Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to
announce that YA author Don Aker
is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools and libraries during the
coming school year.
His per session rate is $300.00, plus GST, plus transportation from his
hotel and a flat fee of $60 towards accommodation. Don's half day rate
is $575 plus GST (two sessions) and a full day (4 sessions) is $1100
plus GST. Schools booking for a full day will be charged a flat fee of
$200 for accommodation instead of the $60 per session.
Don is a bestselling author whose publications have earned him numerous
honours, among them the White Pine Award (The First Stone,
2004) and
the Ann Connor Brimer Award (The First Stone,
2004, and Of
Things Not
Seen, 1996). A classroom teacher, he is very comfortable
presenting to
students in grades 7-12, and his enthusiastic presentation style and
sense of humour make him a hit with both teenagers and adults. His
bibliography and details of his presentation follow this message.
Here is what Liz O'Brien, Head of Library at Unionville High School had
to say about a recent visit:
We have had many
authors visit Unionville High School over the years
and I have to say, the reaction to Don Aker was the most positive I
have seen. Students and staff loved every minute of his presentation.
The kinds of information Don chose to share -- personal anecdotes, tips
on writing, background information to his work -- all this was
delivered in a most natural and relaxed way and reinforced by a
visually appealing power point presentation. Thanks again for
contacting me about Don -- his visit really was a hit!!
And here are some quotes from grade nine students:
"Don Aker was the
most inspirational author that has ever spoken to us.
He taught us that writing is not a chore and inspired me to pursue my
dream."
"The Don Aker
presentation was excellent. Don Aker was hilarious when
he was explaining his life and writing process. He kept us interested
in what he was saying at all times. Also, you could tell he was always
honest with us when talking about himself as a person. Overall, it was
very informative and it was a good experience for me and my peers. I
plan to read some of his books in the future."
And here is a recent quote from an Ajax high
school student:
The thing I liked best about your presentation is that you
made everything relatable to me. I often find it hard to imagine
different things, so writing down what we see in a journal is actually
really cool. Also, your book The Space Between was really good. I could
not put it down till I found out how Jace’s brother died (and if he
would get laid!!). You have amazing public speaking skills and you’re a
great author. I have to say, I respect you very much for that!!
Don is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, and so schools wishing
to invite him may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to off-set
the cost of his visit. For details of this program, please contact us.
Time slots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so please
respond early if you are interested in booking Don
Aker.
Published
Works:
YA
Novels
The Space Between, HarperCollins,
Toronto, 2007.
The First Stone, HarperCollins,
Toronto, 2003.
Stranger at Bay, originally published
by Stoddart Publishing, Toronto, 1997. Now published by Fitzhenry &
Whiteside.
Of Things Not Seen, originally
published by Stoddart Publishing, Toronto, 1995. Now published by
Fitzhenry & Whiteside.
Novels
for Younger Readers
The Right Whale (for beginning
readers), Scholastic, Toronto, 2007.
One on One (junior
novel), HarperCollins, Toronto, 2005.
Educational
Texts
Winging It (nonfiction), Pearson
Education, New York, 2003.
New Language, New
Friends (nonfiction), Pearson Education, New York, 2003.
Language & Writing
11 (language arts text, co-authored with Dave Hodgkinson), ITP
Nelson, Toronto, 2001.
Language & Writing
10 (language arts text, co-authored with Dave Hodgkinson), ITP
Nelson, Toronto, 2000.
Language & Writing 9 (language arts text, co-authored
with Dave Hodgkinson), ITP Nelson, Toronto, 1999.
Language & Writing 8
(language arts text), ITP Nelson, Toronto, 1998.
Hitting the Mark:
Assessment Tools for Teachers (nonfiction), Pembroke Publishers,
Toronto, 1995.
