Student Data/Spring 2004

What follows is the collected data from the student
participants of The Poetry Lab, Spring 2004.

(20 Surveys Completed of 24 Total Secondary Student Participants)

TALLIED STUDENT EVALUATIONS:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. When stuff gets really hard in my life, I will probably write in order to feel better.
Yes=13 NO=7

2. My confidence in writing increased in group.
YES=16 NO=4

3. I felt supported in group by my classmates.
YES=19 NO=1

4. Being in this group helped me believe in the value of my thoughts & my life.
YES=19 NO=1

5. I liked reading my poetry out loud.
YES=16 NO=4

6. I liked hearing others read their poetry outloud.
YES=18 NO=2

7. I learned something about myself in this group
YES=15 NO=5

What did you learn about yourself?
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That I can express myself better in writing.
That it is more to just writing Its your life.
That poems dont have to rhyme
I learned that no matter what people say, I am a good person.
I learned that I have a new talent.
That I am a good writer.
That I can write.
To write and not react to trouble.
What I learned about myself is that I can be a friendly person.
I learned about life.

8. I liked being in this writing group.
YES=19 NO=1

9. Writing helps me handle & express my feelings in safe and healthy way.
YES=18 NO=2

10. I felt safe/respected in this class.
YES=20 NO=0

11. Being in this group helped me feel better about myself & about who I am.
YES=16 NO=4

12. I learned more about my classmates by listening to their writing.
YES=17 NO=3

What did you learn about your classmates?
-----------------------------------------------------------
That they have good stuff (poetry/writing)
That they are my friends.
That they can think & write what they feel.
Where they are from and their way/style of rapping.
I learned that theyve got real deep and respected feelings.
I learned that they have creative minds.
I learned about their lives and what they feel.
I learned that they all have problems and they can express them through writing.
That they are nice and good friends.
That they like to write.
They like to write.
My classmates are ok, they are cool.
That they have different ways of expressing themselves.
They can write real good poetry.
To show respect to let the person know its ok to let your feelings out.

13. I would like to be in this group next year.
YES=20 NO=0

14. Being in this group helped me express feelings in a positive & healthy way.
YES=18 NO=2

15. I am proud of some of the poetry I wrote in this group.
YES=17 NO=3

16. Writing makes me feel more hopeful about life
YES=17 NO=3

17. Being in this group helped me feel like I belong somewhere.
YES=17 NO=3

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT ME TO KNOW?
-----------------------------------------------------------
When I came to this group I didnt think I could write.
Being in this group made me a new person by making me act different.
I want you to know that I can do what I need to do and talk about whats on my mind and then write about it on paper. I had fun in poetry by listening to other peoples writing. I had lots of fun with my peers and staff and sharing my writing with others.
I really liked this group and I will miss this so much.
I want to be in this group next year.
This poetry has helped me a lot with dealing with my feelings.
That it is nice and great and I liked it.
I cant rap
It was very cool. I like poetry class.
I really liked this group and I am willing to try this group next year despite some of my behavior.
I really liked this class.
you are cool.

Additional Feedback from Group #1 at Murray PSD:
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What is one way you and/or others have changed because of being in this group?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I used to snap more; now I get in trouble less.
I used to hate students name, but now, we get along more and we are friends.
students name says whats on her mind more.
Two students agreed that they are both more confident now.
I express myself more in writing now, and I am more confident in myself.
I got closer with students name.

Poetry from Group #1/Murray on the last Group Day:
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I Believe
I believe that everybody in this group
will be successful with their poetry.

I believe that everyone in this group
wont be broken down.

I believe that every person in this group
will be responsible adults,
and if they have kids,
they wont leave them
like parents did me.

I believe that something in every single one of our lives
changed
since we were in this group.

I believe in every member of this group
and they believe in me.

I Believe
I believe people liked this group.
I believe people want to do this group next year.
I believe everyone in this group is a poet.
Peace.

Maybe
Maybe Ill do this group next year.
Maybe Ill keep writing through the summer
and stop getting in trouble.
Maybe Ill be better.
Peace.

This group
This group is cool
the way we used to play
and the way we had fun all day.
And group is sad
when everyone had to go away.