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I apologize for the "softness" of this enquiry, but as mathematics educators I believe these are some of the most rewarding moments of teaching our discipline. Having said that, may I share with you a story of teaching an online high school student elementary Algebra, after which, I replied "thanks for trying to learn", the student answered, "I always try before I give up." :D

I am simply looking for stories, to share with other mathematics educators, that made them laugh out loud. This, imho, is part of the reward in teaching.

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    $\begingroup$ Could I ask you to make more precise what you are looking for. It is not clear to me what type of answers you seek. Especially your exmaple makes the situation a bit unclear. It is neither specific to math, nor is it really positive (so I do not see how it is rewarding). $\endgroup$
    – quid
    Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 14:05
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    $\begingroup$ I am simply looking for stories, to share with other mathematics educators, that made them laugh out loud. This, imho, is part of the reward in teaching. Btw, thank you for retagging the question. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 14:16
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    $\begingroup$ Are you looking for back fired aha- moments from students? Something like "Vacuum? I have it in my head, but I don't know how to explain it" $\endgroup$
    – Thinkeye
    Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 14:18
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    $\begingroup$ Here's a classic from MathOverflow: mathoverflow.net/a/53905/31308 $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 16:22
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    $\begingroup$ I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because this topic isn't about teaching or learning mathematics. No answer to this question will impact mathematics education or support math educators $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 21, 2015 at 0:22

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From John Stembridge's web site at http://www.math.lsa.umich.edu/~jrs/plans.html :

"Are we going to have to think today, or is it going to be all math?"

--a student in Phil Hanlon's Math 115 class

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    $\begingroup$ That's a good one. It is sometimes amazing (though not really in a good way) that some students manage to answer a question that stumped them completely after being told they should just forget they are trying to solve a math problem. $\endgroup$
    – quid
    Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 15:51
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks for sharing that link. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 16:07
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I once had a colleague when I was teaching in Asia who was new to teaching high school, but was a very accomplished Mathematician. In one of his first lessons he was teaching simultaneous equations, and said that he would teach them two methods to do this. He thought that offering an option would endear him to the students. A student then put his hand up, and with all seriousness said:

"Thank you, but previous teacher taught All Known Methods"

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    $\begingroup$ That's the idea :D Any story, related to teaching math, that made you laugh out loud. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 20, 2015 at 15:02
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From a student learning real analysis:
The sequence diverges because the Cauchy criterion is dissatisfied.

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