Hi, my name is Ildiko Kalman-Forbes. I am a writer, an educator, and a creative thinker.
I am originally from Budapest, Hungary, but for over 20 years now, I have made my home in Tacoma, Washington. I got my Associate Degree in Computer Information Management Systems at Tacoma Community College, my BA at Evergreen State College, my MA in English and Creative Writing with a focus on Fiction at Southern New Hampshire University, and my M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Mathematics K-12 at Concordia University Nebraska. Currently, I am a substitute paraeducator and an emergency substitute teacher at the Tacoma Public School District.
I like to write and I like math. Sometimes these two interests intersect when I create stories for children and young adults. I like the hidden (or not so hidden) mathematical elements in fictional stories. I believe that teaching mathematical concepts embedded into a funny tale that grabs the young reader’s attention could help young adults to like or even love math instead of hating it by the time they reach 8th grade.
I have three of my flash-fictions published in my school’s literary magazine: “The Evergreen Echo,” and have written two children’s books, and two of a four-book series of middle-grade books that I hope to publish soon.
I also enjoy creating printables for children. Fun activities and learning opportunities disguised as games can also help kids enjoy the process of learning. I am all about making learning engaging.
In my free time, I love to read romances, listen to country music, walk or hike with my daughter, or cuddle with one of my two cats (Oscar and Silas), or the newest member of my household, Gibson, the Goldendoodle puppy.