Awards
- The Space Between selected one of
Ontario Library Association’s Top Ten YA Novels of 2008
- Canadian Authors
Association’s 2007 Lilla Stirling Award for One on One
- Ontario Library
Association’s 2004 White Pine Award for The First Stone
- Atlantic Canada’s
2004 Ann Connor Brimer Award for The
First Stone
- Atlantic Film
Festival’s 1998 Script Development Competition for The Invitation (feature-length
screenplay)
- The Toronto Star's
2002 Short Story Contest Runner-Up Prize for “Everything Gets Dead”
- Atlantic Canada’s
1996 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Of
Things Not Seen
- Canadian Authors
Association’s 1996 Lilla Stirling Award for Of Things Not Seen
- Dandelion
Magazine's 1991 National Fiction Competition Third Prize for “Scars”
- Canadian Living
Magazine's 1990 National Literary Competition First Prize for “The Test” (short fiction category)
- Atlantic Writing
Competition’s 1990 Non-Fiction First Prize for "V-Day: Anatomy of a Surgery"
- Atlantic Writing
Competition’s 1989 Short Fiction First Prize for “The Invitation”
Nominations
- Canadian Library
Association’s 2008 Young Adult Book of the Year Award for The Space Between
- Ontario Library
Association’s 2008 White Pine Award for The
Space Between
- British Columbia's
2008 Stellar Book Award for One on One
- Atlantic Canada's
2007 Hackmatack Award for One on One
- Manitoba's 2007
Young Readers' Choice Award for One on
One
- Alberta's 2007
Rocky Mountain Book Award for One on One
- The 1999 CNIB Torgi
Award for Stranger at Bay
- The Ontario Library
Association's 1998 Red Maple Award for Stranger
at Bay
- Atlantic Canada’s
1998 Ann Connor Brimer Award for Stranger
at Bay
- The 1998 Blue Heron
Award for Stranger at Bay
- Manitoba’s 1998
Young Readers' Choice Award for Of
Things Not Seen
- McClelland and
Stewart's 1990 Journey Prize Award for “The
Invitation”
Other Honours
- One on One received a starred selection
in the Canadian Children's Book Centre’s Our Choice Magazine.
- The First Stone was included in the
Canadian Children's Book Centre’s "Read Canada's Best" recommended
booklist.
- The First Stone was one of
five YA novels chosen for discussion on CBC Radio's 2006 Young
Canada Reads series.
- Of Things Not Seen received a starred
selection in the Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Our Choice
Magazine and was included in the CCBC’s "Read Canada's Best"
recommended booklist.
Don’s
Presentation
Details:
Accompanied by a
PowerPoint presentation, I begin by telling students how, as a high
school student, I wanted to be a writer but never felt I could actually
become one, and then I describe the series of serendipitous events that
led me down that writing path toward publication 20 years later. Then I
give a brief overview of the books I’ve written. I follow this with a
discussion of my writing process—where I get my ideas, and the three
questions I need to answer before I can begin writing any story—and
then describe the genesis of each of my novels. I talk briefly about my
most important writing tool—my writer’s notebook—and provide time for
students to ask questions. If time and interest permit, I may give a
brief reading from one of my novels. I am completely comfortable
tailoring my presentation to the needs of a specific audience (e.g.,
focusing on a particular novel that the students have read or are
reading), but I require three weeks’ notice in order to prepare.
Because I have taught
grades 7-12, I am comfortable presenting to any of these groups. My
ideal audience is grades 9-12, since this is the specific group I write
for, but I enjoy speaking to grades 7 and 8, too.
Although I prefer
presenting to groups of 40 or fewer, I have successfully presented to
groups as large as 300 in auditoriums and theatres. However, the
larger group sizes lessen the opportunity for meaningful dialogue
with students.
A Sampling of Don Aker’s Presentations
TITLE: Backstory
and Beyond: One Writer’s Journey
AUDIENCE:
English language arts teachers at all levels
LENGTH: 1
hour
DESCRIPTION: Having
published 14 books and numerous short stories, essays, and articles,
Don is often asked to share with teachers and students the story behind
his writing—in particular, the experiences that generated his
award-winning young adult novels that are taught in classrooms across
North America. In this informative and entertaining presentation, he
describes the circuitous route that took him from a classroom in a
small Nova Scotia school to one of the largest publishing companies in
North America, and provides behind-the-scenes accounts of the
experiences that have shaped both his fiction and his professional
writing. In addition, he offers valuable advice for beginning writers
who are interested in writing for publication. (Please note that this
session can be expanded and tailored to meet the specific needs of
teachers whose students are exploring Don’s novels and short fiction.)
