Beyond the Pond: My Semester Abroad, Converted into Creative Nonfiction

Creative nonfiction is a genre that consists of dramatized, true stories. They are portrayed through literary elements commonly used by poets and fiction writers. These elements include dialogue, a replication of scenes, character development, and detailed descriptions of setting and interior thought. Creative nonfiction allows the writer to find meaning beyond his/her experiences and reflect on universal and personal issues. When I set out to write, I intended on writing one longer story that brought each individual experience together. As a final product, my thesis stands as a collection of different trips and events that all contributed to my time in London. Breaking up my thesis into separate chapters has been a visual representation of what the semester was like for me: I\u27ve captured distinct moments that can stand as independent pieces. But I\u27ve also joined them based on themes of self-discovery, nature versus city, and vocational exploration

Early Intervention, Documentation, and Service Delivery: A Review of IFSPs and Service Notes

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Early Intervention, Documentation, and Service Delivery: A Retrospective Review of IFSPs and Service Notes

PURPOSE: The developmental needs and family stated concerns addressed in early intervention service delivery occasionally differ from the outcomes on the family’s individualized family service plan (IFSP). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between common developmental needs and family-stated concerns addressed during home visits that are not formally included in IFSPs. SUBJECTS: As a retrospective study, there was no direct contact with students or family members who received services through an Individualized Education Plan. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A qualitative descriptive study design was utilized to retrospectively review 140 IFSPs and corresponding service notes of children receiving early intervention services in one Michigan county. ANALYSES: Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and patterns among qualitative data and summarize key features of the large body of data. RESULTS: Overall, researchers found 209 instances out of the 700 sessions reviewed in which early interventionists addressed concerns that did not address a formal goal on the IFSP. Thematic analysis revealed eight common themes: family resources, sleep, fine motor, health, behavior, feeding, family needs, and gross motor. CONCLUSIONS: Researchers found that either the new concerns were never named as a priority by the family, or the new concerns were never made into formal goals. Both of these situations could represent a lack of family-centeredness in the outcome making process; however, the data also suggest that early interventionists respond to family needs reported on the day of treatment rather than concerns stated in IFSP goals, which still reflect a family-centered mindset