The Benefits
By a Mother whose son interned with Grays Harbor Youth Works in the Arc of Grays Harbor 2020 Summer Internship Program
“The benefits that ‘Tav’ gained from this experience are far reaching. Tav has always been eager to please but has lacked in self confidence, I have seen a confidence in him begin to grow that I feared he would never have. Having gained a more positive self image of himself through the program has enabled him to believe in himself, which is something many have a difficult time doing. Tav is thriving on the possibilities of life that your caring staff has opened up to him. Tav looks forward to his interactions and learning with every opportunity that is provided, I no longer have to nudge him to participate or speak in a group situation. He has always been outgoing and friendly on an individual basis but never in a group situation. Of everything he has learned from this experience I believe the strongest impact has been on his social and emotional learning and well being. As a family we could never thank the staff enough for opening up this seed that was so deeply hidden in my child.”
The Art of Teaching
By Kat Neeland, Lake Quinault Intern and GHYW Education and Training Intern
My name is Kat Neeland and I live in Humptulips. I am 17 years old and I go to Lake Quinault School. I chose to participate in Grays Harbor Youth Works because I thought it would be a great idea to help me decide what I want to do in the future. My internship is at Lake Quinault School and I work with Mrs. Mabey who is the elementary Art and Music teacher. In this internship, I have had the opportunity to gain experience classroom management skills along with learning more about the area and how to convey art and music in the best way to students.
I work with Kindergarten through 5th grade students and learn different strategies to control them depending upon their age. Sometimes I would instruct small groups by myself. I taught first grade through fourth grades how to ready some rhythms. Just the basic rhythms like quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes and quarter rests. I taught all the kids about lines and shapes in art and there meaning to art. I made my own lesson plan on lines and shapes for the students. I did a drawing lesson plan with the entire first-grade class and for my first try with an entire class it was not that bad but I still need improvements.
I am awfully glad that I have this opportunity because it is helping me decide if this is what I really want to do, rather than going to college for an education degree and realizing I do not want to teach. I am just incredibly happy I was able to do an internship in teaching. I have learned a lot and I am glad that Grays Harbor Youth Works made this possible for me.
We are proud to say, Kat used her intern experience and has been hired by a school district as a paraeducator.