Ted Hughes Teacher and Educator

Growing up near the ever-busy O’Hare Airport, where planes flew overhead every 12 minutes, Ted Hughes learned early on how to find moments of clarity amidst constant interruptions. This environment shaped his unique perspective on navigating life’s rhythms. As the youngest in a household where art met science, Ted was surrounded by creativity and analytical thinking. His father, a systems analyst and stained glass artist, filled Ted’s world with vibrant colors and intricate patterns, fostering his visual approach to problem-solving from an early age.

At just three years old, Ted began his journey into literacy through music, learning to read by singing along to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. His creativity was evident as early as kindergarten when he represented the number three by drawing a large triangle with two smaller triangles nestled inside—an elegant and profound visualization of a basic number concept.

Ted initially pursued engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana, driven by a desire to apply systematic problem-solving to real-world challenges. However, his experience in the corporate world revealed that factory environments were often more about managing human dynamics than optimizing processes. This realization led him to education, where he found greater fulfillment applying his analytical skills to help students unlock their potential.

Influenced by the pioneering child psychologist Jean Piaget, who observed that the human brain naturally groups items, though typically limited to around five at a time, Ted expanded upon this concept. He discovered that by visually grouping numbers beyond five—specifically 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10—into recognizable, repeatable patterns, he could help children bypass traditional counting methods. This breakthrough led to the development of Color My Math, a revolutionary system that assigns each number a unique visual identity through colors and shapes.

With Color My Math, children can intuitively recognize numbers without needing to count or rely on constant teacher intervention, reducing distractions and enhancing their learning experience. Ted’s method streamlines the learning process, making numbers as familiar as basic shapes or primary colors. It’s a practical application of Piaget’s theories, but with an innovative twist—Ted extended Piaget’s framework, allowing children to grasp higher numbers through visual cues rather than auditory repetition or conventional methods.

Ted Hughes didn’t just follow in Piaget’s footsteps; he expanded upon them. By pushing the boundaries of how the brain groups numbers, he created a visually rich, engaging, and intuitive way for children to learn mathematics. Color My Math has transformed the way young minds perceive numbers, offering a new path to mathematical understanding—one that is colorful, creative, and grounded in the natural way we see the world.