Mr. Math Puzzler

Wayne Hesse believes math can be fun for all

Teacher Wayne Hesse has a poster at the front of his 8th grade homeroom at Green Park Lutheran School in south St. Louis County. It says: "Math Is Fun."

He's the school's 7th and 8th grade math teacher. He admits his students don't always agree with the "fun" part.

But, during his 25 years as an elementary and middle school teacher, he's collected a bunch of toys as well as riddles and puzzles to show the "fun" of math. A lot of these exercises are done without having any grading involved.

Young Saint Louis.com heard about Mr. Hesse's activities last school year. We asked him if he'd share some of his riddles and puzzles with the kids who look at our website. He agreed to become Mr. Math Puzzler.

Then, we decided to make up a contest and ask kids to submit answers. We'll check the answers and list all the kids who answered them correctly. Also, YSL.com will put all the correct entries into a hat and draw for three $10 Borders Book Store gift certificates.

YSL.com asked Hesse to make the contest questions difficult but try to include an element of "fun."

Hesse uses his toys, riddles and puzzles as extra-curricular activities for his students.

Kids who complete a regular assignment earlier than others can choose from among 50 manipulative toys or from a box of printed riddles and puzzles. Also, he might make a riddle and puzzle for weekend assignments but not grade the answers.

"I want them to put in serious time but I don't want them to worry about a grade," he said. He also urges the kids to involve their parents in the weekend activities.

Hesse is a guy who does other things besides math. For one thing, he enjoys riding his motorcycle long distances. "I enjoy riding more than when I get to the destination," he said.

This summer, he took a ride all the way to northern Michigan and back...in one weekend.

He also enjoys heavy lifting, such as when he works on a delivery truck for a friend who has a furniture store.

It seems logical that a guy who can have fun lifting furniture also could find ways to have fun and games with math.

Hesse hopes his riddles and puzzles will help kids develop an ability to find solutions in a logical manner.

He said, "Kids are very resourceful in finding answers to the riddles and puzzles, even if the way they do it is different than I might do. But, if their way also is logical, that's fine."

We welcome Wayne Hesse to YSL.com and hope you have fun with his Math Puzzlers.