ANÁLISIS COMPARATIVO

When James used to come to the nurture group, he usually chose to go to different places to write in his diary. However, the most common place where he would write was a desk. James chose to include six of his diary entries for this research project, which his mother also approved of. James usually used to write in point form in his journal. However, there were two instances when he decided to accompany the writing with drawings. This section presents James’ diary entries and the transcript of the conversations James and I had after he wrote in his journal on these six occasions:

James’s first diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his first journal entry:

Maria: What did you write and draw in your diary today?

James: This is what I wrote…In the nurture group, in my diary I wrote (reading from his diary), today, I am feeling very good. Mr. White also makes sure that I am happy in class and I am playing (football) with Melita Stars and doing a good sport.

Maria: You look very happy that you are in Mr. White’s class this year?

James: Yes, very. In fact this weekend Mr. White is coming to the bread market that my grandfather does every year. Are you coming Ms.?

Maria: No, sorry but I cannot. I will be abroad. I will be studying at Sheffield. James: Oh. I see…Did you pack your bag already?

Maria: No not yet. So Mr. White will be coming to the bread market? James: Yes and Kurt, you know my friend in my class…

Maria: Yes, I know him.

James:…he is coming to do the bread pudding with me. Maria: That’s good.

James: And Mr. White, he wants a baguette for free. Maria: Ok. That’s good. I wish I could come but I cannot. James: No problem Ms. You will come next year.

right?

James: I am enjoying going to football practice, I, I miss training, I am very happy going there and I love coming here as well.

James’s second diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his second diary entry:

Maria: What did you draw in your diary today James?

James: I drew a letter that I wrote to myself today in the Nurture Group. Can you take a picture of the letter.

Maria: Yes sure. Why?

James: Because you told us that we are going to put this letter in an envelope, seal it and then read it when school is about to finish.

Maria: Ok.

James: And I wish to keep a copy of the letter in my diary as I do not wish to write the letter again in my diary.

Maria: No problem. (I took a photo with my mobile phone).

James: This is what I wrote in the letter. Dear James, We have just started a new school year. This is your last year because you are in Year 6 and next year you will be in Form 1. You will make new friends and you will be in a new year. Never give up! You have to always try your best like what you learn in the nurture group. This year you also started a new sport. You started to play football with the Melita Stars, however, you also need to study this year. Yours, James.

James’s third diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his third journal entry:

Maria: What did you write in your diary today James?

James: That I did, that I did a dictation and I got everything right. Maria: Ok. And how did you feel about that?

James: Good. Well at first, my teacher started to give the copybook of the children who had to do corrections in their dictation, and I said how long will it take for my teacher to give me the copybook, and then he told us that myself, my sister, Frank and Sophie, I think, he told us, we have got everything right. And when my teacher gave me the copybook, you know, I was overjoyed.

Maria: Ok. That’s great.

James: And I also wrote that we came to the nurture group and we saw a video of Charlie…

Maria: …Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

James: Yes…and we spoke about Charlie and how he never gave up.

Maria: Yes Charlie had difficulties in his life but, like you said, he never gave up. James: Yes and I wrote that in my diary to remember the story of Charlie.

James’s fourth diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his fourth journal entry:

Maria: What did you write in your diary today?

James: That we saw a film on the Chocolate Factory, and (and), I wrote on the Chocolate Factory.

Maria: Ok and if you were to choose to be a friend to one of those children, which one would you choose? Who do you choose to be a friend with?

James: Eh, the most that I would want to be a friend with is with Charlie? Maria: Ok, with Charlie and why is that?

James: Charlie is the one that owns the chocolate factory? Maria: No, that is Willy Wonka.

James: Yes, with him.

Maria: Why do you want to be a friend with Willy Wonka?

James: Because, he lives in the factory. And I later on, I might own my grandfather’s bakery so I would be like him.

Maria: Ok, is there any other reason why you would be friends with Willy Wonka? James: He is creative. And I think he has a lot of money and it is good if you are rich. Maria: Ok, that would be good, true. Do you wish to tell me anything else?

James: No. Bye Miss. Maria: Bye, James.

James’s fifth diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his fifth diary entry: Maria: What did you write in your diary today, James?

James: We continued to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and that I did well in a composition.

Maria: Ok and what was the composition about? James: My toys.

Maria: And what did you write about?

James: That I have a pet, because you could write about a pet not a toy. And I spoke about my parrot, his colour, what he can do, whether he loves me or not, whether he love me the most or who he loves the most.

Maria: Ok.

James: He loves my mum the most. A parrot loves whom he spend the most of the time with. He loves my mum the most, because we don’t spend a lot of time (at home). He doesn’t like my dad.

Maria: I see.

James: Whom he loves the most. My mum. And then I wrote why I love my pet and why. I love my pet because we bought him when he was a baby. When he was a baby, he used to play a lot with me, but now, he loves my mum the most.

Maria: Ok.

video on my tablet and he comes and he would want to watch it with me. Maria: Ok.

James: And even if I touch the screen of my tablet, he isn’t angry at me. But my sisters? Maria: Ehe.

James: When they do to have their dance lessons, he is very calm, but when they are there, Katya and Amy, he attacks them.

Maria: I think he knows who loves animals, because, you love animals. James: Yes, true

Maria: Do you want to tell me anything else about your writing? James: That was all that I wrote.

James’s sixth diary entry:

Transcript of the conversation I had with James after he wrote in his sixth diary entry: Maria: What did you write and draw over there James?

James: I wrote ‘bullying is wrong’. Then I drew a boy hitting another boy. Maria: Why did he hit him?

James: He was calling him names.

Maria: James did anything happen at school today? You look quiet. James: No, nothing!

Maria: What was he calling him?

James: He, the boy, that was being hit, had called the other boy warden. Maria: Why?

James: Miss, do you promise not to tell anyone?

Maria: James, I am here to help you. If by telling someone, I can help you. James: I’m afraid.

Maria: James, I am here to help you. If, if I do not know what’s (happen) happening, I cannot do anything about it.

James: Francesco, you know, the boy that is in my class… Maria: Yes, what about him?

James: He, and Karl, and Jake are calling me warden. I am very angry about it. I wish I can hit them and make them stop.

Maria: And why are they calling you that, warden, I mean?

Maria: Ok.

James: And then, he told me warden, because, he (he) wanted my sister to tell him. Maria: And how did you feel about that?

James: I help my sister. My sister is not like me. I mean, I didn’t want her to get into trouble, that’s why I told him.

Maria: Ok and how did you feel when your teacher told you warden? James: I didn’t like it. I shut up and didn’t speak.

Maria: Ok and then what’s happened?

James: Then in break, Francesco, Karl and Jake started to call me warden. All the boys are calling me that. All except Kurt, whenever I speak they say “warden” or “shut up warden”.

Maria: It is not nice to have people call you names. James: I really wish to make it stop.

Maria: Can I speak to your teacher?

James: Miss, I don’t want them to make more fun of me.

Maria: James that is bullying. People shouldn’t give you names. No one. Not even a teacher. I am here to help you.

James: Thanks miss.

Maria: Would you allow me to speak to your teacher? James: Yes but tell him to not make fun of me.

Maria: If someone makes fun of you, I will then speak to the head of school. This calling of names has to stop.

James: I know.

Maria: And you, you have to be assertive. When they call you warden, when Francesco or Karl or Jake tell you warden, you look at them and tell them Stop.

James: I try but I feel so small when this happens. Maria: I know. How are you feeling now?

James: Better, much better.

Maria: I am glad. I will speak to your teacher tomorrow. James: Ok. Bye, miss and thank you.