Math

Sierpinksi's Triangle

I remember in 7th grade sitting down in my Pre-algebra class, and my teacher, Mr. Pellerin (I think), asked us what we thought the difference was between mathematics and arithmetic. I said aloud, "Spelling?" and got a rise out of my classmates. That's where I think the Cs began. I hated my math class, never thought I was any good at it, and tried every way to wiggle out of doing homework. That summer, I was debating whether to take Algebra in 8th grade- it was an Honors-level class, and after hearing all year that I don't push myself or live up to my potential, I was trying to decide if I should actually start. I'm glad I did, because while Algebra was hard, I did a little better, and once I hit Geometry in 9th grade, I found that I really was good at math.

I'd say the rest was history, but in my senior year of high school, my calculus teacher sniggered when I considered majoring in math in college. Once I found myself at Rutgers, I majored in computer science, then in psychology, and only settling for math when those didn't work out. I figured I'd work out what to do with a math major later. I stumbled upon teaching while working in the Center for Math, Science, and Computer Education. I tutored for a little bit, LOVED it, and started taking education classes.

I taught math in New Jersey at a charter school, then at a very good public school system near Boston, and now I'm a math coach in another MA school system near Worcester. You can view my professional resume here.

I love puzzles of every kind. Some of my favorites include Logic puzzles (the kind with the grid and the process of elimination), Sudoku, Nurikabe, and CrossSums. I can be caught playing endless rounds of MineSweeper and Tetris. All of the puzzles posted here have been ripped from one place or another online. But they're really, really cool, and I hope you find them as entertaining as I do.