Some of the places I worked in over the last while...
Burlington ON, Seattle, WA, USA, Inuvik, NWT, Winnipeg, MB, Brandon, MB, St. John, NB, Toronto, ON, Edmonton, AB, Oakville, ON, Chilliwack, BC, Whitehorse, YUKON, Coquitlam, BC, Fort Nelson, BC, Port Hardy, BC, Prince George, BC, Nisg'aa, BC, Campbell River, BC, Kelowna, BC, Saanich, Winnipeg, MB, Surrey, BC, Mission, BC, Prince Rupert, BC, Hartley Bay, BC, North Vancouver, BC, Burnaby, BC, Langley, BC, Victoria, BC, Vancouver, BC, Delta, BC, Salmon Arm, Bella Coola, Maple Ridge, BC... and many more great places!

...with many amazing educators including:
Khalsa Schools, Provincial Intermediate Teachers Association, BC Ministry of Education, Alberta Ministry of Education, Islamic Academy, University College of the Fraser Valley, BC Association of Mathematics Teachers, Hamilton Ontario School Board. SFU Post-Bac Program, Catholic School Board, Oakville Ontario School Board, UBC Teaching Program, Ontario Institute for the Study of Education, SFU Professional Development Program....and more!


WORKSHOPS
Please note the grade range when selecting a workshop description...

As you scroll down, you'll notice close to 30 possible sessions below covering assessment, technology, literacy, fine arts and numeracy.

Sample workshop descriptions below. These can be tweaked, to suit the needs of your school or district. Of course, whole new workshops could be created from scratch...Please note the grade range when selecting a workshop description.



The Power of Good Questioning
(POPULAR WORKSHOP!)
Ray will provide us timeā€saving measures and help us focus on the importance of questioning in the math classroom. Ray will also look at the role of questioning and communication in the classroom for the purpose of helping students work through the important stuff of math. Some of the things Ray will look at include:
- Where in real life do we ask questions? Why?
- Which questions are best asked before a math problem, during and after.
- How can we build questioning into assessment to help support?
- What’s the difference between “evaluative” and “judgmental” praise?

Ray will include clips of real classrooms so we can see the kinds of questions real teachers ask and real kids answer. Ray will provide usable templates, ideas, and suggestions that can be used right away!



How to Support Learners Communicate Spatially Through Drawing
Many of our struggling learners miss out on being able to represent their understanding through right-brained means. Ray will help you with some techniques to help your students look carefully at the world around them, particularly through the medium of fine arts. The focus will be to help you learn some of the basics of drawing, and/or cartooning in order to understand and support the variety of learners within your classroom. Ray will draw heavily on his first career as a graphic artist, as well as his current love and passion for drawing. You don't have to be able to draw to attend! Grades: 3 – 7


Engaging Our Students
In the early 90s, Kellogg's wanted us to "taste Corn Flakes again for the first time"... They'd been around so long and everyone got used to them. To taste them again for the first time sounds redundant, but it's a lesson for us. In this vast field of teaching and learning, sometimes we get used to routine. Routine is good, but at times, it's also good to look at things again for the first time. Ray will examine some of the things we may have been getting used to in order to see them again in a new light. Throughout the session, Ray will look at backwards planning, humour, ideas and tips in order to not only survive, but put the joy back in teaching (and learning!)... for us and for the students... Grades: 4 – 12


“That’s funny! Hey, I’m learning!”
We all seem to be stressed: more accountability, more changes, more expectations for all - teachers and students alike. Did you know that learners engaged in humor, show similar brain activity to people engaged in divergent thinking? Humor research has shown some significant results concerning how humor can benefit the health of an individual - teacher and student. Ray Appel will guide us through some recent research on humour and the brain. As well, he will help us face our class, our careers, our lives... with a sense of humour. Throughout the workshop, Ray will give you specific strategies to help you build humour into the classroom. We’ll rekindle what’s important - while having fun! (WORKSHOP READY FOR FALL 2009)


The Any Novel Novel Study (Grades 4 - 8)
(POPULAR WORKSHOP!)
Did you ever get frustrated with having all the students read the same class set of novels? Some students finish the novel in one night, and others struggle with the first paragraph. What can we do? Ray Appel will highlight some effective strategies for helping you use powerful graphic organizers (not worksheets) that help support students understanding. That way, your class can be reading different novels/short stories depending on the level of students' ability. Grades 4 - 8.


