So one of my favorite stories that I have read so far in this book was Clark's story about a Classified ad. I think it really serves a great model of how teaching can be so rewarding and does not have to be done in such a traditional fashion.
Clark talks about how when he was teaching his students about classified ads, they were simply not understanding, so in an effort to help them understand, he decided the class would place a classified ad. He had each student bring in $0.05 (so they would take ownership in the ad) and then they all brainstormed what they would wright. They settled on witting a trivia question and included their schools address so that people could write in with the answer. They published the add and waited as a few submissions came in. (They lived in a small town of 600 people, so not many submissions came in). The class continued the project, publishing these little trivia questions in different small newspapers. One child in the class brought forth the idea of placing a classified ad that would reach a larger audience; so Clark had his call the USA today to see how much it would be to place the ad. The class, upon calling, found that the ad would be $12,000 for just one day!! But the $12,000 price tag did not damper the spirits of this class, they were determined to come up with the money. Between bake sales and car washes the kids collected as much money as they could, but they were still far off from their goal. Someone from USA today saw the class on a new station covering the story and decided they would donate the $12,000 nessisary to place the ad. The class was so excited. They decided to place the following ad:
ATTENTION PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PEOPLE AROUD THE WORLD
What kiss more people each year than AIDS, alchol abuse, car accidents, murders, suicides, illegal drugs and fires combined?
They also included the schools address and fax number. The next day, the faxes stared poring in - From the cast of Friends, the prime minister of Canada, doctors in bombay, India and more! The kids were so excited as the faxes stared poring in. Clark talks about how he ended up staying the night to refil the paper in the fax machine so that they wouldn't loose any.
The story ends with a call from Hiliary Clinton and an Invitation to the whitehouse (which the whole class partook in). I thought it was such a touching story and it brought me to tears. I think it is so neat how interactive Clark is and how he teaches his students to think big! This story almost seemed unture- like the ones you hear in movies.. but Clark is just one of those teachers that makes big things happen!
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