Auctioneer Frank Russo takes bids from students.

As the “math auction” in Betty McCue’s second grade class neared its end, some students had as much as $16 left in their bank books, while others were down to just 24 cents. When professional auctioneer Frank Russo placed on the auction block some of the prize items – like a karaoke machine – he had held until the end of the event, some of the students realized that they should have saved their money.

“Then, when Frank said to them, ‘Well, you could syndicate your money,’ and explained to them that they could pool their money together and share the items, you could see groups forming immediately,” said McCue.

Russo, a friend of McCue’s, volunteered to come to the class as part of a special event marking the end of the students’ mathematics unit on money. Throughout the two-month unit, students earned make-believe money by doing a good job in class.

“Sometimes I would award them one dollar each because everyone had turned in their homework, or sometimes I would award individual students one quarter each for answering questions or increasing their participation in class,” McCue explained. “It motivated them, and the best part for me was that it didn’t cost me a dime.”

Students tallied the money in their bank books every day.

They were motivated, McCue said, because they knew that the money they “earned” could be used to buy items at the upcoming auction. “I sent a note home just before the holidays reminding parents that their children’s unwanted and unused toys could become another child’s treasure. Once the toys started coming in, the excitement really rose. It was like a little carrot dangling in front of them reminding them what was coming.”

A student makes a bid during auction event.

On the day of the auction, McCue’s 25 students listened with rapt attention as Russo talked about his work auctioning off furniture, household goods, and horses. “When he demonstrated for them the speed of his usual auctioneering voice, you could see their little minds wondering if he would speak that quickly during their auction,” McCue said. “When he assured them that he wouldn’t speak that quickly to them, you could see their relief.”

This was the third year for McCue’s class to hold a math auction. “In the past, I had used the banking books, allowed them to earn the make-believe money, and then brought in items and let them shop. This year’s auction was a great success that created additional learning opportunities for the students.”

Following the auction, McCue had her students write individual letters to thank the auctioneer. “They made a book out of the letters, also including drawings of the auction itself or the things they purchased at the auction.”

McCue also used the event as the source for dozens of word problems for the class.

According to McCue, her class, which is now studying three-digit subtraction with regrouping, is “usually very excited about math, especially when they see the relevance of it. The auction just helped their money lessons make even more sense.”

Story by Kas Rohm, administrative secretary, Timonium Elementary, and Diana L. Spencer, communications officer. Photos by professional photographer (and Betty McCue’s husband) Jim McCue