During my sophomore year in my undergraduate studies I took a course called MATH 206: Fundamentals of Geometry for Teachers, and I absolutely loved it. It was a course for pre-service elementary and middle grades mathematics teachers. I was taking the course as a middle and secondary pre-service mathematics teacher.

This course modelled collaboration and exploration, which we know are two essential components to good teaching and learning. We were seated in groups of four and one of my tablemates, Adam, is to this day one of my favorite educators. He was what some might call a non-traditional student because teaching was his second career and he had already started his adult life with a wife and children. He was a little older than most of our classmates and when he went to observe in the local schools for field hours he dressed professionally, which included dress shoes, slacks, a button up, and a tie.

One day during class a vehicle was running in the parking lot right outside of our classroom window that was open. The vehicle was making quite the racket and its muffler was polluting our classroom. After everyone in the class was visibly uncomfortable, Adam decided to take the matter into his own hands. He went outside, talked with the driver for a bit, and then when he returned to our classroom, he said, “I told him to get his rhomb-a** out of here. He must of thought I am a professor or something because he looked scared.” Laughter ensued, the driver left, and class carried on.

What is your favorite mathematical pun? I am not a fan of profanity, but I admit this pun was a good one.