Literacy Matters

The fantastic literacy professionals of the MRA.

Literacy matters. 

No one would deny that. 

Without good reading skills, school becomes an increasingly challenging place for students. This weekend I had the great privilege to present to a group of dedicated teachers and librarians from across Manitoba at the Manitoba Reading Association's General Board Meeting.

Their work focuses on classroom strategies, growing libraries and resources in remote northern communities, supporting international literacy crises and new initiatives like bringing NERD camp to Manitoba and so much, much more.

I take the most interesting photos...

Do these volunteers work hard? Indeed. Do they love their work? Definitely. If you are a teacher, should you get involved with the MRA? Without a doubt. 

My thanks to Susan Hayward who invited me to discuss my school presentations and thanks to the group for asking great questions and making me feel so welcome.

Looking to get involved with The Manitoba Reading Association?

You can find them on twitter or visit their website.

Authors, you can contact them to join their growing list of recommended school presenters. Click here to find out more.

I Love to Read (and write) - General Byng School!

A little something for the classrooms.

How to Become a Writer
(In 12 to 14 easy steps...)

I am supremely excited to be presenting to two groups of students at General Byng School here in Winnipeg.

Every year, I visit loads of schools and enjoy meeting students and teachers in each and every classroom, but tomorrow I am at my youngest daughter's school. She will act as my "Ambassador" and ferry me through the school.

She is handling it all very well. 

She has yet to die from extreme parent embarrassment and as long as we don't bump into any of her friends, she will survive the day. 

School Visits

As the kids return to school so do I! 

Both to my awesome job at Linden Meadows School and to schools around Manitoba to read from my chapter book, Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons and to discuss the writing process.

I am currently booking into the fall and if you'd like to contact me about visiting your school, please email me at jodi@thecarmichaels.ca.

Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons, is a humorous chapter book about an eight-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. Connor struggles to make his way through a typical school day and in his attempt to be as cool as everyone else, he leaves a hilarious trail of destruction. But, by the end of the day, and despite many miscommunications and misunderstandings, Connor realizes that he is exactly as cool as he is supposed to be.

My presentations are varied and completely flexible. You can learn more about what I offer by clicking on the School Visits Tab of my webpage or simply click HERE.

Made McNally's Bestsellers List for 9 Weeks!

"I Love to Read" with Oakenwald Students!

Thank you Mr. Reimer's Grade 3/4 class!

Every time I do a school visit, I think, "Oh my gosh, it's even better than the last one!"

There is a definite pattern developing, and I love it.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Reimer's grade 3/4 class at Oakenwald School. They knew I was coming and had questions aplenty. This time, I was uber prepared. I even studied and knew that my book has 14 chapters, not 13 as I had previously believed.

Yup, that's the way I roll!

We delved into what inspiration means and where great writing ideas come from. We discussed the writing process and I showed them my current work in progress - all 32 chapters! (I told you I was better prepared!)

Just one or 652 edits to go!

Then we talked about how long it takes to get a book published and the importance of never giving up. It's just like learning to play the recorder - all wrong notes and squeaks at first, but with practice and determination, it turns into beautiful music. The same kind of effort is needed to make your written words leap off the page.

I was floored by the extent of knowledge those eight and nine year-old children already have. Kudos kids. Kudos teachers. Kudos parents.

And the absolute, positively best part? 
Mr. Reimer asked me to return to hold a writing workshop. 

Fueled by the student's enthusiasm and excitement, I nearly skipped out of his classroom at the end of the morning.

Can life truly get any better than this?

"I Love to Read" at École Crane

It all came full circle yesterday. I'm referring to my book reading at École Crane, not the fact that I began and ended the day with a bite (or six) of chocolate.

When I was a child, in the long ago days of yore, when there were no home computers and the world wide web would make one think of colossal spiders, I walked those halls myself. In the olden days though, it was simply Crane School, as French Immersion had yet to be invented.

I had the pleasure of being part of Crane's, "I Love to Read Month" and was asked to read from, Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food, to all the third graders. Seeing my Sarah's beaming face smiling at me the entire morning, was one of my most favourite Mother Moments to date.

My earliest body of work.

I began by sharing the books I made when I was a 5th grade student at Crane. We then watched the book trailer and I read Lesson 5 - Lunch Time Can Be Tricky (spaghetti should never be eaten with your hands.)

Super cool and amazing book trailer.

When they asked me to read the next chapter, my heart soared. How could I say no?

So on we read - Lesson 6 - A Library Voice is Even Quieter Than an Inside Voice (the newest best book in the universe should never be on the top shelf.)

The kids asked awesome questions and we discussed Connor's Asperger's Syndrome. One little girl shared that her uncle has Asperger's and told us her understanding of what that meant. She was bang on.

I was able to stay with Sarah's class for a while longer, reading the first few chapters of Spaghetti and fielding more brilliant questions. Did I mention these kids were smart?

We finished off reading the "about the author" page from my grade 5 masterpiece, Sparky the Elf. The kids found it hilarious that 10 year old me was "great at climbing trees and talking and eating food." I am not exaggerating. I had skills.

Although I have given up climbing anything higher than a step stool, I am quite fond of talking (no kidding!) and eating all sorts of food. (especially chocolate)

"Sparky the Elf" Written and Illustrated by J.C. Griffiths. I was very accomplished in 1979.

  

1st School Reading a Success!

Me reading about slurping spaghetti.

I did it.

My very first school reading of Spaghetti is NOT a Finger Food and Other Life Lessons.

And I didn't faint, stumble on the way to the podium, or forget how to read English. (Although my vision did blur a few times. I was nervous, after all.)

My inaugural school visit was extra special as it was at Linden Meadows; the school where I am lucky enough to work. 

The sweetest moment of speaking to the entire K-grade 8 school? When the kids spontaneously began clapping to the book trailer. I bopped along with them and that bouncing meatball, feeling like I was the queen of the school.  I felt a lot like Connor, in Spaghetti, when he becomes the King of Robert H. Crane School.

Coolest Friday, ever.