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

DATE: MONDAY, November 29, 1993                   TAG: 9312010031
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

To Christie Barlow, educating her pupils so they are able to apply what they learn in school to what they encounter in life is what teaching is all about.

"I want them to see the relevance to what they'll have to do later in life, like learning math so they can balance a checkbook," she said.

Barlow cites family life education as another area in which children need to be informed to cope with problems they'll likely face as they grow. "Children have to make harder decisions at an earlier age than ever before," she said. "Family life education is conflict resolution. It teaches them coping skills and how to see the beauty in each other."

"Mrs. Barlow cares about her students and whether they learn," said her nominator. Barlow says she has "a captive audience" in her Roanoke classroom. Second-graders are "wide-open; their creative energy is right there," she said.

An 11-year teaching veteran, Barlow initiated and is the facilitator for Crystal Spring's Ecology Club. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, needlepoint and traveling.

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. The Science Museum of Western Virginia will award each Teacher of the Week a gift certificate for $50 to be spent at the museum's Teacher Resource Center.

by CNB