Teaching Jacob In Pre-Calculus

I have had the pleasure of teaching Jacob in class for two years; in Pre-Calculus as a sophomore and currently as a junior in AP Calculus AB. Jacob's greatest strength in class is his inquiring attitude. He has a unique ability to analyze and reflect on the problem-solving process. While solving complex mathematics problems, he will refine and improve his problem-solving strategy until he obtains the correct solution. When I give his assessments back, Jacob critically examines his mistakes to learn from them often sharing his findings with his peers. Jacob challenges himself academically and wants to understand the how and why behind the concepts he is studying. He is not satisfied with the procedure of the problem or getting the right …show more content…
Routinely, he stays after school or comes in before school to study for classes or prep for JROTC competitions. Jacob possesses unusual self-direction and can be relied upon to accomplish task requiring little explanation. As a former coach, I believe Jacob embodies the motivation a coach or teacher hopes to find in any student-athlete. His competitive nature makes him an outstanding performer under pressure, which translates to all areas of his life. In his mathematics classes, he handles the pressure of challenging problems and situation with ease often encouraging his classmates to continue to put forth effort to develop a solution. Outside of the classroom, his willingness to help others can be observed in the community. As a leader in JROTC, he will often assist with Operation Santa and volunteer for important ceremonies to remember 9/11, Veteran's Day, and Memorial Day. He has also served as a mentor to elementary students. While attending elementary school events with my own children, I observed Jacob being patient and understanding with the younger