What people have said about Making Sense of Maths:

I employed maths specialist Jan Cavanagh to work with students / teachers and aides over the last few days. Aides had already raved to me about her simple, yet brilliant way of teaching maths that they learned at the Education Conference. I asked teachers Prep-10 what they wanted Jan to focus on for the lesson, then created a timetable for her. Each class had at least 2 teachers and an aide observing and participating in the activities. I was also drawn to many classes!! She engaged students and staff in reflective thinking processes at the completion of every lesson. I invited Jan to present a numeracy intervention workshop for staff on Wednesday afternoon, which everyone attended and no-one wanted to leave early! She also held an informal workshop on Thursday afternoon, for teachers to ask her questions and show more hands on activities. Jan was fantastic. The teachers didn’t get the opportunity to experience her magic at the Education Conference and they have been wowed in more ways than one! The students, even Yr 10s, thought it was great. “The best Maths lesson I’ve ever had.” The students were also using correct mathematical language at the end of each lesson during their reflection sharing time.

If one of your curriculum priorities is Numeracy and you are looking for whole school staff in-servicing, I highly recommend Jan.

Jason Smith, Principal, Blackall State School (Prep-12)
(07) 4657 7333
23/04/10

Dear Jan,

Thank you so much for all your help. Very much appreciated. The kids love the mat and it is great to have some more ideas for its use. I thoroughly enjoyed the way you presented your lectures at the Home Tutor Workshop at Longreach School of Distance Education both this year and last. The result of your visits, for me personally, was an excitement for maths rather than the sort of anxiety that I have always had! Maybe something to do with how I was taught - I always fell short of the teachers expectations and just accepted that I wasn’t any good at it. It’s taken me all these years and all your visits to realise that how I was taught may have also been the part of the problem. Hopefully I can now pass the fun of maths on to our girls.

So many thanks,

Kindest Regards,

Anna

Anna Hetherinton, Muyong, Longreach

Thank you for a fantastic workshop - I learnt so much about things that I was scared of i.e. fractions and negatives and positives!  Things were explained in a very visual and interactive way, and I learnt some fantastic ideas to take back to my students.
Jan Clarkson, Brisbane Boys’ College

I liked the content of the workshop. Simple but effective ideas that can be used quickly with a student or group without a lot ( if any ) preparation time.
I thoroughly enjoy your teaching style - lots of hands on -Your passion for maths really shines through.
Debbie O’Malley, Teacher Aide Mountain Creek State School

Thank you so much Jan. Your hands-on mathematics activities were so inspiring! I have already bought bright orange elastic and duct tape and look forward to creating these marvellous activities.
Thank you for your time and passion in education, it was by far one of the best workshops of the conference (Consult and Collaborate).
Kerryn Chapman Learning Support Co-ordinator
The Glennie Junior Years Toowoomba

A “Fantastic” workshop that provides educators of any level a fun and relaxed way of reaching the children with numeracy.
Katrina Clayton, Camp Hill Infants School

Jan demonstrated activities and materials in a fun and interactive way. The correlation between these activities, resources and expected learning outcomes was very clearly explained
It is great to have some fresh approaches to this program and to have a tutor trained externally
Mrs Debbie Hume, Learning Support Teacher Currimundi State School

I have never experienced so many ‘A-HA’ moments in one PD!
Renita Kettle, Moranbah East SS

Jan, at first I pre-judged and incorrectly thought to myself that I was in for a long boring day. Boy!! was I wrong. Your presentation was excellent, you have given me tons of information that WILL be put to good use back at school.
Nick Byway, Mt Maria College Petrie

The Lead Teacher in each grade attended and afternoon workshop with Jan.
They returned so enthusiastic about what they had learned,
the rest of the staff requested a whole school workshop.
Mrs Lorrane Oswald, Head Of Primary King’s Christian College

