About the Author
For most of my life, I taught Mathematics in public schools: 5th grade through college! My interests, in addition to all things mathematical, are reading, knitting, writing, bicycling and family.
I’m married to Marty, have a son, a daughter and one stepdaughter. Three grandchildren round out the immediate family. I look forward to spending more time with them in my retirement.
Oh, and I also have my HAM radio license KA1NLF. Although I am inactive I am registered with the FCC.
Hope you enjoy my (a)musings and write comments!
(A)Musings by Arlene 
Hi Mrs. Yolles!
This is Natasha Kostek, one of your former students from fourth and fifth grade at Farmingville Elementary School in the ’90s. I am not sure if you will remember me, but I wanted to reach out because I am about to graduate with a doctorate in psychology, and you made such an impact on me that I mentioned you in the acknowledgments section of my dissertation.
I would love to share that section with you (or the whole dissertation, if you’re interested—there are some rather math-heavy statistical analyses you might appreciate given how you always encouraged a love of numbers in your students) once it is finalized after my oral defense this Friday, March 28. If that sounds appealing to you—please feel free to email me so that I have your address! I believe my email address should be visible to you.
Thank you for everything you did to inspire me all those years ago. Your belief in me has carried through to this day and is a testament to the incredible power of a skilled and passionate educator.
Warm regards,
Natasha Kostek
Mrs. Yolles!
I have been trying to find a way to contact you for several years, and that search has led me to this site. I wanted to personally thank you for your 8th grade math class. Beforehand, as you may remember, I could not stand the field, as I considered myself lacking the ability to excel. However, your class changed that completely. To this day, I still contribute your class, and the way you taught math, to instilling my interest in advanced mathematical topics (starting with the Fractal video you showed my class) to topics like calculus, and quantum theory. Last year I doubled up in mathematics, and now advanced into Pre-Calculus where I am currently. I am also taking independent classes online via MIT on Integral Calculus.
Your class also led my interest into math applied into science. Currently, I am really focused on cosmology and astrophysics, which as you may know are extremely math oriented. Your class single-handedly changed my opinion of math from boring numbers, to a abstract and fascinating field.
Again, I want to thank you for opening my world to just how fun and captivating mathematics is. After all, it is the language of the universe!
Thank you for all you did,
Nicholas Carey
Team 1
2011-2012
So happy to hear from you. A longer reply is coming via email!
I went to Boiberik for 4 summers, ’60-’63. (My dad was President of the camp in ’39, and in the Golden Book- my aunt says he only got a line because Leibush Lehrer didn’t like his lefty sympathies). Your post brought back so many long lost memories. Thanks for that!
–David
Thanks, David. I’m surprised at your aunt’s comment because I thought the whole camp was very leftish politically! I, too, got a line and saw it when I went to YIVO Institute where the Golden Books reside.
There is a math blog I really like (Good Math), and I stumbled across a funny one that made me think of you! I thought you’d be both horrified and amused!
http://scientopia.org/blogs/goodmath/2010/10/06/argh-argh-argh/
Thanks, will check it out!
Your blog is now on my must read list. I love what you write about and how you write it. M
Thanks! I’ll even take suggestions of topics. But my favorites are words, spelling, punctuation and math, of course!