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

DATE: MONDAY, January 16, 1995                   TAG: 9502020003
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

Explorers and investigators: That's how Andrea Langston sees her fifth-graders at Gilbert Linkous in Blacksburg.

"I try to lead my children to discover information rather than lecturing to them facts I think are significant," she said. "I want them to know why things happen the way they do."

In addition to textbooks, Langston encourages her pupils to use trade books and teaches "minilessons" to fill in the gaps in their learning.

"Ms. Langston is a good teacher because she does cool projects. She has good ideas and is very creative," said the pupil who nominated her.

A first-year teacher, Langston has found her job "overwhelming, challenging and lots of fun." A former computer programmer, Langston says she looks forward to combining teaching with her technological knowledge.

"I always wanted to be a teacher; I always wanted to bring computers and teaching together," she said.

Langston, who has a master's degree from Virginia Tech, is married and enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her three dogs and one cat.

by CNB