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A Detroit math teacher
markets her own educational materials.

28585 Telegraph Rd.

353-1300

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

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181 S. Old Woodward Ave.
.(I Blk. S. of Maple. Next to the
Birmingham Theatre)
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he proverb says:
All work and no
play makes Jack a
dull boy.
But for Ellen Hechler,
work is so much fun that it
blurs together with play.
It's an approach the mid-
dle school teacher likes to
share with her students.
Using brainteasers, puzzles
and role-playing activities,
Hechler tries to accentuate
the fun in learning.
A math teacher, Hechler
also teaches a course entitled
"Practical Life Skills," in
which kids learn about bud-
geting, job searching and
other challenges that await
them as they grow up.
In response to colleagues'
requests, Hechler put her
classroom exercises and
games on paper a few years
ago, creating a workbook
called "Real Life
Experiences," a collection of
word search puzzles designed
to stimulate interest in
vocabulary and a set of flash
cards for use in classroom
Ellen Hechler: Teacher and entrepreneur
math games.
Starting out as a limited
plans to translate materials into
printing, using the complimentary
other languages, to market on the
production services of Hechler's lith-
Internet, and to develop computer-
ographer dad, Mark, the project
ized versions of her books —
quickly grew into a business, which
Hechler is still keeping it in the
Hechler named Midmath.
family.
Distributed through teacher cata-
In addition to employing her
logs and word-of-mouth, the materi-
dad, Hechler uses the shlepping
als have sold in the thousands all
skills of niece Kimberly Weiss and
over the world, with clients in
nephews Scott and Kevin Weiss,
England, Canada and Tasmania.
who help with collating and other
Sales aren't making Hechler rich yet,
tasks.
but they do provide extra spending
Despite the growing demands of
money and a summer income.
her business, Hechler continues to
Although she's looking to keep
teach full time at Detroit's
expanding the business — with
Ruddiman Middle School. A gradu-

ate of Henry Ford High
School, Hechler lives in
Farmington Hills but is
fiercely loyal to the Detroit
Public Schools where she
has taught more than 20
years.
"I think every student
deserves the same opportu-
nities," she said. "That's
why I stay in Detroit. These
kids deserve the best, espe-
cially because many of them
are starting at a deficit."
Not good at math when
she was growing up,
Hechler says a good student
teacher in high school won
her over to the discipline.
"What I love about math is
that it's an exact science,"
she said. "Two plus two will
always equal four, and how
you present it determines
how kids will remember. It's
not just about numbers, but
about higher-level thinking
skills."
Although inner-city
teaching has its challenges,
the "feeling of a ha! when
you see the kids get it,"
keeps her coming back.
In addition to business
and teaching, Hechler keeps
busy with ceramics (over the
summer, she sells her works
at art fairs around the state), mah-
jongg and — more recently —
Jewish learning.
"Having a bat mitzvah is my next
goal," said Hechler, who is not affili-
ated with a synagogue but has been
active with a number of Jewish orga-
nizations in the past.
Hechler will be displaying her
educational materials at the Jewish
Community Center's Jewish Book
Fair on Nov. 9. "My products are
good for parents as well as teachers,
she said. "They make great
Chanukah gifts!"

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