This manual is a practical training guide for graduate and undergraduate research assistants (RAs) working in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. It may also be applicable to research assistants working in other fields or institutions. The purpose of this manual is to train RAs on how to plan and conduct focus groups for qualitative research in the field of education. This manual is evidence-informed and includes additional references for researchers and research assistants to further develop their understanding of how to work successfully on a qualitative research project that collects data through focus groups. The following are appended: (1) Checklist: Supplies; (2) Checklist: One day prior to focus group; (3) Checklist: Day of focus group; and (4) Template for Taking Field Notes. [Published by the University of Calgary Werklund School of Education. Funding for this manual was provided by the Office of Teaching and Learning, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary who awarded funding for this project under the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant, 2016-2017.]