monique polak

Monique Polak's Books

4 minutes reading time (757 words)

In Which I Meet Clever Kids -- and a Senator

I do get to meet a lot of clever kids when I do school visits. But it isn't every day I get to meet a REAL LIVE SENATOR. I was at St. Thomas High School today for my second in a series of four days of writing workshops. Usually, I do my workshops in the library. Except today I got bumped by a senator. That's me in today's pic with Senator André Pratt, who was, for many years, the editor in chief of La Presse here in Montreal.

Senator Pratt was at the school to talk to about how the Canadian government works. I had a break during one of his sessions, so I stayed to hear him. But my favourite part of meeting him was when I asked him a question that I was wondering about during his talk: what kind of teenager did André Pratt used to be?

Well, you're gonna love his answer. (I wrote it down for you.) "I was not a good student. I was busy doing other things, such as reading a lot. In class, I asked many many questions. I still do that. That's why I became a journalist. Also, I used to be very funny."

Senator Pratt's answer should give hope to all the students out there who are not at the top of their class. Who knows? You could end up being a senator one day too! Also, did you notice that Senator Pratt said he READ A LOT. HINT! HINT! YOU SHOULD TRY READING A LOT TOO.

I worked with four classes again today. I started with Ms. Yates's Grade 8's. There were some interesting CHARACTERS in that room! (We authors LOVE interesting characters. Where do you think I get my inspiration?) A student named Matthieu was the class "commentator." When I remarked that a student named Jack is a good nodder, Matthieu said, "Our history teacher says Jack nods even when he doesn't get it!" And when I observed that a student named Angela seemed to be in a great mood, Matthieu said, "I've never seen her not happy." And it turns out, Matthieu has a story of his own. He's been suspended for skipping detentions. As Matthieu explained to me, "I don't go to detentions. It's against my religion." DON'T YOU THINK MATTHIEU DESERVES TO BE IN A BOOK?! (I do.)

Next up was Mr. Dagenais's Grade 8 group. These students were a little quiet at first, but then they livened up. I noticed that a student named Jason's right elbow was red, and that a student named Amy had a cough. I made these observations to show the class that writers need to observe stuff. (Especially writers like me, who have asthma since we're afraid to catch colds!). I wanted to learn more about what Jason did to his right elbow to make it red, but there wasn't time. There could be a story there! A student named Nathan stayed after class to ask me what my favourite book is -- why Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, of course!

Mr. Cloney's Grade 9's were zippy and had lots to say. When I asked the class whether they hate their first drafts (if you know me, you'll know that I'm all about despising the first draft... the work is in the REWRITE!!), a student named Kristin answered, "Not always." Then she added something that I thought was brilliant. She said, "Sometimes I have really good ideas and I like to stick to them." YES YES AND DID I ALREADY SAY YES?!!! That's it, exactly, Kristin! We start with an idea, hopefully a super good one, and we stick with it through the rewriting, refining process.

Now, what can I tell you about the last group of the day -- Ms. Yates's Grade 9's? Well, let's say they were what could be called A HANDFUL. I had to read them the riot act several times, and I had to separate two boys because they were paying more attention to each other than to MOI! But ... well... I still kind of liked them. I'll work with them again tomorrow morning. Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog entry to find out how that goes!! Oh, a lovely student named Costa stayed to chat and had this to say: "Some people need to beat their kids in this class." Ms. Yates overheard Costa's comment and you know what she said to me? "Write that down and use it in your blog!" CAN YOU TELL I HAD A FUN DAY?

 

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In Which I Invent a New Writing Exercise -- that W...
Busy (and Fun) Day at St. Thomas High School
 

Comments

Guest - sofia on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:48

Thanks You For Coming!

Thanks You For Coming!
Guest - sofia on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:48

Thank You for coming!!

Thank You for coming!!
Guest - Hana Badawi on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:48

Thanks so much for coming to our class! I thought it was really enjoyable and I loved meeting you!

