A Proposal for Ontario Schools

One investment. Every school. Lasting impact.

The Challenge We Face

Math literacy in Ontario is a persistent, province-wide concern that demands a new approach.

Math is not a topic students talk about. In hallways, at lunch tables, or at home, it rarely comes up in conversation. There is not enough dialogue about mathematics in our schools — elementary or secondary — and the consequences are measurable.

Declining Proficiency

Ontario's EQAO results have consistently shown that roughly half of Grade 6 students do not meet the provincial math standard. In recent years, only about 47–50% of Grade 6 students achieved proficiency — a figure that has remained stubbornly flat for over a decade.

Disengagement Starts Early

Research from the Canadian Mathematical Society and People for Education consistently reports that student confidence in math drops sharply between Grades 4 and 8. When students lose confidence, they stop participating — and the gap widens every year.

The Conversation Gap

Students talk about science experiments, art projects, and stories they read — but rarely about math. Without conversation, there is no curiosity. Without curiosity, there is no engagement. The problem is not just skill — it is culture.

Traditional approaches — more worksheets, more drills, more testing — have not moved the needle. Ontario needs materials that make students want to do math, talk about math, and share math with their families.

A Complete, Classroom-Tested Answer

Thirty years of teaching distilled into a library of materials that make math irresistible.

Dave Mitchell has spent over three decades as a working classroom teacher developing a comprehensive library of educational materials: puzzle booklets, music CDs, DVDs, videos, and hands-on activities — all designed to make students actively engage with mathematics.

These are not rote learning tools. They are multi-sensory experiences that reach students through puzzles, music, art, and paper folding. Students use basic arithmetic to solve engaging challenges. They learn multiplication facts through songs they remember for years. They explore geometry by constructing shapes with rulers and compasses, and discover symmetry through paper folding.

Most importantly, these materials do something traditional curricula have struggled to achieve: they get students talking about math — at school and at home. When parents receive access to the same materials, the conversation extends beyond the classroom.

Puzzle Booklets

Arithmetic-based puzzles that challenge students to think, not just calculate.

Music CDs

Original songs that teach multiplication tables and math concepts through melody and rhythm.

DVDs & Videos

Visual lessons and demonstrations that bring mathematical ideas to life.

Hands-On Activities

Paper folding, ruler-and-compass art, and finger math techniques.

Every Teacher. Every Student. Every Parent.

All materials distributed electronically — accessible to everyone connected to every school in the province.

Elementary Schools

Grades K–6
  • Puzzle booklets featuring addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division challenges
  • Multiplication Songs CD — catchy, memorable tunes for every times table
  • Finger Math techniques — students learn to calculate with their hands
  • Introductory paper folding activities exploring symmetry and basic geometry

Middle Schools

Grades 7–8
  • Advanced puzzle booklets with multi-step arithmetic and logic challenges
  • Math Music in Mayhem — musical exploration of number patterns and relationships
  • Paper folding projects that introduce geometric proof concepts
  • Problem-solving activities that build confidence for high school mathematics

High Schools

Grades 9–12
  • DVDs and video content exploring advanced mathematical concepts visually
  • Advanced music exploring number theory and mathematical beauty
  • Ruler-and-compass geometric art — construction projects that bring Euclidean geometry to life
  • Materials that connect abstract math to creativity, art, and real-world applications

All materials are provided in electronic form. Every teacher, every student, and every parent connected to every school in the province receives access — no physical distribution required.

Simple. Affordable. Permanent.

A one-time investment that serves every school in the province — in perpetuity.

$1,000
per school
One-time licensing fee — no subscriptions, no renewal fees
Access in perpetuity

How It Works

1

Ministry of Education licenses the materials

A single licensing agreement covers the entire province.

2

Dave provides all files in electronic form

Complete library of puzzle booklets, music, videos, and activity guides — ready for distribution.

3

Ministry distributes via existing infrastructure

No new platforms needed. Use existing school board portals and communication channels.

4

Every connected teacher, student, and parent gets access

Materials reach classrooms, homes, and communities across the province.

5

Optional: Professional development workshops

Dave is available to deliver hands-on workshops for teachers, demonstrating how to integrate these materials into daily instruction.

One-time cost. No ongoing expense. No subscriptions. No renewal fees.

Why This Works

Three decades of evidence from classrooms, stages, and national broadcasts.

  • 30 years classroom-tested by a working teacher — developed in real classrooms with real students, not a lab or focus group.
  • 3,000,000+ YouTube views — proven engagement that extends well beyond the classroom.
  • 90%+ "Excellent" ratings from teachers at professional development workshops across Canada and the United States.
  • Speaker evaluation forms - Excellent ratings
  • Featured on CBC Radio's Morningside with Peter Gzowski (national broadcast, 1996) — replayed on "Best of Morningside" and summer programming.
  • Press coverage of Dave Mitchell's teaching methods
  • Not rote learning — puzzle-based, music-based, and art-based engagement that develops genuine mathematical thinking.
  • Increases math conversation at home — parents receive access to the same materials, extending engagement beyond school hours.
  • Materials cover K–12 — one comprehensive solution for the entire school system, not a patchwork of unrelated programs.
  • One-time investment with permanent access — no recurring costs, no subscription fatigue, no budget surprises.

Start the Conversation

If you are a school board administrator or work with the Ontario Ministry of Education and want to discuss bringing these materials to your schools, Dave would love to hear from you.

Get in Touch