Favorite Stories of 2007: Millions

We're replaying our favorite stories of 2007 and tonight, it's Debbie Kuehn's turn to choose. He...  More »

We're replaying our favorite stories of 2007 and tonight, it's Debbie Kuehn's turn to choose. Her choice tonight is a story in Harvey where a teacher issued an unusual challenge to his students. They can't be certain, but Harvey fourth graders believe their teacher would look like a million in a dress! But since their teacher is a six-foot something assistant Football coach, that remains to be seen! (Sarah Engelhart, Harvey 4th Grade) And he said another thing... that if we get to 500,000, he would wear a girly hat! (Spencer Marchand, Harvey 4th Grade) I want to see Mr. Dockter in a dress. I think that would be really funny. The students are counting on making that happen by the end of the school year...that's why they're counting these! If they can collect one million of these little aluminum pop-tops, their teacher Bret Dockter promises he will wear a dress to school! (Bret Dockter, Harvey School) They said, 'Let's start collecting something so we can see how long it takes.' So I said let's do poptops. 'Oh that'll be easy!' the kids were saying. I said , 'I don't think so... I'd be willing to wager you won't be able to get there in a year. And in fact,' I said, 'I'd go as far as to say I'd wear a dress!' And they for whatever reason, caught on to that more than anything. They're off to a pretty good start, but according to their calculations, they're going to have to step it up a bit. Oops! Was that a math lesson he just slipped past them? Bret says it's been a terrific way to go over math problems with big numbers. And yes, I did say slip! (Bret) It just so happened that this unit was on big numbers and addition, so that worked out perfectly this week. You know and multiplication and we'll be able to start to figure out averages, division and so on. I think there are a lot of ways we can incorporate it during the year. And then when we get into recycling and social studies things like that. So there's a lot we can do with this. And the kids don't mind making a few sacrifices to get the chance to see Mr. Dockter in something a little less comfortable! (Sarah) Usually, I go around the football games and there's pop cans and stuff. (Spencer) (How have you been collecting pop tops... what have you been doing?) Probably going crazy on the pop... drinking a lot of pop... Mountian Dew, Pepsi, stuff like that... (I bet your dentist loves this project too I suppose) Got two cavities 'cause of it! (laughter) Bret Dockter may not hold a candle to, oh I don't know, his mom in a dress. (Bret) It's a huge amount and they're starting to see that right now. And they're starting to come to me and say, 'We're never gonna get there are we?' And I say, 'Well, I'm hoping not! But he says if these students remember how to find percentages and estImations by doing so...then it's worth wearing a pair of Leggs with the reinforced toes! (Bret) (Got your dress picked out?) No, I'm still shopping! In Harvey, Debbie Kuehn KX News.  « Less