Jan’s enthusiasm is infectious. I’ve never been so excited about Maths. It was practical and hands-on. It all clicked for me.
Tracey Hassan, Teacher Aide Thornlands State School

I was impressed with Jan’s presentation at our Deputy Principals’ Association meeting in 2003. After her demonstration of the outcomes of the new Maths syllabus with practical and engaging activities, I engaged her to work with our teachers and teacher assistants supporting students with Learning Difficulties. A great success. During our Pupil Free Day 2004, Jan worked with our whole staff on Number and Space, two areas in which we wanted to lift our results in the State-wide Tests. Again - a great success.
Julianne Hooker, Deputy Principal Mudgeeraba State School

Teachers at Seville Road SS attended two workshops with Jan Cavanagh on how maths will look under the new syllabus. Without exception all teachers came away with a much more positive attitude to maths, with skills at interpreting the new syllabus, with new ideas for active learning, new ways to use resources and with new enthusiasm. Jan’s hands-on sessions are invaluable refreshers in how Productive Pedagogies relate to maths. We now feel more confident to tackle our school maths programs based on the new syllabus.
Jenny Watson, Principal, Seville Road State School

A fantastic workshop that’s cleared the fog of years of fear and misunderstandings of maths. Thank you.
Robyn Waller, Teacher Aide Bunkers Hill State School

All our Teacher Aides who attended the workshops were very impressed and came back very enthusiastic about applying what they learned in their interactions with children.
P.R. Crawford, Clontarf Beach State School

I used the fraction activity today with my year 9’s and I was immediately able to tell who needed extra help in this area. I will definitely find the activities useful.
Shelley Slade, Gladstone SHS

Practical and fun! You knew your stuff well Jan, and you are very passionate about what you do. Thanks heaps, wonderful to see someone “walking the talk”!
Jenni McDonald, Freshwater State School

Very hands on. Relevant to classroom life. Great that it was less theoretical and more practical. I can take many activities back to my students. High interest activities. I enjoyed the day thoroughly.
Dianne Hey, Cairns West State School

Activities were very practical, can be used in any classroom, and don’t cost a lot to make. Great ideas that can be used every day.
Chelli Tarlinton, Parke State School

Thank you for your very practical workshop. It was enjoyable, non-threatening and very useful. A great day! I’m so glad I had the opportunity of coming!
Margaret Green, Hambledon State School

I liked the hands-on activities, using cost-effective or materials we already have. Activities are intellectually rigorous and promote deeper understanding yet are short, sharp and to-the-point.
Leanne Chesterfield, Mossman State School

The activities were practical, resources mostly readily available in schools. Problems were mostly open ended allowing discussions and multiple solutions. A very worthwhile inservice – one of the most practical I have attended – Need more of these thanks Q.A.M.T.
Mick Hides, Gladstone State High School

Jan demonstrated effective interactive activities that can be easily used in primary or secondary classes and give students practical visualisation. It was beneficial to mix us up removing us from working with people we always work with and need to express and justify own practice and responses.
It was great networking allowing primary and secondary teachers to work cooperatively and give each other ideas.
Amanda Patzwald, Toolooa State High School

Hi Jan, I just wanted to drop you quick note to once again say thank you for today. After talking to Teressa, the class teacher, when I got back to school, she has now set me the task of doing our next maths rotation which I am really looking forward to. My two boys are 6 and 8. I decided to do the build it between game with them tonight. They did so well working together but it was not until we discussed what they made that my older son picked up that they had used 7 blocks not 6. I also showed him the sequential numbers adding up on the diagonal and then the multiplication numbers adding up as well. His comment was “wow this maths is really cool. I have to show this to Mrs. Jones. Can you please photocopy it so I can show her tomorrow?”
Marcus has been very wary of his math lately so a very big thank you for showing me how to show him how to love numbers. I am looking forward to helping other children to love it too.
I really enjoyed our time today. You have definitely chosen the right field to work in.
Debbie Rothwell, Mt Petrie State School