ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040031
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE
Bill Atwood
Occupation: social studies teacher, Pulaski Middle School
Age: 31
Hometown: Coeburn, in Wise County
Last book read: "The World Must Know," compiled by the National Holocaust Museum
Favorite unit to teach: the Holocaust, because there's so much to research. When he's not at school, Atwood is finding new photographs, books or ideas to bring to his class. Some of the most interesting and up-to-date information he finds is on the Holocaust, his last unit each spring.
Favorite subject in school: math
First job out of college: Just a few months after he graduated from Virginia Tech in 1987, he started teaching - same place, same subject.
Ideal day off: Take off in an airplane and visit a city he's never seen before.
Best teacher: Pam Johnson, a 10th-grade world history teacher from his hometown. "I thought she was incredible. I listened to every word she said. She was so well organized and knew exactly what she expected of us - I like that. As a matter of fact, she's getting a copy of this article as soon as its published!"
Bill Atwood "is not boring."
That, coming from seventh-grader Mollie Quinlan, is high praise - particularly for a teacher.
"History can be one of the more boring subjects," Atwood said, "I became a history teacher to fix that."
His pupils will tell you he's funny, and "he'll talk to you, for real."
He makes history interesting for people who don't even remember most of the Reagan years. He makes it so fun, some of his students work extra hours and compete nationally just to increase their knowledge in history.
Since he started teaching nine years ago, Atwood has involved history classes in National History Day.
The "day" is actually an entire school year of research for the seventh-graders, who spent this year looking at someone or some group who took a stand and changed history. They could convey the story through performance, a paper or a multimedia project.
"It's a great way to teach history," Atwood said.
The pupils learn to interview local residents, to be critical of textbooks and develop a eye for inaccuracies and to determine for themselves what kind of historical implication an event may have had.
"Once they get started - I've had several students worry about other classes slipping behind because of this. That's a big lift for me because it means they're spending all their free time on history," he said.
In June, seventh-graders David Hale and Eric Raymond will head to Maryland to compete in the national History Day competition. Their presentation, a look at Custer's Last Stand from the American Indian point of view, placed second in the state.
To top it off, teachers involved with History Day from across the state chose Atwood as Teacher of Merit for this year.
"I know the other teachers who were nominated for this," Atwood said. "I was just honored to be among them."
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: LORA GORDON. Bill Atwood makes history so fun, some ofby CNBhis students work extra hours and compete nationally just to
increase their knowledge in history. color.