My latest column, Taming Math Dragons (ii), has been published in the spring 2025 issue of the Prison Mathematics Project newsletter. This remarkable (free) newsletter is available in paper and pdf form. My column offers insights and strategies for inmates hoping to re-engage with mathematics as students. 

In this column, I pick up from my previous column, confirming the need to candidly assess the nature of the things that may be stoking a negative response to re-engaging with math studies. These may include recollecting previous negative math experiences and even recollecting the long-lost voices of people razzing students about math abilities. These are math ‘dragons’ that need to be tamed, and they can be through conjuring up imaginary supports that help a student positively anticipate new math experiences and build a foundation of new habits contributing to learning success.

This column and the previous one comprised the substance of my presentation at Washington Corrections Center on Pi Day (March 14th), which was well received by the 60 or so inmates in attendance. After my presentation, several inmates approached me personally to share insights about their math dragons. I confirmed to them I had a suitcase full of negative math experiences myself and it took persistence and my own tenacity to shake these off and keep going. I told them I was certain they could be successful, too, no matter what dragons they had skirmished with in the past.

Below is the first page of my column: