AHA!Washenberger

At the end of October, I spent a few days in Larchmont, New York, with my husband Jim, our daughter Susan, and her husband Justin on a visit to Justin’s parents, Corrado and Diane Iovenitti. We visited NYC and took in some of the traditional sight-seeing during our trip. I took this photo during a short Harbor tour. The beautiful clouds and blue skies reminded me of the lyrics “Oh beautiful, for spacious skies…” I downloaded the photo to my computer and set it as my background on my computer screen because it provides me with a strong visual reminder of my mission as an educator.

I know that our schools must take each individual student, assess where he or she is in the learning, and guide that student to reach new learning goals. I know that we must implement the “gradual release of responsibility” model so that students become good thinkers and lifelong learners.

The photo also reminds me that my husband’s father came to the U.S. from Austria as a young child. He received little formal schooling and eventually settled on a farm in South Dakota where he and his wife raised four boys. The youngest, Jim, went on to earn his Ph. D. in mathematics and to teach at Virginia Tech. Justin’s father, Corrado, arrived in the U.S. when he was in  his late 30′s as a skilled tailor, settled outside the New York City area and raised two children – both college graduates. In today’s educational lingo, Jim’s father Leo and Justin’s father Corrado would be considered LEP or ELL. The dedication of educators who have always upheld the principles of No Child Left Behind enabled these individuals and families to succeed academically long before the law was enacted. What an awesome responsibility and opportunity each of us has to make a difference each and every day in the lives of those we teach!

So, in addition to having a wonderful time with friends and family on our trip, I brought back a renewed commitment to my work and a great visual reminder of what wonderful opportunities and freedom we enjoy in our country. And I know that every child in every school must have good instruction, a good dose of TLC, and support for his or her individual needs and goals. As I begin a new year – 2008, when I log into my computer, I will see that photo and be reminded of what my highest priority needs to be each and every day – it’s all about putting “Children First”!

 Happy New Year!

One of the perks of my work is that, in addition to seeing others learn, I always have unlimited opportunities to learn. During the four years that I taught math at Salem High School, I told my students that they would have AHA! moments when suddenly they would find new understanding of the content we were studying. Frequently during class a student would interject an AHA! – a joyful signal to the rest of us of that special moment when connections and learning occurred. And I continue to find myself having AHA! moments as an educator as I strive to understand and share instructional strategies to help all of our students experience the satisfaction that comes from making connections and gaining a deeper understanding during the learning process. So, in selecting a name for my blog, I chose AHA!Washenberger as a reminder that I am always learning and adapting my understanding as well as a message to anyone who reads my blog that I hope to share some of my ever-evolving thoughts on teaching and learning with others. There is another ulterior motive in writing for my blog. Just as our students need the opportunity to assimilate information and express their ideas, the learner in me needs that opportunity as well. So I am ready to embark on this venture – wherever it takes me!