Coach Fritts - Go Tennessee Vols!!!

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About The Teacher Label:


About The Teacher
Hello, I am Coach Fritts and my family and I moved from Tennessee to Texas in June of 2006. This will be my fourth year at FJH and my 12th year in the classroom and teaching mathematics. I have taught math on many different levels ranging from 6th grade mathematics to Algebra I. This is also my second "tour of duty" in Texas. My wife and I lived in Waco from 2001-2003 while she attended Baylor and completed her Masters of Divinity at Truett Theological Seminary. Did I go to Baylor too...not exactly, I graduated from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN in 1993. I worked in medical sales for a few years until I decided to continue my education at the University of Tennessee. I received my Master's Degree in Education in 1999. I am a proud Knoxville, Tennessee native and HUGE University of Tennessee fan. We moved here to be near my wife's family but Tennessee is never far from my heart. When you come to my classroom you will see many University of Tennessee items hanging from my walls...I like to think that I went to the real UT and not the "other" UT (university of texas). Since moving to Friendswood we have enjoyed the area and being close to family, but I am still not used to these Hurricanes! Speaking of my family, I have a beautiful wife and 2 awesome children. One thing you will find out about me very quickly is that nothing is more important to me than my family. In addition to teaching math, I will be coaching basketball for the 7th grade girls A Team. I spent 2 seasons coaching the 7th grade girls B Team where we accumulated 32 wins and 4 losses while earning a District Runner Up finish in 2007 and a District Championship in 2008! Last year, despite many injuries and illnesses, the 7A team finished 11 and 6 with two 2nd place finishes in yearly tournaments. In addition to basketball, I also coach 7th and 8th boy's tennis...The past 3 seasons in tennis have also been great. Both the 7th and 8th grades won the Team District Titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Three Straight Team Titles is a reflection of the talented players we have, not of the coach...trust me on that! Although most of my coaching experience has been in basketball(High School, Middle School and AAU), I have a wide range of coaching experiences. I have had the pleasure to work with great kids in all my tenures as a track, golf, cross country, football and basketball coach. Behind every great coach are great kids...and an understanding wife! Friendswood has been a great place to teach and live so far and I am excited about continueing to teach in an EXEMPLARY district. If you need to contact me the best way is through email. My school email is jfritts@fisdk12.net or you can click the email link at the right. I will be happy to reply when I have my breaks. Lets have a great year!!!!!!

Mission Label:


Mission
I break my teaching down into two categories. This first category is Real World Application. With Real World Application, I try to show my students the importance of math in the real world and everyday life. I understand, however, not every skill we cover will be necessary for their future...it depends upon what career path they choose. I do believe math sharpens the mind for all types of problem solving skills and what career has no problem solving, not many. However, I still get the hand in the air and the…“When are we ever going to need to know this?” question at least once every couple of weeks. Even though I see the importance of math, I understand why a student would ask it. Even as an adult I want to validate that what I have learned, and continue to learn, is something I will use in my life. Through analogies and stories (of which I have many) I point out the relevance of math and why the students need to know it. The second category of my teaching philosophy is Tough Love. Tough Love is a slang term a friend of mine and I came up with while in graduate school. I show my students I care about them and their education. However, I do not let them “slide” when it comes to following the rules within my classroom or those established by our social contracts or the school and/or district. Like a parent, I am tough on my students because I care about them. I believe for every choice a student makes, there is an action (albeit positive or negative) for that choice. If they do their work as expected and act appropriately they will receive proper credit, the appropriate grade and other privileges deserving of such action. If they do not do their part or behave in a manner inappropriate to the classroom by breaking the social contract then they are subjected to the discipline that follows. Even as an adult, every choice I make has an action that will follow. I want my students to enjoy my class. I want them to learn about mathematics but I also want them to leave the 7th grade knowing they can actually like math, understand its applications and use it for their future endeavors. I hope I can accomplish those things.