I am foremost grateful to my students who helped me test and revise my ideas. Their enthusiasm for learning and their confident excitement when they succeeded helped me see the value of making learning fun. There are too many of you to name, but thank you all!
I am very grateful to John Potter, founder of The New School of Northern Virginia, who believed in me and gave me and other faculty members the professional freedom to creatively develop our own curriculum, follow our passions, and use our strengths to contribute to students in our own unique ways. He understood the need for a diverse staff and he cultivated one. You are one of a kind, and you have made a difference in the world. Thank you, John.
I am deeply grateful to my husband and children for their years of endless patience and support. They helped me test out new techniques and ideas and gave me feedback and suggestions all along the way. More recently, my son has handled many technical aspects of this website and my daughter has given me numerous, insightful suggestions for my design. Mostly, they have all given me encouragement and moral support as the project has dragged on. Thank you!
Then there are many friends and coworkers who also gave support. I can’t name them all, but I want to especially thank: Pam C. Shope, a fellow teacher whose daily laughter and encouragement kept me going, especially on trying days; Dianne W. Hiltman, a wise, loving friend who has helped me build the confidence to pursue my dreams; Peggy C. Siegel, a long-time friend who has published several books and websites and gave me practical advice on how to pursue this goal. Thank you, dear friends.
Last, but not least, I thank you dear reader for having the openness to try something new. I hope you found these combined techniques as fun and useful as my students and I did. And if so, please pass the word on and tell others. Thanks!
Dedicated in loving memory of
Thomas L. Richardson,
my wonderful husband of 35 years.