Help! I Can't Draw! (Grades 3 - 7)
Ray will help you with some techniques to help your students look carefully at the world around them. A focus could be portrait drawing, still life, or cartooning. Ray will draw heavily on his first career as a graphic artist, as well as his current love and passion for drawing. You don't have to be able to draw to attend! Grades: 3 - 7


CREATING RUBRICS with your class
(POPULAR WORKSHOP!)
In-Class Demo (and/or workshop)
What does it mean to bring kids into the assessment process? How can we help students be more accountable, while learning at the same time? Ray will work with your class to create rubrics that continue the thinking of assessment, evaluation and reporting. While doing this, Ray will engage students in meaningful and engaging learning activities, which will help promote the conversation needed to create the rubric(s). Grades 3ish - 7ish


Graphic Novels: Why they’re so popular!
(WORKSHOP READY FOR FALL 2009)
A graphic novel is a type of comic book usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels. What's happening? Kids seem to love them! Ray will take you into the world of graphic novels, looking at their appeal, power and ways we can use them in class. Ray will give tips on using them in many subject areas including math, art, language arts, social studies and much more! Ray will include cool handouts, and a short list of the best graphic novels. Let's keep our kids reading!
(WORKSHOP READY FOR FALL 2009)


The POWER of Keynote©
(Apple's version of Powerpoint)
What does it mean to use technology to teach? Dan Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind" argues very convincingly that the future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind. The era of "left brain" dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which "right brain" qualities-inventiveness, empathy, meaning-predominate. But how can we include some of that right-brain creativity as part of the process while we spread the message with programs like Keynote?
Give Ray access to the Computer Lab (with Apple computers) or meet with some Apple laptops at your school, and he will take you through how to best use Keynote to teach, help, support and spread the message. This won't just be a "how-to" class. It will be so much more than that (i.e., right-brain creativity!).


The Language Arts IRPs (BC). What are they about.... Really? (Grades K - 7)
Ray will take you through the new Language Arts IRP (BC), with some interesting focusing activities to help guide your practice in the classroom. All you need is your grade level copy of the New Language Arts IRP (2006 - BC). Grades K-7, but best if done as either a Primary or an Intermediate session.


Assessment Made Easy! (How Do I Mark That?) (Grades 4 - 8)
(POPULAR WORKSHOP!)
This workshop can help you decide what’s important when assessing for learning. It incorporates all the ideas of assessment for learning, assessment of learning, and assessment as learning. Ray will take you through step-by-step from projects in your classroom through to reporting those marks in an easy and powerful manner. He will also include snippets of the new WNCP Assessment document from the Ministry. His strategies work with ANY subject area! What a great way to kids into assessment! Start now to make your reporting painless, while thinking through important issues around assessment, instruction and curriculum. Grades: 4 - 8. Booklet written and developed by Ray Appel.

"How can I do math? I'm struggling with reading!" (Grades 3 - 7)
In the real world, words and numbers go hand in hand. When we see a sign in the store window that says, "$29.99", that's one thing. Put a word in front of the numbers, and it changes everything: "From $29.99". Math literacy involves understanding patterns and relationships, seeing math as way more than just numbers, and being able to read the words, much like in other subject areas. Throughout the workshop, Ray will show you various picture books and strategies for supporting learners who struggle with reading. As well, Ray will look at the power of graphic organizers, along with strategies that are commonly found within the realm of "literacy". How can we use those same strategies, ideas, organizers and so on within the whole area of math literacy? The handout package will include cool templates and blackline masters to use right away! Grades: 4 to 7

