4.2
Quality3.5
Difficulty80%
Would Retake100
Reviews80%
Would Retake
100
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
61
4
19
3
9
2
8
1
3
What Students Say
“Best math teacher i've ever had at SBCC”
MATH210 - 5.0 rating“Jim is hands down the best math professor at SBCC”
MATH220 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
45%
Textbook Required
7%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
200
5.0
(1)MATH117
5.0
(1)MATH100107
5.0
(1)CALC131
5.0
(1)MATH130
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
200
5.0
MATH250
5.0
MATH
5.0
MATH131
5.0
MATH41272
5.0
Reviews (100)
very nice; excellent teacher; lots of homework though
He assumes every student doesn't work and is taking his class. Poor explainer o
Not only unfriendluy, but downright mean and cruel! Won't tolerate any questions from students! Didn't respond when student he didn't like said good-morning!
Gives out unreasonable amounts of work, lectures at a manic pace, and often tells himself, and rightly so, to shut up.
Outstanding teacher! Clear, friendly, and has a remarkable talent to learn everyones name in two or three classes! Loves to have students visit him at office hours or communicate through e-mail. Will practically do the problems for you to help you learn.
The worst! Mean, uninterested, grouchy, cruel, twisted. The question is: Why did he go in to teaching if he hates students so much! You would learn more Math sitting in the Cafeteria alone. Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!
Jim is a cool guy. If your into math and science do take this teacher. Not an easy teacher but will get you ready for Math 107 or 111. Does his job very well and cares about the student. Not the most personable at first but grows on you. I WOULD rec. Jim for 100. Just be ready to study 8 hours a wee
hard to keep up with, unclear at times, you have to be into math to li9ke his class cause hes into it, alittle too much i think
Jim is the man. He cares and it shows in his class. Take him and work hard and you will be glad that you did. he rewards the hard worker...
NO! NO! NO! The very antithesis of a qualified teacher! Plays favorites, won't engage in conversation with students he doesn't like (for God knows what reason?), appears to often be disengaged or distracted. Students should be warned that if the get on this chaps bad side-there in for a rough sem.
Ok jim is like....wierd, but in that dorky "cant seem to hate" kind of dorky. He does ask us to do alot of homework but not more than you would do in any 12th grade math class and i was in pre algebra, im dumb but im keeping up. Good guy, just dont stare at the birthmark on his face...
He is a good teacher and extremely detailed. His humor helps the class go by faster. He makes the class easier.
All you have to do is keep up. Jim loves his job and really wants you to learn. He makes himself available to students if they seek him out. There is a lot of homework, but it really prepares you for higher math. He will help students that have a hard time as long as they try and don't give up.
No Comments
Best Math Teacher out there. Jim is so into what he does and getting across to the students. Clear presentation of material. Good amount of homework but goes over it everyday in class. Some quizes, group quizes, three mid terms, and a final. Take this teacher while his class is still open.
Jim rocks. He teaches from 4 to 250, I wish I could stay at CC to finish that far. Rreally loves teaching, and is fair to all students. Plus, the man is sexy as hell. Definite recommend.
He is an awesome teacher. You actually learn in his class. Yes there is alot of HW, but hey you got what u came for, knowledge. I really recommend him.
hes a really good teacher, and kind of good looking too. :)
Very good teacher.Extremely patient-almost TOO patient.I can't believe how well he handled these complete imbeciles.It was a work of art.So if you're a moron, you definitely won't be made to feel like one in his class.But really, he's good.You do have to memorize like every equation though, that kinda sucks, but hey it's math, what did you expect?
Excellent teacher...that is all that needs to be said. loves to help and makes things easy
Awesome! Do ur homework before class so you can ask questions during class. He gives a lot of homework but makes you learn.
One of the best math teachers i have ever had. He will explain everything to the very smallest detail even when all but one person in the class understands. Very nice and sometimes funny as well. He gives detailed outlines of what will be on the exams. Do your HW and you will pass this class without a problem.
