Student Testimonials
John has been privileged to work with thousands of students over the past 14 years – in workshops, classes and one-on-one tutoring.
Below are some of the testimonials John has received from former students and their parents for the 2010-11 school year, plus a few from prior years.
Parent of Tyler (June 2012)
Tyler really enjoyed your class and looked forward to it each week. He always came home with an amusing tale of the day’s discussions. I suspect you will remain one of Tyler’s favorite teachers well into the future. Thanks for making a positive and meaningful impact on Tyler’s life.
Parent of Samantha (June 2012)
I want to thank you for this year. I have never seen my child love school so much. You have lit a fire in her heart for writing that I am certain will burn for years to come.
Parent of Gerald (June 2012)
Gerald thoroughly enjoyed your class and learned many skills that will benefit him for years to come. You are a gifted instructor. May God continue to bless you as you serve others in this way. We will keep in touch and as soon as we have the schools and scholarship info for the letters of recommendation, we will send it to you.
Parent of Grace (May 2012)
I don’t know if Grace ever told you, but your Effective Writing class was her absolute favorite one of the whole year. She enjoyed it thoroughly, and you’ve made such a difference in her writing experience as well as her abilities. Thank you!
Parent of Christyanne (June 2012)
Thank you, Mr. Jenkins! You are a wonderful teacher – so upbeat, knowledgeable, funny, down-to-Earth. Chrissy learned so much from you – your experience as a published writer is excellent for the students!
Parent of Jonathan (June 2012)
Thank you so very much for teaching Jonathan this year. We are so grateful for your input into his life and academic studies.
Kristin G. (May 2012)
Thank you so much for taking time to write letters of recommendation for me. Thank you so much for helping me hone my writing skills and improve my appreciation for th world of literature. I have thoroughly enjoyed being your student.
Priscilla R. (2011)
Happy Thanksgiving! You are one of the blessings that I am thankful for. I really appreciate all that you do. Your class is one of my favorites and a lot of that is because of how you teach it.
Parent of Chris (2011)
Thank you so much for agreeing to write a reference for Chris’s college applications! In addition to the fact that you taught Chris Effective Writing, you are also familiar with his speech and debate efforts, and most importantly, you are a very experienced and talented teacher – so your reference means a lot to us!
John P. (2010-11)
I thought you’d like to a recent success story from one of your former Effective Writing students. Back in May, as the Bowie section of the class was wrapping up, I took the AP exam for World History. Today, I found out that my score from that test was a 5- the highest score possible. That success was largely due to your class. Teaching us to write SAT-style essays under test conditions was excellent preparation for the AP essays I had to write. There is no way I could’ve gotten a 5 unless the graders liked the essays. And I can safely say after your class, I know how to write those kinds of essays well. So thank you for your excellent teaching in Effective Writing! I’m sure as I enter college, those skills will continue to pay off.
(Oct 2011 Update) The tricks and tools you taught me in effective writing are making my college papers much easier to handle. I already know the process for writing, and am following the techniques I’ve used before. It also allows me to focus more on the research for this paper, some of which is turning out to be very cool. My topic is the history of reconnaissance aircraft from post-WWII to present day. The really exciting part is that the instructor took at look at some of my sources already found, and helped me set up a meeting with someone in the Air & Space museum who specializes in strategic aerial reconnaissance. Because I know how to begin working on a paper, I now have the chance to work with a high ranking historian at NASM.
Parent of Hannah (Aug 2011 update)
My daughter took two writing courses from you in 8th and 9th grade. She was completely prepared for the AP Language and Composition course she took at Patrick Henry Prep. Academy this past year! She found the first semester a little bit challenging and the second semester to be boring. She shared with me many times how she already knew so much that the instructor was teaching in the AP class from what she learned in your writing classes. She also discovered that the timed essays in her AP course were very easy following the method you taught her for succeeding in timed essays. She scored a 5 on the AP exam! You prepared her well for college level writing. Thank you!
Ashley (2010-11)
I just now got the chance to read your e-mail and grades. I appreciate all of the effort you put into our class and especially into me. I’m very grateful for your heartfelt speech at the end of the year and your comments you said in this e-mail. I really learned a lot from your class. I will definitely use what you taught me as i continue into higher education. Thank you so much for everything.
Tia (2010-11)
Thank you so much for teaching me this year! I’ve really enjoyed both Effective Writing and Mock Trial. I really appreciate how you care about each one of us personally and how you make the classes lighthearted and fun. I hope to take more classes with you in future!
