Favorite and Least Favorite Math Teachers

 In truth, this exercise had me believing that I didn’t have a favorite math teacher. That being said, there are several moments in time which I know cultivated my joy for mathematics.

1.       Solving countless 2D and 3D spatial puzzles in video games as a child.

2.       My Grade 9 math teacher, Mrs. W, who regularly offered us geometry puzzles to solve (with and without the use of trig. Functions).

3.       As an engineering undergraduate, reading a book about the history of Greek Geometry. This book presented the history in a mostly chronological way and offered the reader many opportunities to prove Lemma’s for themselves using tools derived in the book.

Of these three sources, I may point to the book of Greek Geometry as my greatest teacher.

As for my worst math teacher, Mr. R from Pre-Calculus 12 comes to mind. He read directly from the textbook and frequently was shouting at students who repeatedly got wrong answers (generally after repeatedly receiving the same explanation). There was a silent tension in the class, though it often broke with laughter from the absurdity of it all. The knowledgeable students were frequently pointing out mistakes during lectures, and I do not recall feeling as though he could help me learn anything. Fortunately, his tests we’re predictable, meaning my final grade was not harmed (something I was deeply concerned about at the time). I later learned that Mr. R was an ex-NFL player. Hopefully helmets are better now.  

Reflecting further on my greatest teachers, I see that they are actually activities which cultivated a sense joy in mathematics and problem solving. In particular with the book of Greek Geometry, I felt that the incorporation with history offered authentic motivation, which in turn gave me the feeling that I was personally discovering the math. I consider this to be my richest learning experience and is one I hope to recreate for future students.