Assigns massive amounts of homework, which will either help you understand the information or turn into a whole lot of busy-work. He takes a lot of time to help you if you have any questions, although sometimes he just ends up confusing you. Ask questions in class and make sure you know how to do all the homework problems and you'll be fine.
This teacher assigns a lot of homework and weighs it much too highly for a high level calculus class, as if students don't know how keep up with necessary concepts at this point in school. He also understands how to do all the problems, but lacks when explaining them; often going into long, irrelevant tangents until giving up is your best option.
i though he was very fair and he strives to have make sure you a clear understanding .
I took Jim for Intermeiate Algebra. It was the first time I'd taken a math class in 6 years and he helped me to get an A! Jim is always ready to explain, in class or after, anything you don't understand and will have memorized the classes names by the third weeek! He seems to teach by the "we're only as strong as our weakest member pihilosophy",
I missed 3 full weeks of cl**** in math 260 due to highschool soccer, he worked around my schedual to let me make up tests and he was so clear that I was able to still earn a b in his cl****
He is nice enough but wastes WAY too much time on turning every answer into a grammatically correct sentence, which usually takes him a few extra minutes. There is a lot of homework, which is hard to do because getting through class is rough. Gives outlines on the exams, but you have to understand everything else for the outlines to make sense!
he is a very good teacher
Great teacher, very helpful and wants every student to get a good grade in his class. Gives very good outlines for tests. highly recommend!
Good teacher but do your homework. No notes or calculators allowed. Sticks to the numbers. I would take him again.
I am taking him right now. I do not like his teaching style at all. He is a nice guy but i don't know, something about his teaching doesn't mesh well with me. I go to the math lab to get help with my homework no to Mr.Kruidenier. That math lab is really helpful. I would not want to take him again. Just my opinion though.
Great teacher, really cares about students. Is very thorough and patient with students. Will work hard to help students understand material. Recently he pushed back a test because he didn't feel the class was ready. There is plenty of HW but it's not overwhelming. I haven't taken a math class in 5 years but this class has been pretty easy for me.
Jim is one of the best teachers I've ever had. He actually bases his grades on how well his students learned the material, instead of simply attendance and effort. He makes sure every student gets whatever amount of individual help he/she needs. Our final was scheduled for 8am mon, he polled the class and,as a result, moved it to 11am wed.
Doesn't care about his students, impatient, and overall just incondsiderate. He expects every student to be a genius and doesn't have time to help you get up to speed.
amazing teacher
he was an OK teacher. his lectures are pretty "out there" he gets side tracked really easily and he talks to himself. it's really funny but i had to refer back to the book a lot after his lectures. i got a B in the class but i should've gotten an A. the only negative side of taking his class is that he grades hw. if you incomplete 1 problem -6/25
psssshh. whateva! this guy is halarious. he wants his students to understand the math and he knows it isnt our favorite subject. he wants us to learn and he outlines the tests for us, whats wrong with that? nothing! he has a limited amount of time to teach us things, especially when everyone asks hw questions so of course we should refer to the boo
His class isn't easy at all. But, the quality of his class is the best in SBCC. He is one of a few professors who really TEACH something. If you want an relaxing class, look for other classes.
Super easy class. Jim does good job explaining material and is helpful with questions. Can tell he definitely loves math and cares about his students. Tests are simply easier versions of group quizzes. Does grade homework. Overall, very easy to get good grade in this class.
JIM IS A GREAT TEACHER! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HIM FOR MATH 107.
Ok, so, he is a nice person,kind of talks to himself and he's really goofy. However, as a teacher he is not the best I've ever had. When explaining a problem he assumes that u understand everything and goes really fast and skips steps leaving u confused and unsure of how he got the solution. Always do the hw. cant use calculators on tests/quizzes
If you take his class you are gonna learn the subject whether you want it or not. His tests and quizzes are hard. On the other side he has plenty of office hours where you can go with all your questions. If you want to get an A then do all the HW and ask him what you dont understand and memorize the proofs on his lectures and quizzes. Work hard!!
