THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010174
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: Janelle La Bouve
LENGTH: 82 lines
Seventh-graders are unpredictable, said David King, who has taught English 10 years at Waters Middle School in Portsmouth.
With their interest in the uncanny, the unusual and the off-beat, they are excited about one of his recent assignments.
``I had them write about the life of a chocolate chip,'' said King. ``They had to take on the persona of something or someone different than themselves.''
He applied rigorous academic standards to the composition.
``The kids really got into it and started making little flip books about chocolate chips,'' he said. They were also enthusiastic about the expanded project, which included studying the history of chocolate chip cookies.
King wants his students to be creative thinkers, who think critically about things other than themselves.
Prior to his tenure at Waters, King taught math at Wilson High School in Portsmouth. Before that he taught kindergartners for six years. And he has taught at least one class nearly every semester at Tidewater Community College for the past 15 years.
``It gives me a real change in my relationship to the students,'' he said. ``In a positive way, it (teaching at TCC) has made me more demanding of my day students because I know what they will need when they go on to school.''
One TCC student had also been in one of his seventh grade classes.
When he's not in the classroom, King stays in shape by biking between 50 and 100 miles weekly. To date, his longest ride ``in one fell swoop'' was 140 miles round trip from Chuckatuck to Richmond.
Full name: David W. King
Hometown: Woodbridge
Fond childhood memories: ``I got to shake President Jack Kennedy's hand. He came to our little town in New Jersey to give a political speech.''
Spouse: Donna
Children: Patrick
Occupation: Teacher
Hobbies: ``Restoring an old English sports car. I restored my red 1969 MG convertible. Writing computer programs for classroom use. (One was published recently in `PC's for Teachers' by Kellogg and Toliver). Writing, but seldom publishing, lyric poetry. I'm writing a story now about my wife's relatives from Appalachia called `Rural Traces.' Biking and camping. Once I waded across Lake Drummond. I did have to skirt the middle.''
Last book read: ``Custer'' by Jeffrey Wert
Describe yourself as a color: ``Blue, like the ocean. I like it because it's transparent. You can see down into its depths. I hope I'm like that.''
If you could be a tree, what would it be? ``A mountain laurel. It's a beautiful little tree that is battered by the wind and yet it survives.''
What irritates you the most? ``People who don't try. I see adults every day who do try and they see results. My students at TCC try so hard that they make me feel humble. They work like crazy on their assignments.''
Favorite type of music: ``Classical, particularly Baroque, Mozart, Bach and Vivaldi. And I like Virginia folk music. A fellow named Joe Ayers is wonderful.''
A favorite movie: `` `Gettysburg.' `The Godfather' was an interesting film.''
Can't resist: ``A book. I have tons. We had to put ourselves on a limit. When one comes in, another goes out. I do have one book that was published in 1703.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``Maybe I would slow down a little and learn to say no.''
Favorite Chesapeake restaurant: Tolteca
Favorite way to spend a day off: ``Taking a nice leisurely bicycle ride. I do enjoy the ride and the companionship.''
What would you choose for a last meal? ``Biscuits, turnip greens and sausage'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP by CNB