Mike Ulmer, author, storyteller, writing coach: 2013

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

M is for My Canada at D.A. Morrison

The luckiest guy I know with some of the amazing students at D. A. Morrison school.

Wow.
I visited D.A. Morrison Middle School in Toronto to meet the senior kids. I was amazed at their version of M is for Maple. It is called M is for My Canada and it is marvelous.

M is for multiculturalism
It's interesting and nice
Noodles, biryani, hotdogs and spice
Lots of different languages and cultures I see
Everyone is living cooperatively.
-Ammara.

T is for Toronto, it's a beautiful city
Traffic is good and the people are pretty
People in Toronto are really nice
In the winter, Lake Ontario has ice
-Dabin

P is for Poutine, so tasty and sweet
I eat it slowly, what a delightful treat
It is as messy as my younger brother
Pizza may be great but poutine is so much better.

-Russel

We talked about how older siblings are no more part of our family than we are and how that applies to Canada. We talked about Terry Fox and Maurice Richard.

Thanks again, D.A. Morrison and in particular Mr. Barbeau, Ms. Nakamuira and Margaret Mulligan whose beautiful photos help make the book so wonderful.

One last note. My employer, MLSE, places great value on making a difference in our community. Every employee is given three paid days to work for the benefit of others. MLSE employees have been involved in countless arena and facility builds both here and in the Third World and have an extensive relationship with Habitat for Humanity.
If you think a teacher or principal you know would appreciate a visit from me, please forward this blog. There is no charge.
Let's Go Canada.

Mike

A great time at Oakridge junior public school

Is there someone here who is too big for school?

With the help of a six-foot-six bear, I met nearly 200 students at Oakridge, a junior public school in Scarborough.
We had a great time at the invitation of Ms. Papanastasiou who is doing her best to help students continue their reading despite the temporary loss of the school's library due to flooding.
My friend Carlton agrees: we have never seen more enthuastic, engaged students than the Oakridge bunch. We had two sessions in the gymnasium and Carlton was overrun by new friends.

Amidst all the excitement, two thumbs up from the bear.

We talked about integrity, doing a job well and how good writing requires a strong desire to make a good impression. I also showed the kids the storyboard we used for my book M is For Maple to illustrate the need to plan.

I have the greatest job in the world because I get to meet fantastic and eager learners such as the Grade 4s and 5s at Oakridge.

THE RED CIRCLE OF DOOM AT CHARLOTTETOWN SCHOOL

Had a riot with 150 great kids at Charlottetown Junior Public school on Thursday.
We hit on the idea of a Red Circle of Doom where the kids couldn't sit, the better for me to roam around and tell stories about Canada.
I visited at the invitation of librarian Michelle Colaco who was interested in sharing advice about writing with the Grade 4, 5 and 6 students.
We talked about the need to re-write and plan. The kids liked seeing sketches Mel, the illustrator for M is for Maple, used to arrive at a finished painting..
Our takeaways were about integrity, the writing process and what it means to be in the Canadian family. It seems to me that Charlottetown has got it going. What an awesome bunch of learners.

Awesome questions at Kew Beach

What a great morning at Kew Beach school in Toronto.
Librarian Stephanie Dawson opened up her facility for the morning. Students from Mr. MacLean-Taylor, Mr. White and Ms.Nagel's classes came together for stories, questions and fun.

The kids were wonderful, attentive and curious. We talked about the writing process and the importance of having an editor who can improve your work. Eighty new friends. Kew Beach rocks!

WHAT A WELCOME AT TECUMSEH IN BURLINGTON

I visited Tecumseh Public School, December 11 and the above sign was just the beginning of a great welcome.
I was met by my buddy Mark Goulet who is a teacher/librarian at Tecumseh. He is also a very good hockey player. I know this because Mark routinely blows by me in our Sunday night hockey games.
Three students in particular stick out for me.
First, there was my buddy Mohammad. When you're with Mohammad every moment is a joy. Just a lovely young man.
Awesome Shyanne reminded me how awesome she is, which by the way is pretty awesome. Last but not least, the wonderful Shamonique who had a question for every occasion.
I was able to spend a few moments with the senior kids and we talked about critical reading and writing.
Being able to visit a great school such as Tecumseh is the best part of my job as MLSE senior writer.
It all reminds me of a poem.

I went to Tecumseh, so I could see Tiger Pride in Action
I learned right away the Tecumseh way is to give a good reaction
I met Mohammad, Shyanne and Shamonique
They were great, they were smart, they were kind
I'd return in a moment to Tecumseh School
And those brilliant, curious minds.

Getting the business from students at Perth Avenue Public

I thought I knew a lot about the book business. Then I met the kids at Perth Avenue School on December 13.
Where do I start? There was Ana who asked what I liked most about Canada (and got a five minute answer), Isis who told me about PEI, Nolan told me about his love of forests and Josh talked about his love of parks. Amir asked me about my cancer and Michelle asked why I decided to be an author. But it took Ziad to calculate how much I made from M is for Maple.
I hope to return to Perth Avenue for a book fair. I had a great, great morning.
It reminds me of a poem.