Very Good Teacher! I have had him for two semesters, and have gotten good grades in both. He lets you ask homework questions everyday before it is due. Only gives about 9 hw assignments, and each time a hw is due you are given a quiz. The quizes are then taken and formed into a test for the 3 or 4 tests that you will have throughout the semester. I
I've had him for linear algebra and diff eq (math 210 and 220). The class structure is great, homework and quizzes are weekly. The tests are very hard, and are a true indicator of how much you have learned. He can be almost impossible to follow at times during lecture because he makes a lot of mistakes. He is fairly helpful during office hours.
Funny guy, really helpful. Wants you to learn. If i needed more math classes, he'd be my first choice.
Best teacher I've had at SBCC and I've been here 3 years, genuinely interested in the students understanding of the material, great guy too, if you wanna learn take his class
Great teacher but if youre looking for a free handout he is not your guy. Hes there to teach. if you dont go to class or try to learn the material you will not pass. Hes easy to follow as long as you never fall behind or just ask him to clarify. He will take the time to make sure you understand. All "you people" should consider his classes.
I took Math 107 & 120 with Mr. K and was very glad I did. He's funny and nice, and a great teacher. Anyone who complained about him didn't come to all of the classes and just didn't really try. You'd be hard pressed to find a better math teacher at CC if you're really putting the effort in.
Jim is awesome. He REALLY cares about his students and is super helpful in office hours. His lectures are RIVETING. I was never bored in his class. His quizzes and exams are reasonable if you really study and do all of the hw. I would recommend him to anyone for Math 200. Heard he's hard to follow in 210 though.
Awesome math professor. The guy clearly loves what he does. He is eager to teach and he definitely knows the material. I took him for 200 and 210 and both classes, while difficult, were made a lot more interesting by Jim's passion for math.
For an extremely difficult course, he does a wonderful job of teaching it. He speaks fast at times, but it's because he is so enthusiastic about math and it really shows. extremely helpful during office hours. I'm glad i'll be taking 210 with him next semester.
great teacher
Hard class but great teacher. You must put in the work if you want to succeed. Most people think his tests are too hard but he is very clear about what you will be tested on. Lectures are very entertaining because he is so passionate about the subject. I took him for 160, 200, and 220 and he got me interested in becoming a math major.
Great professor! I'm absolutely horrible at math but he made everything so clear that I ended up getting a B which is not easy for me normally! Do all the homework it really helps getting extra points.
I recommend him. He is a great professor, and I would take him again if I can in higher maths.
Love this teacher he is good at explaining these high math classes better than any other teacher there. Take him NO complaints.
Best math teacher I've had. He's super dweeby but he make's learning and otherwise dry subject very interesting. He's chalk full of real world examples, especially for engineering.
Jim is the best math teacher I've ever had and I'm absolutely terrible at math. His class is relatively slow-paced and he makes sure everyone knows what they're doing before he moves onto the next section. Homework and attendance count into the grade but if you actually do it and care to learn then that's always a plus. Wish I could take him again.
Speaks way too fast. Tons of homework! the exams are extremely hard!
Best math professor at sbcc in my opinion. Extremely helpful in office hours and in class. His teaching method is based around getting his students ready for exams, instead of trying to form every student in to a pure mathematician. Tests are quite difficult, but once you hit the 200 level math courses, you should expect nothing less.
Jim is a great teacher. He is very fair and patient with students, and tells you exactly what to expect on his tests. Just be sure you do plenty of practice problems in preparation, and ask him for help if you need it!
Jim really, and I mean really, knows his stuff. Sometimes he knows it so well that he goes a bit quickly in lecture. He coves A LOT of stuff so DO NOT miss even one lecture or you're screwed. He lets you know exactly what will be on the test but there is always a new twist so make sure you understand the material. Plug and chug will NOT suffice.
I know go to UC Berkeley and this is one of the best teachers I have ever had. He is extremely passionate and knows the material very well. The test are absolutely brutal, but by the end of this class you will know the material like the back of you hand. You must take at least one class with Jim and experience his craziness. Cares about students.
