Meet Sigmund Brouwer.
Author, Educator, Story Ninja!
As the bestselling author of dozens of titles, with over 4 million books in print in multiple languages, Sigmund Brouwer writes for both children and adults. Sigmund instills confidence in even the most reluctant young writers and ensures they are having fun and staying excited all the while. He draws upon a diverse range of methods and strategies to help young writers find and refine their unique voices.
He has won the American Christy Book of the Year and the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Young-Adult Mystery in Canada, as well as being a finalist twice in the prestigious TD Children's Literature Awards. Over the last two decades, he has presented his Rock and Roll Literacy Show to more than a million students across North America.
Over the last few years, he has honed the virtual teaching experience, through hundreds of classes and presentations, and has served as a writing consultant for dozens upon dozens of classrooms through his role as writer-in-residence for school boards across Canada.
Here’s an example of how effective the Story Ninja approach is, as quoted from a year-end report of Sigmund’s consulting work with the Horizon School Division, which consists of 41 schools and consistently higher reading benchmarks than the year before his involvement with the board: “While it is difficult to determine a single variable or factor that has supported our middle years readers and teachers, it can be said that the concern and response to the middle years data has resulted in positive learning for students. Part of that response was the inclusion of an author-mentor. Sigmund Brouwer developed relationships with students and partnerships with teachers that motivated them to look at reading a different way. We have seen student engagement with reading in our middle years increase and the assessment results reflect that success.”
“Based on years in the classroom with both gifted and reluctant writers, I've developed a series of lessons along with curriculum guidelines and fun activity sheets. Since I was that student in school who struggled, I break the process into small and manageable steps that are simple and easy to follow and remember.” - Sigmund Brouwer.
Upcoming Courses
"Sigmund Brouwer’s Story Ninja lessons have been very effective at engaging my online students, who come from a wide area. The students participate regularly in the lessons, which have built upon my own, and have shown a willingness to work on the optional assignments Sigmund has created. The students are very enthusiastic about the lessons with Sigmund, who has built a fantastic rapport with them. His focus on story has changed my view as well and I have seen more motivation and confidence in the students to take chances in their writing and use what they have learned. As an online teacher, I have seen the Story Ninja lessons be particularly effective because the students may participate as individuals, rather than as a collective. I greatly support what Sigmund is doing and hope more teachers and parents take advantage of this unique opportunity for learners, whether online or not!”
— teacher, Prairie South School Division
From students:
Survey results from students shows percentage who gave a rating at 8 out of 10 or higher to the following questions*:
I look forward to each class: 97%
I think it’s cool to have an author as an instructor: 100%
I am learning to be less afraid of making mistakes in my writing: 88%
I think I am learning a lot about the writing process: 97%
This class is giving me confidence in my writing skills: 84%
Because of this class, I will read more books: 80%
Things I like about this class:
“It is fun and, we get to be interactive, we get to chat with other story ninjas.”
“Sigmund interacts with us like he is actually in the room with us.”
Things I don’t like about this class:
“NOTHING BEST CLASS EVER!!!”
“I can't think about anything that I don't like about the class.”
“That the class isn't longer.”
*Full survey results available upon request