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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 15, 1993                   TAG: 9303170382
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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TEACHER OF THE WEEK

To Deborah Fraley, math "makes good sense." "I've loved it since I was in third grade," says Fraley, head of the math program at Burlington Elementary in Roanoke County. Fraley says she wants to instill a love of math in her pupils, even those who find it a struggle.

Finding a child's interest and applying it to math is one of the methods Fraley uses to get her message across. "If a child is a strong reader, but doesn't like math, I use word problems to build confidence. If a child is interested in airplanes, for example, I'll use problems relating to airplanes," she said.

Fraley says she loves teaching third-graders because they are independent and enthusiastic. "It's the perfect age. Their eyes still light up," she said. "Mrs. Fraley would do anything for any of her students. Everyone wants her for their third-grade teacher," said her nominator.

Fraley, a North Carolina native, is married and the mother of Brooke, 13, and Paige, 10. She enjoys reading, gardening and coaching soccer and basketball.

If you have a nomination for Teacher of the Week, send the name of the nominee, his or her school and why you think that teacher should be honored. Include your name, telephone number and school and send to NewsFun, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491.

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