Data

 Interviews                         Presentations

Survey

Art Expressions

House Tours

Time with family members

Dialogues 

Outside Play 

Observed Play Dates

Computer work

 Conversations with family members

Relevant data- I continue bibliotherapy research and reviews of appropriate children’s books to employ during the learning partner sessions. I used these recommended, engaging, and developmentally appropriate books/poems/lyrics to facilitate art and discussion topics.  I took note of my visual and auditory informal observations of my partner’s responses. I toook note of events and conversations for a holistic learning session in order to further decipher relevant data as time and research continue.

Collection of data- I employed action-based triangulation through in person sessions.  I observed my partner’s learning journal and conversations we have during the course of the study.  I also collected data during two house tours, play date observations, shared experiences with the older brother, and multiple interviews of immediate family members.

Richness of data- In order to collect a richness of data I collected a plethora of data through various forums and sessions.  I communicated with my partner on a weekly basis in order to establish consistent observational data.   Additionally through the variety of sessions that include art, technology, outside play and dialogue I constructed diverse data, which added richness as well as provide follow up opportunities with partner for particular supporting examples/data.  I also interviewed his mother, father and brother to gain a holistic understanding of my partner. 

Analyze data- I have my notes that I took before, during and after partner sessions that I analyzed during my research and evaluation of my informal observations.  I took pictures of learning journal pages and the process to gain images of the experience during the sessions in order to further analyze.  I did my best to examine everything in order to better inform my understandings of him and his world.

? My Questions ?

 

How will my learning partner benefit from partner journaling?

What will be the challenges associated with reading a story and then expressively journaling/verbally communicating?

Will he relate to the literature enough so that there will be an emotional impact, and if so how will this be observed or communicated?

As a young boy, what will the sessions be like, how long will he be able to spend time journaling each sitting?

Background

My learning partner is an English speaking Caucasian ten-year-old male who is a homeschooled gifted and talented student.  He currently lives in two different homes in the same county.  His mother and father have separated their living arrangements for about one year now, and they continue to work through weekly marriage counseling sessions.  My learning partner has one older brother who has Down syndrome and who will be attending a public high school in the fall.  His older brother has always been mainstreamed at public schools that participate and appreciate full inclusion programs.  My learning partner still suffers from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) from a car accident that left him and his mother, the pedestrians, in the hospital for a month along with necessary follow up surgeries.  Him and his family members are treating this with counseling sessions, faith in Christ, and natural supplements.  They are an extremely authentic and organic family who exemplify forgiveness and passionate love.  This family is exceedingly active in their community and presents a cultural awareness through their national and international travels and studies.

I know this ten-year-old active learner and his family on a personal level as a result of past employment and continual friendship.  Therefore I have a base knowledge of my learning partner but am looking to research a greater phenomenon within his learning style and emotional/intellectual response to bibliotherapy.  My learning partner and I will also collaborate virtually through Skype and Voice Thread in order to maintain a regular partnership regardless of geographic distance; this too will present observational data.

 

His 10th birthday gift was a rattle snake! 

(it was road kill and then hidden in the house freezer until his birthday)

He is an adventurer who loves exploring the outdoors and making sense of the world around him.

He is creative and inventive. 

 

I Wonder....

Interests: 

 

Top Interests: Design, Technology, Space, Nature


After reading Leafy the Leaf Who Wouldn't Leave:
(digitally)

I wonder....

"How tall is God?"
"When is the rapture?"
"Is there other life?"