Thanks so much for coming to our class! I thought it was really enjoyable and I loved meeting you!
Guest - Angela Borsellino on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:49

Thank You so much for coming!! I had a great time with lots of laughs. You're incredibly talented and an amazing person, keep writting! -Angela

Thank You so much for coming!! I had a great time with lots of laughs. You're incredibly talented and an amazing person, keep writting! -Angela
Guest - Ege on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:51

Thank you for visiting our school and giving us great writing tips

Thank you for visiting our school and giving us great writing tips :)
Guest - Guess Who on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:53

Hahaha to be honest I feel uncomfortable talking to someone without nodding because or else we would be staring at each other for too long as if we were looking straight through each other!

Hahaha to be honest I feel uncomfortable talking to someone without nodding because or else we would be staring at each other for too long as if we were looking straight through each other!
Guest - Kurt on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:53

Very committed and determined. She is very observant.

Very committed and determined. She is very observant.
Guest - Anonymous on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:54

Very interesting blog and thanks so much for coming to our class and giving us some great tips on writing.




Very interesting blog and thanks so much for coming to our class and giving us some great tips on writing.
Guest - anonymous on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:54

Thank you for coming to our school. Interesting blog. Your tips were very informative.

Thank you for coming to our school. Interesting blog. Your tips were very informative.
Guest - E.G on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:56

Thank you so much for visiting our sec 2 english class ! Loved your presentation.

Thank you so much for visiting our sec 2 english class ! Loved your presentation.
Guest - Brianna on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:56

Your visit was very informative. Thank you for coming!

Your visit was very informative. Thank you for coming! :)
Guest - Matthieu Davies on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:58

This blog is about me!!! YAY!!!

This blog is about me!!! YAY!!!
Guest - Colin on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:58

I was really enthusiastic after the visit. When I went home I decided to write a paper about something. I really didn't like what I wrote and tried to make another copy, but it was worse then the first one. That speech really inspired me to write a lot more. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up but I am kind of leaning towards being an author.

I was really enthusiastic after the visit. When I went home I decided to write a paper about something. I really didn't like what I wrote and tried to make another copy, but it was worse then the first one. That speech really inspired me to write a lot more. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up but I am kind of leaning towards being an author.
Guest - Stoner_Face11 on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 18:59

Thanks for coming to my grade 8 class! I learnt a lot about what it takes to be a writer. Hopefully your 6 new books will be Best Sellers!.

Thanks for coming to my grade 8 class! I learnt a lot about what it takes to be a writer. Hopefully your 6 new books will be [i]Best Sellers![/i].
Guest - Guest on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 19:00

Thank you for coming we learnt a lot!

Thank you for coming we learnt a lot!
Guest - Panagis Vitoratos on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 19:00

Very nice, gave us nice tips about writing.
Assumed I was Greek because I said the word acropolis.

Very nice, gave us nice tips about writing. Assumed I was Greek because I said the word acropolis.
Guest - Julianne Principe on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 19:01

Because you came to visit my great eight class, I am considering becoming a writer too. I love your blog and I find what you said about my class very funny!

P.S I loved your book "Straight Punch"

Because you came to visit my great eight class, I am considering becoming a writer too. I love your blog and I find what you said about my class very funny! P.S I loved your book "Straight Punch"
Guest - Sophia on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 19:01

Thank you so much for coming to see our class! Last year, I read "Learning the Ropes" for Battle of the Books and I really enjoyed it. Your presentation was fantastic and it was great to get writing tips from an actual author. I am now considering to be an author myself and your story was very inspirational. Thank you again!

Thank you so much for coming to see our class! Last year, I read "Learning the Ropes" for Battle of the Books and I really enjoyed it. Your presentation was fantastic and it was great to get writing tips from an actual author. I am now considering to be an author myself and your story was very inspirational. Thank you again!
Guest - Le Yan Zoccali on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 19:02

I really enjoyed your visit to St-Thomas. You were bright, lively, funny and enthusiastic. You really know how to get the attention of a class! You were a great person to meet and I thank you for the wonderful writing advice.

I really enjoyed your visit to St-Thomas. You were bright, lively, funny and enthusiastic. You really know how to get the attention of a class! You were a great person to meet and I thank you for the wonderful writing advice.
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