The Education Journey
AHA Moments
AHA Moments
What is an AHA-Moment?
What is an AHA-Moment?
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For educators, it’s a pivotal realization or insight that significantly enhances their understanding and practice. It's that moment when a concept suddenly clicks into place, making a profound difference in their teaching approach.
It could be discovering the power of differentiated instruction to meet diverse student needs. Or realizing the impact of building strong relationships with students. Or understanding how to effectively use data to inform instruction.
The power of those AHA-moments for teachers is transformative.
These moments of clarity often lead to more effective teaching strategies and a deeper connection with students. They empower teachers to become more reflective, adaptive, and effective educators, leading to a more engaging and successful learning environment.
It could be discovering the power of differentiated instruction to meet diverse student needs. Or realizing the impact of building strong relationships with students. Or understanding how to effectively use data to inform instruction.
The power of those AHA-moments for teachers is transformative.
These moments of clarity often lead to more effective teaching strategies and a deeper connection with students. They empower teachers to become more reflective, adaptive, and effective educators, leading to a more engaging and successful learning environment.
A big AHA-moment for me was...
A big AHA-moment for me was...
... when I heard Dr. Pam Kastner say, “If it’s been taught but not mastered, there’s probably a practice gap.”
Yes! Our students need plenty of deliberate practice, with regular feedback, to master the concepts we are teaching. Plus, we need to remember that some students need a lot more practice than others.
Yes! Our students need plenty of deliberate practice, with regular feedback, to master the concepts we are teaching. Plus, we need to remember that some students need a lot more practice than others.
Lindsay Kemeny
Teacher, Author & Literacy Advocate
... when I read Marilyn Adams’s Beginning to Read; Thinking and Learning About Print.
Coming up as an educator during the whole-language years, it was incredibly eye-opening to learn that we had a body of research in our profession around learning to read. It changed the trajectory of my career. It was really moving to me when I finally met Marilyn to be able to express my gratitude to her.
Coming up as an educator during the whole-language years, it was incredibly eye-opening to learn that we had a body of research in our profession around learning to read. It changed the trajectory of my career. It was really moving to me when I finally met Marilyn to be able to express my gratitude to her.
Laura Stewart
Chief Academic Officer,
95 Percent Group
... when I learned to not take everything so personal. If my data was not where I wanted it to be, I would take that very personally I learned to look at it like this:
My data is a reflection of my teaching and how the students are receiving it. It's not a personal attack on me. Use the data to adjust instruction and keep moving forward.
My data is a reflection of my teaching and how the students are receiving it. It's not a personal attack on me. Use the data to adjust instruction and keep moving forward.
Christie Kenedy
Elementary Principal at Matthews Elementary
“When we cannot speak up, and we have to follow a leader for fear of getting poor reviews or losing our jobs, the status quo continues. It is unfair to judge an initiative based on results that do not account for the commitment level of school leaders and district administrators. When we look at failing schools and low-performing districts, leadership is actually the most important ingredient and should never be overlooked.”
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Faith Borkowsky
The Literacy View Podcast & Founder of High Five Literacy
Inspiring AHA- Moments in Educators
Inspiring AHA- Moments in Educators
My memorable AHA-moment came in 1988 after teaching special education for 10 years. I took two courses from Language Circle, one in phonics and one in comprehension. I FINALLY had a way to teach kids decoding and comprehension in a systematic and explicit way.
It was career changing for me and a significant confidence builder for me as well. I will be forever grateful to Tori Greene and Dr. Enfield for their wisdom.
It was career changing for me and a significant confidence builder for me as well. I will be forever grateful to Tori Greene and Dr. Enfield for their wisdom.
Donna Hejtmanek
Co-Owner of Credentials Unlimited
One of my biggest AHA-moments came when Dr. Vicki Gibson explained differentiated instruction to me. She explained that the instruction is differentiated. In small groups, I had been doing differentiated practice activities for my students. It was a ton of extra work to get different activities ready for each small group.
From Vicki, I learned that the instruction that I provided at the small group teaching table was differentiated for the learners based on their skill gaps. It was career changing for me!