Jim is definitely the best math professor at SBCC in my opinion. He understands what he is teaching very well and can make up examples off the top of his head like it's nothing. He is very helpful in office hours as well and can also be quite funny from time to time. He really cares about the students, which is a key quality of a great professor.
Jim is hands down the best math professor at SBCC. Actually, probably close to the best professor overall at the school. I transferred to a university this fall and he has done so much to prepare me for this point. If you want to learn the material, and you aren't scared to work for it, take the Jimster.
Best math teacher i've ever had at SBCC. You know exactly what to expect for tests and if you put in the work you will succeed in his class.
The guy KNOWS his math. 20+ years of experiance. Overall he's a great man
For someone who's been teaching for so long to be able to come into every class and still be passionate about the subject is amazing and it rubs off on the students. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Jim's the best professor I've ever had.
Hes a smart man who's quick witted with his words and math. Likes to teach math with tricks that help save time on exams. Don't expect to learn a majority in lecture reading the book before and after class will help a lot with is teaching style. Office hours are the best time to get help. hands down one of the best instructors on campus
Jim is really nice and tries to be as helpful as possible. That being said, he is not a very good professor. The majority of the class is spent going over homework, which leaves us very little time to cover the lecture material. Therefore, we never go into the depth that the tests or quizzes go into.
Does not care if you fall behind. His lectures are nothing compared to his homework and exams either. I would recommend avoiding this professor.
Jim is the best math professor at SBCC hands down. His lectures are clear and very organized. He clearly explains what he expects from his students. Also, the tests are entirely based on the lecture problems and mainly the quizze's questions, and he gives a ton of partial credit on his tests.
Jim is funny, patient and really enthusiastic about math and teaching. He goes over the material really fast, but does his best to answer questions. Sometimes the content is unclear, but if you take advantage of his office hours, he will go over it with you one on one until you understand. You definitely have to study and put in the effort.
Jim is a must take professor. Workload can be tough at times, but it's all to make sure that you know the material. He wants you to succeed and ask him questions, because he loves teaching, and having students really know their sh!t. Go to his office hours if you don't understand something in class, he is the most helpful teacher I've ever had.
Above all, make sure you attend his lectures and do the homeworks. The homework assignments are long and tedious but if you can do the homework, you can do all of the quizzes. All quizzes are group quizzes too which is great. Most Quiz/Exam problems are directly from homework. Great lecturer and the BEST TEACHERS WEBSITE I've ever seen.
Jim is quite good, does make some errors in his lectures but still able to understand. Exams are challenging but doing the homework will really prepare you for it. Also does group quizzes which you are able to work with the whole class.
He is very respectful and you enjoy the subject if you visit his office hours. He motivates you as he tells you about the other application of this math you never heard before. (go visit his office hour) Very impressive professor. You, in addition, learn several fabulous computational tricks of his that are not in the textbook, which are awesome!
Definitely take Jim, he's enthusiastic about math, and wants you to know the ins and outs of the subject. Tests are not hard at all if you give an honest effort in class. He does go quickly though, but he loves answering questions about anything you don't get. Also, he teaches shortcut methods to problems which are quite clever, and time saving!
Jim was a great professor (very nice and easygoing), although he does not use canvas, he is very accessible and will help you calculate your grade. His notes are online, but they won't make sense if you miss class. Genuinely wants to help prepare you for future classes, and will help you to succeed.
Jim is a great professor and I highly recommend anybody take his classes. For his 160class he prohibits the use of calculators but writes tests that don't require them and really tests your conceptual understanding. Be sure to memorize his favorite trig IDs and geometric tricks for solving integrals. Finish all hw/quizzes/tests and you'll do great!
Jim is a great professor. Sometimes it's hard to understand the notes, he doesn't always simplify them. He really looks at your work during quizzes and tests which is good and bad. If you get the wrong answer, he'll give you points for your work. If you give him the right answer, he may take points away because of your work. He has group quizzes!
