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This one is from Thailand!
Hi there! I just wanted to thank you again for your kindness in sending us some of your fantastic songs to help with our work on Canada. Yesterday, after listening to the songs pretty much all day, both in class and after (and it is SO hard not to dance while you're wearing your iPod - I was a hair's breadth from gathering up my skirts and whirling off down the streets of Bangkok, I tell you, both last night and this morning) I've chucked out half my planning and rearranged our topic work around your songs. Today we have used 'Canada in My Pocket' as a springboard for work on learning about Maple Leaves, Beavers, Caribou and Schooners as well as doing times tables work based around the nickle, dime and toonie. Meanwhile, the kids have composed a thank you letter, which I shall transcribe:
Dear Mr Mitchell,
Thank you for sending us the funny songs! We love them! Yesterday we learned 'Land of the Silver Birch' and we listened to you singing it. We really liked the 'boom didiyada' part! We have learned about some Canadian animals like the grizzly bear, the moose, the kiler whale, the polar bear, the wolf, the beaver, the elephant seal and the arctic fox. In Thailand it's very hot so we don't have these kinds of animals. Intead we have elephants, tigers, snakes and buffalo. We have also learned about the map of Canada, with the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Alberta and Vancouver Island. Today we will learn about Canadian coins.
Love from the Year 2 Tigers!
There you have it in their own words - they're really getting a kick out of the songs and it's really helping bring the subject alive for them. Oh! And we've got a photograph of you and some of your bio details from the website as the centrepiece of our Canada display - you're a celebrity in Thailand now!
love and thanks,
Nichola
(who DEFINITELY wants to be Canadian when she grows up!) |
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"This is Margo Broadbent from Romeo School in Stratford. We all loved your concert, as did the staff and students at Upper Thames School in Mitchell, Ontario. Our kids are still raving about it! I wanted to share with you the following story:
Katie, a sweet, diminutive blue-eyed blonde Junior Kindergarten girl, had a terrible fear of storms. From the time she arrived at school last September, she would ask me, with much anxiety, if I thought it was going to storm. This happened every day. Her fear was so intense that it overcame her common sense - meaning that on sunny, cloudless, blue skyed days, she was still afraid a storm might come up any second. When the Grade 2/3 class above us moved furniture around, Katie flew into a panic, thinking it was thunder! She was so scared that I thought I should conduct some weather experiments in the classroom (it is my contention that if children study things that frighten them, such as spiders or bats, their newfound understanding will consequently cause them to be less afraid). So, we learned what causes thunder and lightning... we made it 'rain' using a teakettle and ice cubes, we learned about sparks and loud noises, how to be safe during a storm, etc.
Fast forward to last Friday. There had been a storm the night before. Concerned about Katie, I asked her if she had heard the thunder. She said, yes, she had, that it had awakened her. In fact, it had scared her so much that she thought she would have to crawl into her mother's bed with her. "But", she said with a smile, "I was thinkin' I don't need to be afraid of storms anymore, so I just sang my favourite song to myself and went back to sleep!" She was obviously quite pleased with herself. I asked her what the 'favourite song' was that caused her to forget her fear of storms. "Canada In My Pocket!" was her confident reply.
Isn't that so, so cute? I thought you would like this story! Just another example of the impact your songs have on little kids."
- Margo Broadbent, Stratford, Ontari
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“Thank you very much for coming to Peace River again today. I was fortunate enough to have attended one of your concerts several years ago when my son was in Springfield school (he's now in grade 12 and still remembers many of your songs!), so it was a real treat to see and hear you again. I've used your CD many times, first as a parent with young children, and now in my role as a private music teacher. I believe strongly in promoting Canadian music and serve as the MC for our local Canada Music Week recital each November. I had hoped to speak to you personally after the concert, but had to teach lessons over the noon hour. As co-incidence would have it, this very morning before the concert I was teaching "My Paddle's Keen and Bright" to one of the grade 2 students who was in the audience only an hour later. I'm looking forward to receiving your Volume 2 CD so I can play some more Canadian songs for my students. It's unfortunate that we don't have a tradition of Canadian folk-song singing here on the Prairies, most likely since ours is a relatively new part of Canada and most of the folk songs stem from Eastern Canadian history and heritage. It's sad to say, but to many young Westerners, the Canadian folk songs could well be from a completely different country. That's why it is so important you continue to do what you do. You are a real ambassador and should feel proud of the contribution you are making to Canadian music literacy!”
- Joan Corcoran, Peace River, AB
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"I have submitted a little joke about you and my daughter Shawna to Readers Digest magazine. You were scheduled to appear at my daughters' school (Ecole Oriole Park School in Red Deer, Alberta where my daughter is in grade two). In preparation the school had the kids learning your songs. I get so used to my daughter singing silly songs that I didn't pay too much attention to the fact that she was singing "I've got Canada in my pocket, and a little bit of LISTERINE" After your appearance (at the school) I realized LISTERINE was actually HISTORY. Months have passed yet I am still laughing over this one! Your music is great. I found your site just so I could buy some of your music. Thank you for your music and the laughter it has brought me too."
- Karen Duncan, Red Deer, Alberta
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Michael Loves Letters!
Do you want to write to Michael?
He loves to get letters, emails and maybe a drawing or photo as well.
You can send letters to:
MKM Music Productions Ltd., 17-520 Marsett Place
Victoria, BC. V8Z 7J1
Or you can email him at:
Email:
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