very Confident, Somewhat Confident, Not Confident)
8. What strategies do you use to remember new vocabulary words?
9. How do you practice using new vocabulary in your writing?
10. Can you identify and correct grammatical errors in a sentence? (Yes, No)

Section 2: Reading Skills

1. What is your favorite book genre? (Fiction, Non-Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Other)
2. How often do you read outside of school? (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Rarely)
3. Who is your favorite author, and what do you like about their writing?
4. How do you choose what to read? (Recommendations, Covers, Reviews, Other)
5. What strategies do you use to understand a difficult text?
6. How do you keep track of your reading progress?
7. Do you prefer reading alone or in a group? (Alone, Group)
8. How do you share your thoughts about the books you read? (Discussions, Journals, Social Media, Other)
9. What is one book you would recommend to your classmates?
10. How do you feel about reading aloud in class? (Comfortable, Uncomfortable, Neutral)

Section 3: Writing Skills

1. How often do you write stories or poems? (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Rarely)
2. What type of writing do you enjoy the most? (Creative Writing, Essays, Journals, Other)
3. How do you choose what to write about?
4. What is your process for planning a piece of writing? (Outlining, Brainstorming, Free Writing, Other)
5. How do you revise and edit your writing?
6. Do you feel confident in your writing skills? (Very Confident, Somewhat Confident, Not Confident)
7. How do you feel about sharing your writing with others? (Excited, Nervous, Indifferent)
8. What is one goal you have for improving your writing this year?
9. How do you incorporate feedback into your writing?
10. What tools or resources do you use to help with writing? (Grammar Checkers, Thesaurus, Writing Guides, Other)

Section 4: Listening and Speaking Skills

1. How comfortable are you speaking in front of the class? (Very Comfortable, Somewhat Comfortable, Not Comfortable)
2. Do you prefer group discussions or working alone? (Group Discussions, Alone)
3. How often do you listen to audiobooks or podcasts? (Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Rarely)
4. What type of audio content do you enjoy the most? (Stories, Educational, Music, Other)
5. How do you pay attention when listening to a speaker or audio? (Taking Notes, Active Listening, Other)
6. Have you ever given a presentation? How did it go?
7. What strategies do you use to prepare for speaking in front of others?
8. How do you feel about participating in class discussions? (Excited, Anxious, Neutral)
9. What is one thing you would like to improve about your speaking skills?
10. How do you respond to what you listen to? (Discuss, Write, Reflect, Other)

Section 5: Interests and Hobbies

1. What hobbies do you have outside of school? (Sports, Art, Music, Other)
2. What is your favorite subject in school? (Math, Science, History, ELA, Other)
3. Do you play any musical instruments or participate in sports? (Yes, No)
4. What is one thing you would like to learn more about? (Subject or Topic)
5. How do you feel about learning new things? (Excited, Nervous, Indifferent)
6. What types of activities do you enjoy in your free time? (Reading, Sports, Gaming, Other)
7. How do you like to use technology for learning? (Research, Writing, Communication, Other)
8. What is your favorite way to express your creativity? (Art, Writing, Music, Other)
9. How do you feel about group projects? (Enjoyable, Stressful, Neutral)
10. What is one goal you have for this school year related to your interests?

Summary Analysis and Review

In this unit, students explored the benefits of surveys in understanding their English language skills, abilities, and interests. Specifically, surveys serve as a valuable tool for teachers to gather insights about their students, allowing for tailored instruction that meets individual needs. Moreover, by participating in surveys, students gain a voice in their education, fostering self-awareness and engagement. In addition, the unit emphasized the importance of creating a supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and preferences. Ultimately, the use of surveys enhances the learning experience, making it more relevant and effective for all students.