F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did you get the name MATHQUEZ?
Somewhere in the middle of my 7th year of teaching, a student's mom thought it would be clever to combine my name with the subject I teach. The moniker has stuck ever since.

How many bow ties do you own?

I own nearly 100 bow ties, many of which came from the generous sponsors. I actually owned more at one time, but gave away much of my collection to a friend of mine.

Is it true that you make your own bow ties?

Yes. It's true that most of my bows are self-tie bow ties, if that's what you mean. You're also right if you think I know how to sew my own bow ties. A designer who has a studio in Bushwick actually took the time out to teach me how to hand craft my own bow ties and I've created quite a few over the years.

Why are you bald?

Maybe one day this question will earn its own post since I am bald by choice, but for now I'll sum it up in two reasons. It saves me money (I don't have to pay for a new hair cut twice a month since I shave my head twice a week.) and it makes for an efficient way to get ready every morning.

Is it true that kids exercise in your classroom?

Yes. Did you know that children in schools across the nation are required to have 30 minutes of exercise daily? Since our school doesn't require every student to attend a physical education class I try to do my part by incorporating light bodyweight exercises, such as squats, throughout the class. Usually this happens as students are simultaneously being held to high standards of mental math problem solving. 

Why do you love math so much?

While math came rather easy to me in practice as a child, the conceptual understanding eluded me until I became an adult. I love unraveling the perceived complexities of a problem and finding simple ways to engage with and tackle a problem from various perspectives. I see problem solving as a skill that will take you beyond the success contained within a classroom and ultimately prepare you for many of the challenges you will have in life outside of school.

Is it true that you're mean all of the time?

Me? Mean? I would say it depends on your definition of mean. I would classify my attitude in the classroom as militant with a purpose. This thought will be developed further in a future post of its own, but for now I'll share one of my personally favorite verses in all of the Bible. Proverbs 22:15 reads: "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." Rods aren't soft and tender tools that a shepherd uses to guide his sheep. Rods are often harsh pieces of wood used to marshall sheep. I see myself as a caring shepherd entrusted with the responsibility to guide my students toward knowledge and making better choices in life. Some call it "tough love." Some, unfortunately, mistaken it for being mean.

How old are you?

At the time of this posting I am 34 years and 4 months old. I was born on February 14, 1979. Yes, that's also celebrated as Valentine's Day.

Why do you have so many tattoos?

Short story - each piece marks a special time in my life that I wanted to celebrate and commemorate with a permanent reminder that I can look at and be thankful for. Long story - check out my much longer post on tattoos here.

Do you play an instrument?

Yes, I play two instruments. I enjoy strumming the guitar and singing (I consider my voice to be an instrument). In fact, at one point in my life, I was actually part of a traveling group of guitaristas called the Rondalla Cristiana Soldados de la Fe. We even produced our own CD!

Interested in asking the Mathquez your own question? Write to him at mr.jeff.vasquez@gmail.com