Ysanne is our guest blogger this week
After managing to successfully escape writing a
blog, I now find myself trying to fit into just one blog post everything I have
learnt and experienced this week. I have spent the past week with Sarah (and an
afternoon with Gemma) undertaking a work experience placement in which I
visited primary schools, a local high school and Sapphire Company.
Although I didn’t expect to enjoy the primary
school sessions, the experience opened my eyes to just how necessary this first
stage of education is for development. My first session within a primary school
included me assisting a dance class for Year 4 pupils. The children very much
enjoyed the time to release their energy and express themselves in a different
and fun way. Despite there being challenges within this session, two boys who I
were told usually misbehaved were rewarded with ‘chance cards’ at the end of
the class. It was not only pleasant to see the boys rewarded for their hard
work and behaviour but it allowed me to clarify why I thought the arts were so
important within education. For those with low confidence or those who
struggled with academic work, the arts are a chance for them to excel in
another area. Academic rigour, though important, can limit a child reaching
their full potential if too much emphasis is placed on it and the arts, sports
and other important skills are consequently abandoned. The two boys in the
class were pushed within the session to reach their potential and they were
rewarded, giving them a confidence boost and showing just how important the
arts are in education.
After this session, I travelled to Sapphire
Company where I assisted groups to devise the final scenes in their Christmas
play ‘Hansel and Gretel’. I was very much entertained by the humour, enthusiasm
and talent within the room and cannot wait to see you perform the final piece
in December!
Tuesday brought a new challenge in that we were
working with Year 10 pupils from a local high school, none of whom were
particularly enthused by the idea of spending two whole days participating in a
drama workshop when the other stresses of school were calling. The workshop was
focused on their transition in to Year 11 and building necessary life skills,
again showing the impact that the arts can have on development within
education. I’d never really considered the skills that Yew Tree’s games helped
you to develop and this workshop really made me understand how it allows for
spontaneity, creativity, concentration, listening and many more. Never have I
seen a group of people enjoy a game of Mafia so much! Sarah was able to build a
relationship with the children that allowed them to be honest and evaluate
their own strengths and weaknesses, allowing for them to consider which
direction was necessary for them to be a successful GCSE student. An example of
a skill worked upon within the workshop is resilience as, despite several
failed attempts, they were able to complete a full round of ‘Tick-tock’, also
showing a development in concentration. By Thursday, I had learnt skills in
terms of assisting a drama workshop but also life skills and metaphors that I
believe will have a huge positive impact.
Surprisingly, I had never met Gemma but I must
say she’s a star! The other teachers within the primary school commented on how
good she was the children and I was enthralled as she performed a poem for the
Year Ones about teachers. She also did one-to-one sessions with several boys
who had struggled with their behaviour during the year and used a metaphor of
butterfly wings to allow them to think about how they had improved during Year
Five and what they must work on during Year Six. Although it was great to see
those pupils who had developed so much with the help of Gemma and Sarah, it
also made me to think about how lucky I was to have lived such a privileged
life. Some of the children we had worked with throughout the week had faced
challenges in their short lives that I have been lucky to avoid. Not only did
this make me grateful for every opportunity I have had but it really emphasised
just how necessary it is to fuel children’s creative outlets, be it through the
arts, science or sport. We are all aware of the current political and economic
cuts that are made within education and it is sad to think that these could
prevent children in need from being able to learn from experiences such as
drama workshops lessons that may spark an idea, allowing them to escape their
cycle. I have been lucky enough to experience in these and I think it is
important for future generations to be able to access groups such as Yew Tree
Youth Theatre to learn skills that can perhaps make a huge difference.
Wednesday afternoon saw me returning to the
first primary school I worked in and creating freeze-frames of the Year Three’s
favourite memories of their academic year and what they were most looking
forward to as they entered Year Four. It was lovely to see the children
recreate what they had enjoyed so much and share their excitement as they enter
new challenges and successes.
Friday morning was spent cleaning of the costume
department over at Yew Tree Youth Theatre and I must say there are some very
interesting items within wardrobe.
From Tudor costumes to a full Stagecoach bus company uniform, there was everything!
The most important skill I believe I developed
this week would have to be the art of reflection. In true Yew Tree style I will
now list my five favourite things of the week to conclude my first ever blog
post:
1)
To see the positive impact that
the arts have on education and personal development by allowing children to
express themselves through drama
2)
Being in the mafia for my first
ever time (although I was caught out quite fast)
3)
Seeing just how much work and
effort goes in to Yew Tree as an organisation and to know that I am in the
hands of a hardworking, successful organisation
4)
The free food from one of the
schools was definitely a highlight
5)
Finally, learning new skills to
allow me to develop as a performer, a leader and generally a person
A massive thank you to every pupil who has
helped me learn something new, everyone involved with Yew Tree and most
importantly to Sarah and Oz for sorting out my placement. I would highly
recommend Yew Tree to anyone looking for a work experience placement as you
learn so much in a warm and friendly environment.
Thanks team!
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