Memories & Photos Throughout My Years with the Kiddo's & Youth:
Mount View Elementary, 2010-2011 School Year
'Eat Right with Color' Poster Contest for Nutrition Month:
Despite the busy year for the teachers, I was able to get multiple classrooms to participate in the poster contest this year. Once completed, the posters were displayed in a prominent spot in the school cafeteria. They remained up for a month leading up to the schoolwide Health Fair, in hopes to raise awareness around eating a balanced plate. Students were given the opportunity to vote for their favorite poster. The winners received special prizes!
The exciting part for me? Every time I entered the cafeteria there were quiet whispers and then inevitably a little person tugging on my apron, all smiles, wanting to show me their poster, and their tray filled with white milk NOT chocolate, and all the fruits they have compared to the little person next to them!
Love from some students:
I came into school one day to a bundle of 'nutrient dense' love letters waiting for me! I guess to some little ones I really am a star!
Student Drawings:
Seattle Youth Garden Works, 2007-2009
Me in Action:
Even with me, probably one of the most relaxed gardener out there, formal instruction is sometimes necessary. If we are not at a table or in a classroom, I much prefer side-by-side learning.
Hands on in the Garden!
Yes, I helped write the curriculum, and yes, there were lessons to be taught, but my favorite part was always jumping in the garden with the youth to see their many expressions & personal breakthroughs! I truly feel (I can help) anyone become a believer of the land, and themselves! Gardens' provide a healing environment & a place to discover self. I can honestly say I witnessed it happen with every person (including myself) in the photos at some point throughout the season. Judging from the expressions in these photos, they must have been taken towards the end of the program! Usually at the beginning of a program you would not find a youth smiling while holding a pitchfork! Clearly I have brainwashed them all :)
They wouldn't agree, but you have to have table work.
Cooking!
At the end of every 12 week program we would do our best to plan a feast with the youth. The ceremony was very important to all of us. The prepping and the cooking was of course so much fun for all of us, but the most meaningful part for me was the actually sitting down together to eat. For many youth this wasn't a regular part of their home life.
Give a youth a camera and guess what you end up with?
One of our youth, before he became a Garden Lead with SYGW!
International District Housing Alliance Youth WILD Program, Summer 2007
Garden Mentoring:
This was one of the first days in the garden. Leading up to this , there were multiple meetings pertaining to what would go into their first ever garden, where things should be planted, and who was going to be responsible for watering.
T.T. Minor Elementary, 2004-2006
Fun with Science - Magnifying Glasses & Minerals:
This was an incredibly exciting day for me. Normally I always assisted during the kids math and reading periods, but due to a glitch in my schedule I was able to help out in science class! You think her smile is bright? You should have seen mine! Kids & minerals & magnifying glasses & science journals = a very happy Katie. Have I meantioned that I think science rocks :)
Math & Cubes:
This day will go down as one of my favorites with the kiddo's. They were working on math manipulatives using interlocking cubes, and were to create their own dream neighborhood. Let me just tell you, just about everyone's had either an ice cream shop or a candy store, but they also learned some math that day!
ABA Therapy, 2004-2005
I worked with this wonderful little high functioning autistic kiddo 3-4 days a week doing therapy by means of controlled charting. He loved Veggie Tales, adventures at the park, and was known to outsmart me from time to time when being tested.
Sogang Language Program Summer Camp, Kimcheon South Korea, 2003

