Lake Notebook. Schools.

Teacher Commands Attention And Grabs A Golden Apple

May 05, 1996|By Linda Mae Carlstone. Special to the Tribune.

If students in Barry Gold's math class experience difficulty understanding fractions, poof! Samurai math teacher enters the room and demonstrates the lesson by chopping things into pieces.

For ancient history, Gold puts down his samurai sword (a plastic one) and dons a red kilt to portray a bare-legged Alexander the Great addressing the Macedonian troops. The dramatics are all in the name of grabbing students' attention, said the 6th-grade teacher at Grayslake Middle School.

Gold's extraordinary efforts to immerse students in the lesson were recently recognized by the Illinois Golden Apple Foundation, which named him a 1996 winner of its Golden Apple Award. Gold is one of only 10 teachers chosen this year, and he was the only winner from Lake County.

"He has a wonderful imagination that makes learning challenging and exciting to students," said foundation spokeswoman Betty Gardiner. "He doesn't just present dry facts."

Winners receive a $2,500 stipend, a personal computer system and a tuition-free sabbatical in the fall at Northwestern University.

Gold, a Lindenhurst resident who holds two master's degrees, has been teaching for nine years, all at Grayslake Middle School. Previously he was a financial executive for five years and an Army artillery officer for 10 years. Gold, who teaches math and social studies, said he developed a love of social studies from living all around the world.