Parent of Jesse (2008-9)
I was talking with Jesse the other day and he mentioned to me that the Mock Trial course you teach is superior to his college speech class, and Effective Writing is superior to his English III because you cover the material more thoroughly.
Parent of Holly (2010-11)
By the way, Holly took the SAT 2 subject test for Literature (without studying) and got a 720. Thank you for preparing her for that test!
Haleigh (2007-8)
Hey Mr. J! I go to NOVA now, and my english teacher LOVES my papers and I’ve been getting A’s on all of them…and it’s all thanks to what you taught me in your class last year! You’re also a harder grader than he is, and he’s a college prof! Haha! So thank you so much!
John B. (2006-7)
Thank you very much Mr. J for teaching this year. I had a great time in the Mock Trial class. It was fun, lively, and a lot better than I was expecting. Also, I think your teaching was a big help in making the class enjoyable. Thank you for the comments you had about me, I’m glad you saw me as a good student and not a hard-to-deal-with one. I look forward to taking some of your other classes next year.
Parent of Naomi and Caleb (2010-11)
Let me say a hearty and HEART-FELT thank you for your very kind comments. . .It’s so wonderful and encouraging to hear such positive feedback from someone who has worked somewhat closely with them. But also, may I say that your gracious words reflect your own gracious heart. You were a lasting example to me, the couple times I sat in, of manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in teaching. I mean it. A lasting example. Thank you for that!
Parent of Jonathan (2010-11)
Thank you so much, John, for another wonderful class! I’m so appreciative of the time and talent you give to each of your students. Jonathan had a great year and we are fortunate to have you in our homeschool teaching community.
Parent of Elizabeth (2005-6)
We will miss not having you as a teacher next year. She LEARNED SO MUCH! We have such confidence in her writing abilities that I don’t hesitate having her take any class that requires writing. Thank you for your investment and giving my daughter something that will be with her for life!
Parent of Josh (2010-11)
Thank you, Mr. J! We appreciate you…and hope certainly hope he keeps up the skills he has learned! I’ve recommended this class to 3 others this year, so sure hope they will pursue it. You are one of a kind.
Parent of Jordan (2010-11)
You are such a blessing to Jordan and the other kids! Your classes provide an atmosphere that encourages the love of learning. What a gift! Thank you for helping Jordan to develop her writing skills, as well as helping her to mature in some other critical areas. She has really learned to appreciate the importance of planning ahead and organization as means for success and peace.
Parent of Taylor (July 2010-11)
Thank you for all that you did for Taylor and his learning this year. While the writing class was a bit of a challenge for him, and he asked to withdraw. . .in the end he commented to me that he was glad to have taken it. He sees now how it has really prepared him for the maps he’s preparing for his WWII class, the Carroll County Times paper he hopes to write for the contest, and any future writing in the years to come. Now there’s a glimmer of maturity peeking through!
(Aug 2011) Just thought you’d like to see how your effort in teaching Taylor writing skills has begun to pay off for him! Thank you! http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/100th_anniversary/
Parent of Derek (2009-10)
We wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for being part of our educational journey this past year, and for your continued support as we finish out the year. You are a consummate professional, a truly gifted and dedicated teacher and a man of wonderful character and (quite clearly) boundless patience.
Parent of Bonnie (2009-10)
Thank you for all you do for your students. Bonnie has truly enjoyed her classes with you. Bonnie would have signed up for the Published Student class if she wasn�t graduating! Thank you also for the letter of recommendation you wrote for Bonnie. We really appreciate your help. I must tell you that Bonnie was not awarded that scholarship. But she was awarded a different $20,000 scholarship to the Art Institute and a $16,000 scholarship to the Delaware College of Art and Design. . .I wanted you to know about the scholarships because I believe they reflect so highly on the high academic standards of CHESS. Thank you!
Parent of Monica (2008-9)
Thank you for this evaluation. Thank you, also, for your kind words. We recognize that Our Lord has given her a talent. We are hoping that He will show her how He wants those talents used to glorify Him. You have had such a fabulous effect on Monica, and we are grateful that we found you!
Parent of Ryan (2008-9)
My son took your class two years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. He is currently attending Seton Catholic School in Manassas. He recently mentioned how helpful your class has been to him in school. Thank you for providing Ryan with such a great foundation in business writing.
