Staff Data/Spring 2004

What follows is the collected data from the staff of the
4 sites that hosted The Poetry Lab, Spring 2004
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TALLIED STAFF EVALUATIONS:

(20 Staff Surveys Completed (4 Sites)
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1. I participated in the 1 hour staff training about the Writing Group provided by Mary Tinucci.
(Harding) YES=4 NO = 0
(Project Achieve) YES= 0 NO = 3
(Murray) YES= 7 NO = 2
(Hazel Park) YES = 0 NO = 4
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TOTAL: YES = 11 NO = 9

2. If YES, please rate how well the training prepared you to support your students participation
in the writing group.

1=0 2=0 3 =3 4=4 5=4
Not well at all neutral Prepared me very well

3. Did your students ever talk to you about their participation in the
writing group?
(Harding) YES =4 NO=0
(Project Achieve) YES = 2 NO= 1
(Murray) YES = 8 NO = 1
(Hazel Park) YES = 4 NO = 0
____________________________________
TOTAL : YES = 18 NO = 2

4. If so, what did they say? (use the back if needed)

They all enjoy it very much
They like it.
They really enjoyed it.
They are very enthusiastic about their participation. One student stopped by to say, thank you, Joan, for letting me go to that poetry group. This comment is from a student with truancy, drugs & mental health problems who hasnt had positive school experiences.
They really enjoyed it and looked forward to it weekly.
How they like writing, and how much they like meeting with Mary, and sharing what they have written and learned.
Excited every week for writing group. They love it.
They like it They feel that it is a good group to be a part of, and they want to do well in the group.
Positive comments. They enjoyed writing and performing.
Excited, bragging on things they learned and things they produced for others.
VERY positive experience. The creative use of music and other exercises was reported by the students.
I often overheard over heard kids repeating phrases they had written about or more recently, many students have wanted to share with me things they have written.
They loved it. They asked me repeatedly when Mary was coming. They said it was cool.
They didnt say much, but when that class time was upon them, they couldnt wait to get there.
The students show more investment in their work. They want to do their best.
Some have opened ever so little.
They look forward to writing group and try to stay on best behavior. It makes students think and write sentences . They learn how to spell.
A greater interest in writing as a form of expression.
Eager to meet in the group. Andrew wrote when he was angry and it helped him calm down.
This is a positive experience for students who often are immersed in negative school experiences. Students are excited and are often asking what day it is and what time poetry starts.
They loved it! It was a time they looked forward to all week.
They enjoyed it.
They were excited about what they were doing and talked about the activities.
Some say it was alright.
They thought it was cool and fun. They liked going because they got to work on their rap lyrics.

5. What have you noticed about your students while/since they have participated in the writing group? (use the back if needed)

Their attendance improves on the day of writing group. They take pride in their work.
Pride in their work
I see them writing in their books (hard cover journals)
They are all very into it and interested
They independently initiated writing raps/poems
They look forward to the group meetings. The kids are more interested in reading poems, and also writing more.
Lots of positives very creative.
Many try to rap out loud during other classes (the only downfall). Spelling and writing mechanics improved.
Excited & willing to go. Other students asked to be a part of this group.
They were more apt to be rapping or writing in their poetry books when they were supposed to be doing other assignments.
We have seen improvements in daily journals.
Theyre excited to go to writing class. They have started to incorporate things they have learned into their daily journal

6. How can this group be better utilized next year? (use the back if needed)

Include the girls.
I would like an ongoing group for the girls and boys next year.
Involve more of the students
More group meetings
Clear expectations on time & pre-conditions for participation (behavior)
More students if possible.
More students in more groups
A class with a grade.
All Year long
Systematic the process: 1. who is selected and why. 2. how are kids grouped; 3. is it an earned privilege or a regular class?
I would love to see it expanded as much as possible to include more students. As its grown in popularity, many other students are asking how to get in!
Try to perform for other students who are not involved in the group. It would be interesting to add Drums.
Clone Mary!
More groups are needed.
Add one more day of group during the week.

7. Check Any of the Following Changes You Have Witnessed in Your Students since Group.

11 = Increase interest/love for words
19 = Increased Interest in writing
13 = Increased comfort in writing
6 = Increased Interest in reading
10 = Increased confidence (in general)
9 = Increased confidence (in writing skills)
3 = Improved attendance
10 = Improved attitude about school
13 = Improved connections/relationships amongst the other student writers

8. What else do you want me to know about the Writing Group at your school?

I am so glad that some of our students have been able to participate this spring. More Please! More groups, more time at Harding!
This has been a great experience. Thanks, Mary.
We enjoyed having you come. Thanks.
Great Job!
I think these kids need this, and could really shine if given an opportunity
If there is anything else I can do to encourage this group
It was a success
The skill building directly contributes to their educational goals. The creative means of expression grows them as people. Its a joy to witness.
I think it is a tremendous experience which I hope will continue to be a part of our programming in years to come.
I have 2 students in my class who participated and when its writing group day, they try to be on their best behavior. Of course our 2 boys like rap. I see the boys being particular about their spelling. They ask me if theyre not sure of spelling now. They use to write down raps and THEY could tell you what the world is, but believe me, you would never be able to guess.
We love having you here. Its great to get kids excited about writing. Two of the parents called to tell me how much their children love the writing group. I hope this continues many years into the future.
This was an excellent thing for those involved. Mary really seemed to connect well with the group.
It should be continued.
I think it has been a positive for our students and gives them something to look forward to.

Additional Feedback Overheard
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A Parent from Murray PSD called the Lead to ask about the writing group. Her son had played the Lexicon Youth Poetry CD all weekend long, begging his mom to listen with him. By the end of the weekend, the student had memorized many of the poems from the CD, and did not watch any TV. The mom wanted to know how to get her son into the Lexicon Youth Poetry group. His interest in writing and positive feelings regarding a school thing was remarkable to this mom.

Two students at Harding were recently referred to court via TIP for attendance issues. These 2 students loved the writing group, and according to the program staff, were clearly intentional about being in school on the day of the writing group. One of these students asked me one week which days I would be there to run the group because he had to schedule a doctors appointment, and he didnt want to scheduled it on our group day.

At Murray PSD, as I was leaving the building one day, a teacher stopped me to say, This writing group is the best thing that ever happened to these kids. Youre doing a great job.

Another teacher at Murray PSD stopped me as I was leaving one day to tell me the his 2 student participants love the writing group, and are writing in their journals every chance they get.

The social worker at Project Achieve welcomed me one day by telling me how one of my students is always anxiously awaiting my arrival. Every Monday and Thursday, he looks forward to the writing group, asking Is she coming today?