Joyce Grant's Blog, page 2

Want a free visit from me to your classroom?

I can apply to The Writers Union of Canada (TWUC) on your school’s behalf for funds to do a free author visit in your classroom. Hurry, because I only have until Feb. 17 to apply.

The visit would be between April 1 and August 31, 2025 and there’s nothing for you to do except contact me and I’ll put in an application. (TWUC asks for your contact info and a proposed date for the visit.)

I would prefer visits in the Hamilton/Burlington area so you don’t have to pay my travel fees (and so I don’t have to travel!). But if you’re in another Ontario city, I can do a remote visit.

To ask me to apply for a free author visit, Contact me here or DM me on Instagram @JGCanada. There is no guarantee we’ll get the money, btw. TWUC has a pool of money and it’s generally first-come, first-served. But we’ve got nothing to lose!

Visit my profile on TWUC, or here for more info about my presentations. Below is my presentation reel to show you the absolute JOY AND THRILL of having me in! (You be the judge, lol!)

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Best part of being an author! (A gratitude post)

I got a chance to speak to 100 grade 5 students at a school north of Toronto recently, and afterward they lined up for an autograph. Not only did it give me the boost I needed to get through this week’s -13C temperatures, but it was a chance to connect with each and every student.

While writing can be an all-too-solitary endeavour, these kinds of moments remind you that kids truly love books and writing. (I was presenting a writing workshop.)

Together, we looked at “plain-‘ol” sentences and, adverb by adjective, made them better–and stranger–and wackier. And then we looked at how a whole story could some out of some of those sentences. And new characters, as well.

Half-way through my talk, I asked them, “Who here has already pushed themselves creatively–more than they thought they could, because of what we’ve been discussing today?” Nearly every hand went enthusiastically up. Some waved, the student they were connected to bouncing in their seat to let me know.

Those are young people who are engaged, excited about writing and interested in looking at fun, new ways of approaching their writing. And I didn’t leave out the teachers. Because oh, I realized that I was whipping up their classes into a bit of a frenzy, which can be a bit of a handful for them. (If you know my presenting style, you’ll understand what I mean, here. We do tend to get a bit… loud.) At some point, I pointed out that the work we were doing in this presentation could be turned into a lesson plan. Teachers could, if they wished, get the students to “use” those new sentences to create short stories, plot outlines or create new characters. I hope they’ll get to use them that way, because I sure appreciated their involvement in the presentation and their help throughout, handing out supplies and helping me select students during the Q&A.

Oh, and the students taught me some things too. They taught me some slang–some of which my own son had to explain further to me. I promise not to use it, though! And we also shared a bonding moment over One Piece, an anime show I’ve been watching lately–and one most of them knew well.

Anyway, this is a gratitude post. I’m grateful to have an audience for the work I do and for my books. And I’m very grateful to be able to visit schools like the one I went to yesterday, with students, teachers and staff who care.

And I’m very grateful they want my autograph! LOL!

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Burst Your Bubble! “Five Stars, no notes” (Morten Rand-Hendricksen, tech educator and social media UNfluencer)

“In Burst Your Bubble, Joyce Grant gives the reader the tools to understand how online algorithms work as an invisible force influencing the way we understand and interact with the world, and provides practical steps each of us can take to break out of our information bubbles. Doing this at all is an achievement. Doing it in a children’s book that speaks to every generation is extraordinary. This is a book I wish to see on the shelves of every school library, in every home, and at every corporate headquarters. Breaking out of our information bubbles gives us a broader view of the world and our place in it. This is a capability we all deserve, and this book is a great place to start. Five stars. No notes. Don’t forget to like and subscribe.”
– Morten Rand-Hendriksen, technology educator and social media UNfluencer

Read the full revie w

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Talking about media literacy for young people

Thank you to everyone who attended the Star’s Media Literacy for Educators event November 29.

I was left with an overwhelming sense of hope about the future of young people and the internet, after a great day chatting with educators and parents. I spoke about how to help young people think more critically about what they see and read online. My TeachingKidsNews.com co-founder, Jon Tilly, gave a teacher’s perspective with a brilliant talk about strategies and best-practices. And I got to interview the Star’s new editor-in-chief, Nicole MacIntyre about what the future holds for journalism and the Star. We capped the day off with a tour of the Star’s newsroom by Star librarian Astrid Lange.

Thank you to everyone who organized this fantastic day at The Well in Toronto!

Here’s a link to the coverage of the event in the Star:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/misinformation-lives-where-young-people-live-heres-how-to-help-them-identify-it/article_3772a8ae-ae78-11ef-84a2-c3a6805b7e1c.html

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Interview with 99.3: Media literacy and fake news

Thank you to Lynn Pickering and 99.3 County FM for interviewing me about how to help young people spot misinformation! To listen, click below:

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Media Literacy for Educators event, Toronto Star

Join me on Friday, Nov. 29 for a media literacy event for educators. I’ll be talking about what I’ve learned from the past 8 years talking to young people about journalism and misinformation. My TeachingKidsNews.com co-founder, Jon Tilly, will provide a teacher’s perspective. And we will have an AMA with Toronto Star Editor-in-Chief, Nicole MacIntyre.

Click here to purchase your ticket and reserve your space at this unique event that will help you improve your media literacy teaching!

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Happy Media Literacy Week!

Media Literacy Week, presented by MediaSmarts, is the perfect time to reflect on how we’re navigating social media–and how our kids and students are as well. I wrote “Can You Believe It?” to help young people think more critically about what they see and read online every day.

It covers how “real” journalism works–and the importance of accuracy to professional journalists. The difference between satire, ads and news. And what “fake news” looks like, why people make it, and what to do when you spot it.

Let’s face it, kids are going to be online for information, education and entertainment. So let’s arm them with the tools they need to be able to think skeptically and critically about what they see there.

There is a curated list of media literacy games and resources on my kids’ news website, TeachingKidsNews.com. And, visit MediaSmarts.ca for awesome media lit resources as well.

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Sign up for “Writing Kidlit” today!

Want tips, advice and inside-industry information about kidlit? Sign up for my free newsletter, “Writing Kidlit.”

Sign up now and I’ll send you the July/August 2024 edition, chock full of inspiration and tips to help you on your journey to becoming a published children’s author. This edition covers the mysterious #mswl hashtag, the one thing the adults in your children’s book should absolutely not do, my number-one best piece of advice on taking your next step in kidlit.

To sign up, use either of the two Contact forms on this website and ask to be put on my newsletter mailing list. It’s as easy as that! Free advice that could put you on track to getting your children’s book published. What could be better? Sign up today!

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Awarded Marian Hebb Research Grant

I’m humbled, grateful beyond words and excited to be a 2024 recipient of the Marian Hebb Research Grant, awarded by the Access Copyright Foundation and administered by SK Arts.

This important grant will fund the research I’m doing for an upcoming illustrated non-fiction children’s book about how to find good sources of information and facts. It’s so important that young people understand that where and from whom information comes is almost as important as the information itself. This book will help them understand the need for good sources and, more broadly, why we as a society should be more transparent about where our facts come from.

The Marian Hebb Research Grant was inspired by the work done by Marian Hebb, who greatly contributed to several important arts organizations in Canada including The Writers Union of Canada and ALAS (legal services for artists), as well as the Access Copyright Foundation. Each of these significant artist-supportive organizations has helped me personally at one time or another throughout my writing career. Marian Hebb has been an integral part of the success of each of them.

Thank you, Access Copyright! I look forward to diving into the substantial research that I will do for my upcoming book! (Watch for it in 2027!)

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See you at HPL during Hamilton Arts Week!

I’m excited to be a Signature Presenter during #HamiltonArtsWeek, June 5 to 14.

I’ll be presenting at 4 branches of Hamilton Public Library to talk to aspiring kidlit creators about how they can get their manuscript from computer screen to bookshelf! “Breaking into Kidlit” is a free event sponsored by the Hamilton Arts Council. All four events are sold out but you can get on the waiting list. Visit HPL.ca to register.

Thank you to the Hamilton Arts Council for sponsoring this presentation series. And Hamilton Public Library as well as Canadian Heritage, the City of Hamilton and Canada Council for the Arts.

Check out the fantastic calendar of events and make sure you attend a great Hamilton arts event to refill your well!

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