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SPEAKER BIO   |   CONTENT    |   PD TOPICS   |    GENERAL PRESENTATION OFFERINGS

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Denis Sheeran is the author of two books for teachers, Instant Relevance, Using Today's Experiences to Teach Tomorrow's Lessons, and Hacking Mathematics: 10 Problems That Need Solving. He travels across the country delivering keynotes, full-day workshops, and small group ongoing embedded professional development to teachers and administrators. He has presented at the national level, including engagements with NCTM/NCSM and at statewide professional development conferences in 17 states. But his true passion is for working with teams of teachers in their school environments to improve math instruction, classroom culture, and content relevance leading to a passion for learning math in students.
Denis has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics Education with a minor in Music.  Prior to his current work with school districts, he served in several administrator roles, including K-12 Director of Student Achievement and Supervisor of Mathematics in Weehawken, Chatham, and Sparta NJ. Before that Denis taught high school math, from Algebra to Advanced Placement, for thirteen years at Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Illinois and coached the boys cross country and track & field teams. He lives in Sparta, NJ with his wife, four children, and litterbox-trained dog, Scout.
Denis trains teachers and administrators in how to create authentic, engaging math lessons, activities and environments, how to provide powerful feedback to students to continue their learning, and how to assess student learning using creative tools that demonstrate understanding and application.
Twitter: @MathDenisNJ
Instagram: @MathDenisNJ
Website: DenisSheeran.com
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Keynotes, Workshops, & Sessions: 

Instant Relevance: Using Today’s Experiences To Teach Tomorrow’s Lessons

SESSION / PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION:  

Classes are too often guided by textbooks and dry course materials. But every day, teachers experience moments that can and should be used in their classrooms the very next day. Instant Relevance is the idea of using today’s experiences in tomorrow’s lessons. We have reached a point where the question “when am I going to use this in real life” has become a joke among teachers and students. Denis presents an engaging and practical keynote that can help teachers change that question to one of wonder. “Where in your life did you get THAT from?” Teachers will leave this session with ways to connect their content to their students’ lives the next day! #MakeItReal

OBJECTIVES: 

Participants will learn...

  • The components of the Instant Relevance philosophy.
  • How to leverage student and teacher passion to increase student engagement.
  • How to encourage the Instant Relevance Mindset.
  • Practical methods for increasing relevance in the classroom

From Do Now to Think Now: Engaging Students The Moment Class Starts

SESSION / PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION:

How do you start class? Homework review? a “Do Now” question? Does this really actively engage the thinking minds of your students, or does it instead just fit into a section of the lesson plan template. This session will explain why the traditional start to class may not be the best way to get the best out of your students, and provide new techniques and technology for moving your students from Do Now to Think Now!!

OBJECTIVES: 

Participants will learn,,,

  • How to set the tone for the type of learning experience you’ve planned.
  • Which tools are best for preparing students to learn.
  • How to foster questioning and discussion and transition to discussion and inquiry.

Redefining the 1:1 Math Classroom for True 21st Century Learning

SESSION / PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION: 

The 1:1 mathematics classroom must be a place where teaching and learning are redefined, not just by integrating technology into pre-existing lessons, but by developing new, never before possible experiences for students to engage in and display their mathematical understanding. This session will focus on ways to truly understand if students have learned math, not just on ways to teach it.

OBJECTIVES:

Participants will learn...

  • What to include in a 1:1 learning environment, and what to leave out.
  • Effective teaching strategies to engage students in deep learning with technology.
  • Tools and methods for displaying student understanding and providing feedback

Relevance vs Real World: Generating Authentic Interest in Mathematics

SESSION / PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION:

Real world application has been the pinnacle we strive for in the math classroom. Many of these application problems and activities connect to the real world but don’t connect to our students. Let’s connect the Instant Relevance mindset with the math classroom in a way that generates authentic interest in mathematics and extracts authentic learning experiences from that interest.

Math Instructional Strategies That Work (Elementary, Middle, or Secondary)

SESSION / PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION :

There are many math topics that teachers say “just don’t stick with kids” from fractions to functions. Denis will discuss the needs of your school or classroom and work with you to design a set of strategies that fits your school culture and resources and can transform the teaching and learning environment of those topics.

Topic Examples Include...

  • Teaching Fractions with Legos, Play-Doh and other concrete models.
  • Teaching Place Value for Understanding.
  • Understanding Integers Visually
  • Using Dynamic Interaction to teach Trigonometry and Functions.
  • Your Custom Topic
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Keynote: $5,000
Keynote (with sessions): $6,500
1 Day Workshop: $6,500
2 Day Workshop: $10,000

*Bulk Purchase of the books available upon request

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