About Math (Process: Estimation)
What does it mean to estimate? Does it mean that we just guess? How often in real life do we estimate? Ray looks at places where we estimate in real life! It happens so often, we don't even realize it! Ray has written a picture book entitled, "About Math", based on the Processes of Math found in the Introduction to the new math IRPs. In this story, our main character goes shopping, goes with his dad to the cottage, and in the process encounters many places and times where estimation takes place. In the workshop, Ray will take you through the picture book as well as give you a lot of ideas to use while introducing the book to your students and parents.
Grades 4 - 7
Ask Ray about personalizing the picture books for YOUR school and/or school district!
CLICK HERE for more information!

BOOKS IN THE WORKS (to be released in 2009): Talk Math - (Process of Math: "Communication"), Do Math - (Process of Math: "Problem Solving"), Think Math - (Process of Math: "Mental Math", Wonder Math - (Process of Math: "Reasoning"), Imagine Math - (Process of Math: "Visualization")



Everyday Math (Process: Connections)
Do we really use math in other subjects than just in math class? Do we use math outside of school too? How? Ray has written a picture book entitled, "Everyday Math", based on the Processes of Math found in the Introduction to the new math IRPs. Ray looks at just a few places where we make connections to math in school and beyond! It happens so often, we don't even realize it! In this story, our main character goes from class to class, subject to subject, and in the process encounters many places and times where math is used, leaving open the possibility for making connections to the real world. In the workshop, Ray will take you through the picture book as well as give you a lot of ideas to use while introducing the book to your students and parents.
Grades 4 - 7
Ask Ray about personalizing the picture books for YOUR school and/or school district!
CLICK HERE for more information!

BOOKS IN THE WORKS (to be released in 2009): Talk Math - (Process of Math: "Communication"), Do Math - (Process of Math: "Problem Solving"), Think Math - (Process of Math: "Mental Math", Wonder Math - (Process of Math: "Reasoning"), Imagine Math - (Process of Math: "Visualization")



iMath (Process: Technology)
What does it mean to use technology in our world? Does it mean that we just rely on the technology when we solve math problems? Do we use number sense as well to try to make sense of it all? Ray has written a picture book entitled, "iMath", based on the Processes of Math found in the Introduction to the new math IRPs. Ray looks at just a few places where we use technology in real life! It happens so often, we don't even realize it! In the workshop, Ray will take you through the picture book as well as give you a lot of ideas to use while introducing the book to your students and parents.
Grades 4 - 7
Ask Ray about personalizing the picture books for YOUR school and/or school district!
CLICK HERE for more information!

BOOKS IN THE WORKS (to be released in 2009): Talk Math - (Process of Math: "Communication"), Do Math - (Process of Math: "Problem Solving"), Think Math - (Process of Math: "Mental Math", Wonder Math - (Process of Math: "Reasoning"), Imagine Math - (Process of Math: "Visualization")



Communication in Math: Making math comics, videos and more! (Grades 3 - 7)
This workshop can help you decide what’s important when helping students communicate their learning through more than just writing. Ray will show you how you can help students make movies, comics and more! Grades 3-7.


Forget Everything You Learned in Math! (Grades 4 - 8)
So, you bought that and "saved" 30 bucks, right? Wrong. You spent $75! If we don't show our children how to use math in the world, the world will show our children how to use math - their way, for their purposes! Ray will show you how a lot of what we think we've learned in math classes over the years is actually distorted by the media, changed by advertisers and in many cases completely incorrect! ....But it's all meant to make you buy more, vote differently (swayed by stats?), spend more (but think you're saving lots!), take more time to pay off your loans (but think you're saving money!), eat junk (but think you're eating healthy!) and more. Together, we'll explore various strands, and try some hands-on/minds-on activities. Think about it: We want our kids to become numerate for much more than just getting a good job one day. It's for day-to-day living! Now.