I went to see the children of Perth
To spread some cheer and spread some mirth
Instead I heard from this brilliant bunch
That M is for Maple didn't make me much.

Teachers and librarians: how about a free school visit?

Since it was published in 2000 my book, M is for Maple, has been bought by more than 100,000 people for use in schools, libraries and homes in Canada and around the world.
Its success has allowed me to visit dozens of schools all over Southern Ontario to talk about the inclusive spirit of our country.
Thanks to my employer, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, I am accepting invitations for free one-hour sessions in Ontario schools.
My presentation is geared to pupils from Grade 4 to Grade 8.
I speak to the elements of citizenship: integrity, passion and kindness.
I use original M is for Maple storyboards and illustrations to demonstrate how students can make the writing and editing process work for them.
This fall and winter I have presented at Tecumseh Elementary School in Burlington and Perth Avenue, Kew Beach, Charlottetown, Oakridge, D.A. Morrison and George Webster in Toronto. See below.
I would be thrilled to present to your school.
To set up a visit, E-mail me at Mike.Ulmer@MLSE.com or call me at 416-523-0860.

Great time at John Polanyi

Thanks to librarian Mary Pace and teacher Polina Kukar for inviting me to John Polanyi Collegiate in Toronto.
I had a dozen enthusiastic learners to work with including the great Amir and Wei-Wei.
We talked about the best way to write blogs. We agreed on a host of tips.
1. Write from your heart.
2. Be a good listener.
3. Revise and improve your work.
I talked about a recent blog and the pleasure of writing something that connects with the reader.
I had a great time. I hope the kids did too.

Great Time at Parkdale School

I learned a lot of things from my visit to Parkdale School in Hamilton
I learned that some children right great poems about their moms.
I learned that Parkdale students are attentive and polite.
And I learned there were a lot of little girls named Abigail.
The great students at Parkdale were a pleasure to visit.
Parkdale Rocks.

Learned a lot at Sir Ernest MacMillan school.

Learned a lot today at Sir Ernest MacMillan School in North Toronto.
For one thing, I learned I could talk for 90-minutes straight which must have been very taxing for the students.
Our session dealt with writing: how to plan, how to add detail and how to edit.
We also talked about interviewing and that's where I learned the most.
In a conversation with teacher Ann Truong I learned that she met her husband at an automobile mechanics course. I learned the root of her determination to be self-sufficient spanned a generation and was rooted in the hardship her parents encountered and overcame.
The students, of course, did not know Ms. Truong's story. I was grateful for her wonderful honesty.
Everyone has a story. The secret to having that person share their story is to be a good listener and be genuinely interested in what the person has to say.
Listen right down to your bones, ask the questions you are afraid to ask and the results will be incredible.

Fantastic sessions at Beaumonde and Valleyfield Junior School.

Today I made two school visits to schools on Toronto's West end.
First, I visited beautiful Beaumonde Heights.
We spoke a lot about the interviewing process. As I mentioned to the students it's great to get material online but sometimes the best way to get information is face-to-face.
The ability to interview is a great skill because if you are attentive to the person you are speaking with and if you ask questions based on the answers you are given you can learn an enormous amount.
For example: the librarian at Beaumonde Heights is Rosella Doto. I interviewed her for the students and we learned her amazing family story: how her father who grew up in Italy did not have shoes until he was 15 because he was so poor. Rosella's parents came to Canada with $15 and built a life here.
Her honesty and her great story made for a memorable morning.
In the afternoon it was time to go to Valleyfield where I met the librarian, Sonia Henri and about 70 students. I used an overhead unit to demonstrate writing and illustrating. We talked about having a plan and a starting point and used some sketches to demonstrate how to start with a rough idea and then add detail and shape to the picture until it is complete.
I learned from librarian Sonia Henri that in her hometown near Thedford Mines, Quebec, they had only one light. The great Wonuola operated the overhead machine for me. She and Jaden, another great kid, are in Mr. Graydon's class.
There is a lot of French spoken at Valleyfield and since I went to a French school from Kindergarten to Grade 8 I felt very comfortable. I had a wonderful time.

O Canada at Church Street School

Efe and Grecia, two great assistants

In all the school visits I have conducted, never once have I been interrupted for O Canada.
It happened at Church Street School, just as I was talking about The Great Canadian Trick Question.
No student has ever gotten the question right the first time and, while they were attentive and super bright, the kids at Church Street did not break the streak.
I had a wonderful visit at the invitation of teacher/librarian Nancy Woodruff and teacher Liem Bui.
I met the students in Grade 4, 5 and 6 and we talked a lot about how to be a good writer. I explained why I chose certain letters for M is for Maple and why my wife is still mad at me over not choosing Emily Carr for the letter C.
To demonstrate how to be a good listener I interviewed Mr. Bui who told me how his love of the Raptors began when his parents took him to the YMCA.
I loved Church Street School. For one thing, I got the chance to poke around Maple Leaf Gardens where I worked for many years. Second, how many authors get to stand and sing O Canada with so many bright, beautiful children.

THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2013

Lots of questions at North Prepatory

It's amazing how certain students will be fascinated with a story.
The students at North Prepatory School on Spadina had loads of questions about the Dionne Quints.
One of my favourites was which quint was the oldest.
Oriana knew that no one person was more Canadian than another. She was the second person I asked. I have never had anyone answer the Great Canadian Trick Question on the first try.
I interviewed Mr. Mendoza who had a great story about teaching Grade 1 students. He also talked about his relationship with his Dad and how, in his home, food smoothed over any conflict.
I had a great time and even got a freezee for the road. Can't beat that.

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Talking Masai at West Humber

The Raptors new general manager is Masai Ujiri, a native of Nigeria.
At West Humber Collegiate, we talked about Masai's amazing 10-year-journey from European pro basketball
players to the Raptors' GM.
Masai is an example of where passion for what you do can take you. His first job involved working free of charge, scouring the globe for basketball players.
One of the great elements of the presentation is the Interview the Teacher segment. Invariably, I find the teachers have extraordinary stories of their own.
That was again the case at West Humber where Ms. Singh told me how she used to arrange her dolls and Barbies in a row so she could play teacher. Ms. Rahman told me the fascinating story of her family's struggle in Southeast Asia and how those struggles eventually ensured she would be born here in Canada.
Everyone has a story. The important thing is to listen with your whole body and ask questions based on the answers you receive.

The motto at West Humber is Build Character, Build Success. So true. Thanks to Ms. Rahman's gift, I will remember West Humber whenever I go for a cup of coffee.

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Questions on the writing process at Rockford

The students at Rockford School have writing on their mind.
I met 60 students who peppered me with questions about writing books.
We talked a great deal about the process of writing: how long it takes, how to build characters, how to map out a story.
What a dynamite group. Diego and D'Andre had great questions. I met Phoebe, a budding author who has been reading and writing since she was three years old. Dana asked me about Banting and Best and the discovery of insulin
Mrs Seigel and I demonstrated how to interview and I learned all about her wonderful Dad and the new baby her sister gave birth to just yesterday.
I'd go back to Rockford anytime.

Thorncliffe Park: The World's Biggest School

Ok, the biggest elementary school in North America.
Thorncliffe Park has more than 2000 students. I met more than 200 of them.
We had three sessions and talked about a variety of subjects including the great kindness showed by Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri.
I came at the request of Miss Williams who was so kind she even arranged lunch with an outdoor view.
I interviewed Jeff Brown about his teaching experiences in Asia, Miss Bordornaro about the many jobs she has held and Miss Bates about her amazing experiences in South Africa.
We talked about how to write stories, how to listen with your whole body and how to grab a reader's attention.
I answered great questions from Asim, Fardin, Sara and Maryam.
I'm coming back next year to Thorncliffe Park.

Great time at Kennedy School

Some of my new buddies at Kennedy

I made the drove to Markham today to meet with about 120 new friends at Kennedy School. The invitation came from librarian Khadijah Saleh who is in her second year at Kennedy.

We had two sessions, a mixed Grade 4 and 5 class and another group of Grade 5 and 6 students.

What a morning. We talked about one-room schoolhouses and summer camps, people who inspire us and how much fun it is to write compositions that make people laugh.

We learned how to find an idea, construct a plan and add detail to our idea.

"It has become a steady point of focus for me in my endeavours that the colour, usually known rouge, elicites nary a positive feeling. In fact, were I to be blunt, I find it offputting and unpleasant."

That means "I hate red."

Rachel So is the new record holder for fewest times it took to answer the world's hardest question. She got it two. Bright girl.

Teacher Jeff Hui told us a wonderful story about how he learned he wanted to be a teacher. Ms. Csombok told us about her early inflences: the one-room school in which her mother taught and how her dad would give her botany lessons in the garden.

The students at Kennnedy were great although the first group seemed to have a lot of trouble counting to three. I hope to return next year.

Repeat customers at Rockford School

It seems to me that I can't visit Rockford School often enough.
Today's trip was a return engagement and Ms. Seigel had another group of eager Grade 5 and 6 students including my friend Bluma, who is shown above.
Bluma is a born storyteller. She had me on the edge of my seat as she told me about her father's adventures. I also met Leo, who I called Liam and who I understand worked security detail for a recent book fair.
I met Rhusudan who is the most wonderful, chatty, spectacular girl.
Evra Trought-Pitters was my guest interview and she told an amazing story about her parents choosing her profession for her.
We had about 75 students in the library and we talked about the IPE or I write Perfect English formula.
IPE stands for Idea, Plan and Edit.
There were several young writers at Rockford and they had terrific questions. One student asked what to do when encountering writer's block.
My advice was to set the project aside. The mind is amazing: it will solve problems for you while you think of something else. Mark Twain, a very famous writer, said every book he wrote aged a little in his dresser drawer.
I hope to return to Rockford next year.