From Vicki, I learned that the instruction that I provided at the small group teaching table was differentiated for the learners based on their skill gaps. It was career changing for me!
Angela Hanlin
Educational Consultant & Author
I have had many AHA-moments in my career. The most impactful would be the moment I heard about Scarborough’s Rope. It was revolutionary for me! Just as we would use a regular rope to pull something up, we use Scarborough’s Rope to pull our students through the phases of literacy!
Scarborough’s Rope is a guide for educators and a light of hope for the struggling readers who will benefit from the knowledge it provides teachers.
Scarborough’s Rope is a guide for educators and a light of hope for the struggling readers who will benefit from the knowledge it provides teachers.
Gretchen Hanlin
4K Teacher at Stanley Elementary
I knew I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I remember. My mother says I announced to the family at dinner after my first day in Kindergarten that "I'm going to be a teacher when I grow up." Lucky me – that turned out to be true! I've learned so much and had many AHA-moments in my long career.
One of them came from my 1st education professor – Zig Engelmann at the U of Oregon. I was discussing my practicum work with him, where I was teaching in a 1st grade classroom. One of my students, Jody, had learning challenges due to a traumatic brain injury. I told Zig "I'm so frustrated! I've taught this to Jody 50 times and she STILL doesn't get it!". Zig looked directly at me and said, "Maybe she needs 150 times." That moment stuck with me and informed my thinking. It is my job as a teacher to provide as much instruction – as many repetitions – as needed by the student. If I get frustrated or bored with the instruction I'm providing, I need to keep going to serve the needs of my students.
One of them came from my 1st education professor – Zig Engelmann at the U of Oregon. I was discussing my practicum work with him, where I was teaching in a 1st grade classroom. One of my students, Jody, had learning challenges due to a traumatic brain injury. I told Zig "I'm so frustrated! I've taught this to Jody 50 times and she STILL doesn't get it!". Zig looked directly at me and said, "Maybe she needs 150 times." That moment stuck with me and informed my thinking. It is my job as a teacher to provide as much instruction – as many repetitions – as needed by the student. If I get frustrated or bored with the instruction I'm providing, I need to keep going to serve the needs of my students.
Jan Hasbrouck
Ph.D., JH Educational Services
Angie Hanlin is literacy leader who had me at "Right off the bat, we took the focus off of teaching and put it on learning." (MLLL, Episode 113, May, 2022). This quote literally stopped me in my (ski) tracks and was the AHA-moment I needed, when I needed to hear it most! After listening to Angie's interview on the Melissa and Lori Love Literacy podcast, I was hooked on her leadership style and determination to make data-information decisions to improve students' literacy outcomes. Angie didn't just tell teachers what to do; she sat with them, worked alongside them, and engaged in the screening and data analysis, too.
She set very high expectations for her school, the teachers, the students, and for herself. She set the bar high, set attainable goals, and didn't stop until she had all students reading at grade level by the end of the year. What sets Angie apart from other Literacy Leaders is her commitment to doing the hard work alongside teachers; Angie doesn't just tell teachers what to do, she shows them how and supports them along their journey, too. Thank you, Angie, for inspiring me and now, with your new book, you'll inspire so many others around the world, too!
She set very high expectations for her school, the teachers, the students, and for herself. She set the bar high, set attainable goals, and didn't stop until she had all students reading at grade level by the end of the year. What sets Angie apart from other Literacy Leaders is her commitment to doing the hard work alongside teachers; Angie doesn't just tell teachers what to do, she shows them how and supports them along their journey, too. Thank you, Angie, for inspiring me and now, with your new book, you'll inspire so many others around the world, too!
Kim Lockhart
French Immersion Special Education Teacher, VIU Course Instructor & IDA Ontario Board Member
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
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Nelson Mandela
Want to share your AHA moment?
Want to share your AHA moment?
We'd love to feature it on our site to inspire and empower educators.
Angela Hanlin & Associates
602 N Washington Street
Thorp, Wisconsin 54771
Thorp, Wisconsin 54771
(573)521-8076