Math Placemaths© and You.
In this workshop, Ray will take you through a few of the Placemaths©! Ray has created a year's supply of creative, engaging Placemaths for you to use with your class on a weekly basis. They are designed to help students take risks, have fun, and become more numerate. Throughout the workshop, Ray will give you tips, ideas and ways to use them with your class. As well, Ray will provide ideas on his website that are specific to each Placemath! Grades 4-7.
For a FREE sample of a Placemath,
CLICK HERE.
To order a set,
CLICK HERE.


The Math IRPs (WNCP Version). What are they about... Really? (Grades K - 7)
Ray will take you through the new Math IRP (BC), with some interesting focusing activities to help guide your practice in the classroom. All you need is your grade level copy of the New Math IRP (WNCP). Grades K-7, but best if done as either a Primary or an Intermediate session.


Gee, this is Math? (Grades 3 - 7)
Ray will give you a handful of math tips to help support whatever math program you are using. These math tips will support the struggling learner, while provide some enrichment for the bright/gifted learners in the classroom. Grades: 3 to 7
Ray will focus on six main areas that challenge teaching and learning in the math classroom:
Timing (Ray can get you back at least 2 weeks of teaching time!),
Invented strategies (Get the kids to come up with them),
Homework (Let's focus on what's important),
Assessment (Make it easy, yet thoughtful),
Goal setting (Cool templates!), and
Graphic Organizers (Not worksheets).
Blackline masters included!



Math journals that matter... (Grades 3 - 7)
How do we get kids to talk about math? Why even bother? If we really want to build students' capacity in numeracy, it's going to include computation, and go beyond. Ray will show you real samples to get you started. The samples are informative, in-depth, and sometimes humorous in their honesty! The handout package will include templates and blackline masters to use right away! Grades: 3 to 7


Deepening Understandings in Math (Grades 3 - 7)
Ray will help support your math program by exploring the role what it means to be numerate. The focus for this session could be the role of problem-solving, but in the context of math portfolios, writing, reading and drawing in math, as well as in the context of easily available books such as "Jayden's Rescue", "The Math Instinct", "The Number Devil" and more! As well, Ray will alude to John van de Walle's work that is relevant to the participants, and show you how to best use his "Before, During and After" approach which can be integrated with any math resources you are using. Ray will have a package that will include ready-to-use blackline masters that can be used right away. Grades: 3-7


Keep the momentum going...
Support for Math Makes Sense resources.

How do I Get Started with MMS?
Ray will walk teachers/administrators/parents through the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series.

Getting Deeper into the MMS Resource
Ray will support teachers/administrators/parents get deeper into the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Differentiated Instruction with MMS
Ray will walk teachers/administrators/parents through the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program, in light of how we can support students and teachers with differentiated instruction. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged, along with time for planning. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Math Assessment with MMS
Ray will walk teachers/administrators/parents through the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program, in light of assessment in numeracy. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged. Ray will also bring into account the current WNCP, IRPs, and powerful research. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Helping and Supporting Parents with MMS
Ray will walk teachers/administrators/parents through the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program, in light of how we can support parents throughout our districts/schools with the major changes in numeracy. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged, along with time for planning. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Math Talk with MMS
Ray will walk teachers/administrators/parents through the new and/or current Math Makes Sense program, in light of how we can support students with discourse in the classroom. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged, along with time for planning. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Specific Workshop Session(s) with MMS
Ray will work with teachers/students/parents/administrators in a specific series (or stand-alone) designed with cooperation between Ray and your school/district. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged, along with time for planning. Grades 3-7. From 90 minutes to a full day, or series. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.

Professional Learning Communities with MMS
Ray will work with teachers/students/parents/administrators in a specific series (or stand-alone) designed with cooperation between Ray and your school/district around a book to deepen capacity in numeracy, with MMS in mind. During the session, Ray will provide hands-on/minds-on activities and strategies that will keep participants focused and engaged, along with time for planning. Grades 3-7. Designed as a series, to be negotiatated with the district/school/teachers. Can be done with Math Makes Sense as a focus, or numeracy in general.