9-Question Interest Inventory: A Great Way to Learn About Your Students

The first homework of each grade for all students in each junior high school mathematics class included a nine-question “interest list”. This inventory of specific interests is a self-assessment tool that encourages students to look back on past experiences.

My students agreed that answering the nine interest inventory questions was a good change from the typical “This is your favorite” questionnaire and it was certainly fun to read the students. reaction! Immediately-at the beginning of the school year-it is a very good way to get a bigger picture [even a little bigger picture] of each student.

For teachers, an inventory of interests can provide appropriate initial information about the strengths and weaknesses of the student. In fact, this survey has encouraged some students to talk directly about their strengths and interests and gained more information about their learning style.

This is an inventory of nine questions. I always asked students to answer all parts of each question and to write the answers properly in complete sentences.

1. What are your favorite activities and subjects at school? why? What do you like the least? why?

2 What subjects are difficult for you? What is the most difficult thing?

3 If you can learn something about what you want to do, what do you choose to learn about? Please fill in concretely. [Examples: meteorology, writing science fiction, architecture, cooking, carpentry, film production, etc.]

Four. If people come to you for information about what you know well, what is that topic?

Five. Where do you go after planning a field trip? why?

6 Fill in blanks and evaluate each choice 1 = best, 2 = OK, 3 = worst

I learn ____ alone.

I learn ____ with other people.

I learn ____ in a small group.

I learn ____ in a large group.

7 What is useful for learning? [Example: hands-on experience, quiet reading, taking notes, making a voice, etc.]

8. Is the project you are most proud of-past school assignments or out of school? why?

9 Imagine the wonderful teacher you had. Please explain why you made this teacher so wonderful.

One student knew a lot about horses, and gave me all-round information [such as riding style and saddle definitions] throughout the year, and occasionally updated training and competitions. Knowing her a little more outside the math class helped to attract her in the math class.

Another student was proud to train a hamster called Ernoche to win the local Petco Hamster Derby! I had to ask her about it because I had never heard of Petco Hamster Derbies. She was glad to explain how she implemented the training plan in one of the hallways at home.

The students who answered “I want to learn how to paint a face” are now students of music, art and performing arts at LaGuardia High School. Without asking her at the beginning of the school year, how long did it take me to notice this very quiet student's inclination to art ... perhaps the spring of that year when I studied geometry She said she liked how I used different colors to emphasize certain angles and aspects.

Questions 3, 4, 5, and 8 have always given the most smiling answer. I used the above 9 questions for 6th graders, but in general all questions are great reflection questions and need much more relevant answers than my favorite color / food / sports / etc.