TITLE: Keynote
Address: “Fresh at Fifty” and Other Oxymorons
AUDIENCE:
Teachers at all grade levels and subject areas
LENGTH: 1
hour
DESCRIPTION: In
an address that is both moving and humorous, Don discusses his career
as an educator and highlights the importance of collaboration in all
areas of education. Listeners often recognize in the stories of his
classroom their own experiences as educators, and they welcome his
focus on mentorship and coaching as a proven means of improving
instructional practice and increasing student achievement.
Writing
Workshops:
I offer writing
workshops for grades 7-12, but I require three weeks’ notice in order
to prepare.
Maximum participants
for student workshop: 25
Professional
Development Workshops:
I offer a number of
professional development workshops for adults that include the
following:
- writing fiction
- writing memoir
- responding to
student writing (offering descriptive feedback)
- helping adolescents
read poetry for understanding
- point of view as a
writing tool
- cooperative
learning strategies in the classroom
- etc.
However, I require
three weeks’ notice in order to prepare PD workshops.
Maximum participants
for PD workshop: Ideally 40, but
groups as large as 100 are possible, depending on the workshop,
and unlimited for keynote addresses
I am comfortable
presenting in a variety of venues, including classrooms, libraries,
auditoriums, and gymnasiums. However, when speaking to groups greater
than 30, or when speaking in large venues, I require a microphone.
Equipment and other
requirements:
- an LCD projector (I
will bring my laptop computer to run my PowerPoint)
- a viewing screen
- a table for my
presentation materials
- a bottle of water
- a microphone (if
I'm speaking in large venues or to groups greater than 30)
A Sampling of Don Aker’s PD Workshops
Please note that the
length of each of the following workshops indicates the timeframe given
when Don originally presented them. However, depending on the needs of
a particular audience, many of the half-day workshops can easily be
expanded to become full-day sessions, and longer workshops can be
compressed into shorter timeframes.
TITLE:
Inside Story: Writing Fictional Narratives
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH:
Full day
DESCRIPTION: In
this workshop, Don explains how teaching students to write fictional
narratives addresses keystage curriculum outcomes, then guides
participants through the process of writing their own short stories,
which can then serve as models of the process for their students. After
answering the “big three” questions that generate story, participants
explore multiple ways of entering a narrative, choose a narrative
structure that complements their purpose, identify details that make
writing “show” rather than “tell,” begin a first draft, recognize how
writers must be responsible to their readers, and identify questions
that assist in the revision process. In addition, Don offers
participants rubrics for responding to and assessing students’ stories,
as well as a variety of resources that will enable teachers to transfer
their learning to effective classroom practice.
TITLE:
Strategic Reading: Making Meaning of Text
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-10 English language arts and content teachers
LENGTH:
Full day
DESCRIPTION: An
educator with nearly three decades of classroom experience, Don
understands that today’s teachers face increasingly diverse learners,
many of whom lack the reading skills necessary for success in their
disciplines. In this workshop, Don explores what it means to be an
effective reader, highlights the strategies that effective readers use
to comprehend text, and shows teachers how to incorporate
strategy-based instruction in their content areas.
TITLE:
The Poetry Roundtable: Talking Toward Meaning
AUDIENCE:
Grades 6-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH:
Half day
DESCRIPTION: For
students who struggle daily with reading prose, poetry presents even
greater challenges. In this workshop, Don explores the power of focused
conversation in making meaning of poetry and involves participants in a
roundtabling process that provides a structure for meaningful talk. Don
begins the workshop by presenting various understandings of the reading
process and highlighting the differences between the New Critical and
transactional theories of reading, then shares the various stances that
assist students in reading poetry for understanding. Following this, he
has participants “unpack a poem” through conversation, questioning, and
continual reference to the text, after which they use writing as a
vehicle for framing and conveying their understanding to others.
TITLE: Team-ing
With Success: Cooperative Learning in the Classroom
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-9 teachers in all subject areas
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: In
this entertaining and informative workshop, Don outlines the
research-based benefits of cooperative learning, then addresses the
problems inherent in using groupwork in inclusive classrooms. Don
identifies the keys to effective group process and provides a framework
that enables educators to elicit from their students the group
behaviours that best support learning. In addition, he shares
suggestions for designing groups and group activities, examines the
factors that impact negatively on group process, recommends strategies
for assessing and evaluating group interaction using a triangulated
model, and offers suggestions for ensuring sound classroom management.
