Why “Bugged About Math”?

When I first started teaching calculus, many of my students didn’t have a strong math background. We were trying to tackle derivatives while still struggling with solving quadratics, it was a lot! I knew I needed a way to make tricky concepts more approachable, so I started using thought bubbles on the board: little notes, hints, and reminders to guide students through the math.

But the thought bubbles felt a bit lonely, so I added tiny drawings, usually bugs, to accompany them. My students loved it. They even gave my little characters a name: The Bug That Thinks. One student even themed their end-of-year “Calculus for Dummies” book around it.

Combine that with my nickname, Beetle, and Bugged About Math was born. What started as a quirky classroom tool became the perfect name for a space dedicated to making math fun, approachable, and full of little helpers along the way.