How to ask a teacher for recommendations?

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Hey I'm signing up for statistics next year, and I need to ask my math teacher for a recommendation. The thing is, I have no idea how to ask her. I know I've earned it; I've kept an A average in her honors class most of the year, dropping down to a B only once or twice. I just don't know how to word it. I don't want to sound like some pretentious know-it-all, and I do tend to sound like that. I've had trouble in the past with teachers thanks to the combination of my slight "Valley Girl" accent and tendency to correct people. Lucky, I'm emailing her so the first part shouldn't be a problem, but I'm still worried. I NEED to get into this class.

So what do I write? I want to sound confident, but not like a snob.

This is a lot easier than you're making it out to be. She's a teacher. She's been asked to give/write recommendations before. You won't be the first!

The point is that you don't need to come up with the perfectly worded request. It's not like she's going to pick one student to recommend, and you have to be the best and convince her that you deserve it more than anyone else. She'll know what you're asking for and what to do. Just write something along the lines of what you've written here. Like this:

Dear <whatever you call her>,

I'm planning my class schedule for next year, and I would really like to take Statistics. In order to register, though, I need a letter of recommendation <or whatever it is you need> from a current teacher. As you know, I've maintained an A average in your class all year. Would you feel comfortable acting as my reference? I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

<You>

Thank you, I guess I was just overreacting.