TITLE: We
Are Our Stories: Writing Personal Memoir
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Full
day
DESCRIPTION: The
single most important difference between strong writing and weak
writing is the amount of information the writer knows about his/her
topic, so the writing of personal memoir is an important means of
ensuring student success from an informational standpoint. In this
workshop, Don discusses the power of personal memoir in teaching the
six traits of writing and guides participants through the writing of
their own memoirs. Following this, he offers suggestions for teaching
the revision process as well as direction for responding to student
writing in ways that support learning.
TITLE: So
What’s the Big Deal About Conventions?
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: In
this enjoyable and fast-paced workshop, Don answers the question “So
what’s the big deal about conventions?” He begins by exploring the
power of conventions in influencing meaning, then focuses on strategies
for teaching the conventions of writing that effectively transfer to a
wide variety of writing tasks and purposes. Drawing on research that
identifies the most common errors in student writing, Don illustrates
the daily use of mentor text as an effective and meaningful way of
addressing conventions of writing. Besides teaching students to
recognize and correct their own writing errors, powerful mentor text
also encourages imitation, which results in the overall improvement in
the quality of student writing.
TITLE: Making
Metaphor: The Craft of Writing Poetry
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: One
of the most effective ways to heighten student achievement in a variety
of areas is to involve students in the making of metaphor, and in this
entertaining workshop, Don offers participants the opportunity to play
with associations that generate powerful metaphor. Using proven
teaching strategies that encourage experimentation such as “moment
framing,” “poetry finding,” “structure seeking,” and “poetry
outlining,” Don involves participants in the same kinds of
decision-making processes that professional poets experience, resulting
in their acquiring not only a better understanding of the craft of
writing poetry but also a stronger appreciation of the processes
involved in reading poetry for understanding.
TITLE: Screenwriting:
From Story to Script
AUDIENCE: Grades
9-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: Because
the medium of film exerts such power in the lives of students, it is
only logical that they should learn how stories are adapted to film. In
this enlightening workshop, Don discusses the differences between
narrative text and narrative film and explores various conventions of
scriptwriting. Following this, he uses screenplays adapted from his own
novels and short stories to illustrate the process of translating
stories into scripts, then involves participants in the same process.
By the end of this workshop, participants not only have a strong sense
of the unique way that scripts convey story but also how to support
students in exploring this medium.
TITLE: The
Writer’s Notebook
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: The
single most important tool of any professional writer is the writer’s
notebook. While no two writers use notebooks in exactly the same way,
their purpose is universal—to collect ideas and information that
eventually support the writing that will follow. In this workshop, Don
illustrates how he uses his own writer’s notebook and offers
suggestions for incorporating this writing tool in classroom practice.
Besides describing the many purposes a notebook might serve, Don offers
suggestions for notebook assessment and evaluation that support
learning and address specific curriculum outcomes.
TITLE: Managing
the Bundle: Responding to Student Writing
AUDIENCE:
Grades 6-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: In
this very practical workshop, Don offers participants strategies for
coping with the often overwhelming task of responding to student
writing, as well as generating assessments that not only support
learning and guide effective practice but also convey meaningful
information regarding task proficiency. For many teachers, the
assessment of writing often seems far too subjective, so this workshop
provides concrete ways to help students move further along the
continuum toward strong writing and, equally important, shows
participants how to save valuable time when responding to student work.
TITLE: Polishing
the Lens: The Power of Point of View
AUDIENCE:
Grades 5-12 English language arts teachers
LENGTH: Half
day
DESCRIPTION: The
single most important choice a narrative writer makes is who will tell
his/her story because this shapes and colours everything the reader
will experience in the text. In this hands-on workshop, Don shares with
participants the differences between the various literary points of
view and the impact each has on the reader, and then involves
participants in the process of polishing a particular lens through
which readers will view a narrative. In producing different versions of
the same experience, participants come to recognize not only the power
of point of view in the crafting of writing but also the tremendous
implications this has for readers.
