Today I’m reporting in from the Magdalen Islands! I spent a wonderful, perfect day at Grosse-Ile School. It’s a small English school that goes from pre-school to high school. And though I didn’t work with the pre-schoolers, I was able to give writing workshops to pretty much all the other kids! I don’t think I’ve ever had a day pass so quickly in all my life!

Ms. Dorothy teaches English Language Arts, so I spent most of the day with her and her students. I started my day with the Grade 9’s. Though some claimed to be just waking up, they were bright, attentive and full of energy.

In our hour together, we rolled through writing tips, and did two writing exercises. When we discussed identity, a student named Connor told me, “We’re Grosse-Ilers.” Then he explained hos the Magdalen Islands, les Iles-de-la-Madeleine in French, were named after Jacques Cartier’s wife Madeleine. How romantic is that?

When I talked about the need to practise writing as much as possible, Lucas drew a comparison to soccer, which is a big part of his life. During winter, Lucas practises indoors once a week indoors – and in summer, he practises a lot more than that. Aren’t I lucky that as a writer I can practise all year long? ;)

When we talked about the absolute necessity of REWRITING, Connor said something amazing: “You know what would make a book? Seeing all the rewrites.” Only a writer, Connor, could have that thought! So you must BE ONE!

And when we played my come-up-with-a-word game (in this case we looked for words that started with the letter D), the students came up with some words that made me happy. Isn’t it great that words can make us happy?! (It’s another sign of being a writer, I suspect.) Tommy came up with daggers; Lucas with deception; and Landon with delusional. Which makes me wonder – do those words make you happy too? Or is it just me, breathing in the air on the Gulf of the St. Lawrence River?!

Next up were Ms. Dorothy’s Grades 6’s, 7’s and 8’s. I know from 35 years of teaching that every class is different! These students wanted to TELL ME STORIES. A lot of their stories had to do with a cocoa powder explosion! After a few minutes in my company, a student named Katelyn observed, “You remind me of a coffee!” (I’m not sure it was a compliment, but I think it might have been!!) And a student named Jax (more on Jax later) demonstrated his sense of humour when I asked the students to come up with a blurb for the book they’d most like to read. Here’s what Jax wrote: “How to get rid of books! Every way to get rid of a book! Burn it, shred it, sell it, throw it and more.” But hey, don’t go getting the wrong impression of Jax – he was joking – and if you keep reading, you’ll see that he redeemed himself with me later in the day.  

I had lunch in the staff room, where the other teachers treated me like one of their own. Let’s just say that doesn’t happen in all staff rooms! Thanks, gang, if you are reading this.

Then it was back to work with Ms. Dorothy’s Grades 3’s and 4’s – and one Grade 6 student. Can you guess his name? JAX!

Of the seven students in this group, FOUR want to write and publish their own books. WAY TO GO! During a writing exercise, a student named Judith piqued my interest with the very first three words of her story: “One sad day….” Doesn’t that make you want to keep reading?

When I told the story of the monkey man charm I wear around my neck (it was a gift my mum received from a stranger when they were imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II), Jax was inspired to show me the necklace he wears every day. “It was my cousin Joshua’s,” Jax explained. “He died in 2007 when he was 16.” Jax’s story broke my heart, but it also shows that people live in on our memories and our stories. And then Ms. Dorothy added a story of her own – she told us that all the teachers loved Joshua because he possessed a special charm.

I ended my day with Miss Laura’s Grades 1 and 2 students. You’d think I’d be tired by the time I got to that group, but they ENERGIZED me with their openness and creativity. When I told the class I write three pages EVERY SINGLE DAY, a student named Kimberly called out, “That is impressing!” And when I told them I was 65 years old, Casey remarked: “That’s not too old.” (Thanks, Casey!) And Eliot happened to observe out loud, “I wish I could make a book!” You can, Eliot! Start by writing regularly and reading a lot too. And keep an ideas notebook while you’re at it!

There was time for these kids to start stories of their own. Oliver wrote about a frightening memory: “My dad’s boat got stuck on the shore near Brian Island. I felt scared. My dad had to call his friend.” There’s a lot going on in those three sentences, isn’t there?

And Tessa wrote about a birthday party gone wrong: “My friends smashed my birthday cake on my face.” Not very nice of those friends! But you know what? Tessa totally made my day when on her way out of class, she told me, “I’m going to finish my story in daycare!” YAY YAY YAY for TESSA!

I have loads of people to thank for my visit today at Grosse-Ile School. First my friend Kim Clark, whom I met on my last visit to the school and who helped me get me back on the Maggies this year; principal Donna Anderson for the invitation; secretary Heather for her help; Ms. Dorothy and Ms. Laura for sharing their students with me; Ms. Molly for the offer of a lift “home”; Ms. Nancy for in the end being the one to give me the lift! I met a few more people – all kind and fun – but I didn’t get all their names. Thanks to all of you, and thanks especially to the KIDS. You made my heart grow a little bigger today!