Love this guy. Sorta hard class but its Calculus so I can't really complain, Jim definitely was open to answering any question I had and helped me through the problems. Also, he's just a sweet guy and has great energy.
Jim is my favorite professor I've ever had. I took both 210 and 200 with him and both classes where great. 210 was especially enjoyable for me. Class was challenging but it always felt fair to me. What I liked most about his class was his passion for the subject and for teaching. I respect him a lot. Made me consider math/teaching as a career.
Incredible professor! No doubt the concepts taught in math 160/calc 2 are difficult but he does a great job explaining. He also has mandatory HW assignments which I thought I wouldn't like but I found really helpful and I don't think I would've passed this class without struggling through his HW assignments.
He is a good man absolutely, but his course I cannot describe. I mean his lecture is very long and fast. Sometimes, he cannot explain every problems clearly
Jim is super sweet I just personally didn't vibe with his class. He doesn't let you use calculators which I hated because i've been taught to rely on them my whole life. He makes you use this program called matlab that is like coding which I didn't really like either because I am not going into coding. Wasn't horrible, just wasn't the best.
I really loved having him as a professor, he made the material pretty easy to understand. If you go to his office hours and refer to his old practice quizzes and exams, it's not hard to get a good grade.
Jim is a nice guy but not great at explaining things. The class has a good set-up and if you put in effort you will pass. The mandatory HW seems tedious but if I didn't do it all I wouldn't have understood anything so its worth it. Refer back to the notes as much as possible and use the archived tests and quizzes to study.
Very solid Teacher, a little challenging but you will come out of this class understanding the material very well.
I just finished the upper division linear algebra course at UC Berkeley (since transferring from SBCC) and am in awe of how well Jim prepared me for it. He's a great professor for any major, but if you're a math major then you absolutely need to take him. His lectures are clear and concise, group quizzes are difficult but tests are easy.
Jim is a phenomenal professor. He creates engaging lectures and cares about his students. His homework is difficult but forces you to learn on your own. SBCC is lucky to have him.
This class was definitely hard. Jim makes all of his homework and test questions by himself so some of them can be pretty creative (and confusing.) However, he is genuinely one of the nicest people I have ever met and really cares about his students. Take advantage of office hours as well as archived tests and quizzes.
He's a great person and very accomodating but isn't good at explaining topics clearly and thoroughly, but overall class is set up well.
He's a great professor. It's not easy, but if you put in the work to finish homework, and use the archived tests, you can do well! He also has a lot of office hours for any questions, including HW problems. Also, he gives a lot of partial credit on daily problems & exams. I took him again for Math160 bc of his teaching and grading :)
Great professor who puts 100% into making class enjoyable. Explains math concepts really well. If you want to learn he is perfect teacher. Definitely recommended, 10/10
Jim is a phenomenal professor. His class is not an easy A but if you want to learn calculus he is great at teaching it. He is always making sure students understand each concept before proceeding and he will slow down to help explain things to you whenever you're confused, even during the middle of his lectures. 10/10 would take his class again.
Professor Kruidenier is one of the best math professors I have had. He provides great resources and properly prepares you for his exams. You will do well in the class if you use his past exams for practice and attend his lectures. His recorded lectures are also really helpful.
Jim is awesome. I am no math wiz but his class is structured simply and made me great at calculus. He sometimes puts curveball questions on the homework but never on the test. The archived tests on his website are extremely helpful in preparing for exams. A lovely man and a great teacher.
I went into this class dreading math and came out of it extremely interested in the subject. This class is difficult but it should be, if you don't apply yourself when it comes to math you won't do well. This class teaches that. I am thankful I stuck with it and remained in the class. I feel very prepared for the future.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
45%
Textbook Required
7%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.48 avg changeRatings by Course
200
5.0
(1)MATH117
5.0
(1)MATH100107
5.0
(1)CALC131
5.0
(1)MATH130
5.0
(3)Difficulty by Course
200
5.0
MATH250
5.0
MATH
5.0
MATH131
5.0
MATH41272
5.0