Last August marked the beginning of a new journey for Fremd teacher Jenny Hong.
Hong, a math and engineering teacher, hopes to use her experiences to educate her students on both academic subjects, as well as real world skills.
Previously an electrical engineer, Hong took an interest in teaching after volunteering at her kids’ schools.
“I was able to interact with [students], and I always thought it was pretty cool. Then later, I worked as a program assistant and a substitute teacher at District 15,” Hong said.
The following year, Hong was offered a position as a long-term substitute teacher. She thoroughly enjoyed this role and found interacting with kids everyday to be rewarding.
This inspired Hong to go back to school and get her master’s degree in teaching.
Then, it was time to decide what subjects she wanted to teach. Since Hong had always been passionate about math and science, she knew which subjects they would be.
Hong enjoys teaching high schoolers, as it is very fulfilling to her.
“I feel that with my background, I can help them because this is about the time they start thinking about their career and what they want to do,” Hong said.
She hopes that with her experience as an engineer, she can expose students to possible career options. Students can ask her about different disciplines of engineering, and she can share with them what she knows.
Hong believes in the importance of teaching the material through its real world connections.
“Being an engineer, I really want the student to know the connection between math and real world applications,” Hong said.
For example, if students in geometry are learning about similar triangles, she tries to explain it to them by zooming in and out of a picture. The zoomed-in picture is not the same as the zoomed-out one but is still similar. This creatively illustrates how similarity works between triangles.
Hong has implemented a strategy to help build confidence in students who struggle with math.
A common reason for struggling students is that they don’t get enough practice.
After determining the root cause of the problem for the student, she will work with the student to help them fix it. A student may struggle with ratios due to not having a solid understanding of multiplication. Hong will help the student build up their confidence in multiplying. With this problem solved, the student can better understand ratios.
Hong’s goal goes beyond academics—she wants to aid in her students’ personal growth to prepare them for the real world. By emphasizing core values, Hong provides her students with academic knowledge and a strong work ethic.
“Imagine you’re trying to solve an algebra equation. You may not get it correct on the first try. Check your work, find the mistake, and try again. Each mistake teaches you something new. Life works the same way. Failure is an opportunity to reflect, refine your approach, and try again,” Hong said.