I’m still stunned by the response to my post on Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe, which spawned a whole fleet of mobile apps, was translated into Spanish by the Argentine Department of Education, and has drawn more than half a million visitors.
Author: Ben Orlin
So Why Did You Go Into Teaching? (8 Ways Not to Answer)
Well, I hoped to meet some gifted, hardworking kids, and then convince them that I was responsible for their eventual success.
The Patterns in the Stonework
“The mind is full of false patterns,” the teacher said. “I do not see the random beauty of nature. I see the strained grunts and groans of a pattern-hunting mind.”
The Mountain Where Rain Never Falls
Within minutes, the downpour was torrential, and everything was soaked through. "You tricked me again," the student sighed.
Learning to rock-climb is changing how I’ll teach math.
Back in the classroom, I was the one holding the ropes, with two feet planted on flat, sturdy ground. Now, I’m the one clinging to the wall, hoping like heck that the ropes don’t break.
The Wise Monkey
"It is said that in every 10,000 monkeys, there is a single one that possesses all knowledge.”
The Student Every Teacher Dreams About
Also, I have an insightful, on-topic comment to share. But it’s very long, so feel free to sit down and finish your coffee.
The Swindler’s Coin
"You must question your assumptions," the teacher said, "or you become one of three things: A dreamer, a fool, or a stubborn theoretician."
Two-Column Proofs that Two-Column Proofs are Terrible
Theorem #1: “Justifying steps” ought to be an opaque, frustrating process.
The Riddle of the Odorless Incense
The blind vendor sold two types of incense, identical in appearance.
Math with Bad Drawings 