NAME:
Coach Fritts
SCHOOL:
Friendswood JR. High
CLASS:
7th Grade Mathematics
SCHOOL PHONE:
281/482-7818
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!!!!!!
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.
