Students build houses for "If I had a Hammer" project
klykins@tntech.edu
Office of Communications & Marketing
Perry Wilson, founder of “If I had a Hammer” is now a master carpenter, but he was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and couldn’t pass any math class or read with comprehension until he was an adult.
Wilson has reached more than a half million children since 1990 with his lessons about life skills, teamwork and education.
Pre-test and post-tests show that about 90 percent of children perform better on math tests after participating in the program.
Tennessee Tech is hosting the build to encourage rural students to prepare for and aim for college.
Hundreds of Fentress County students will don tool belts and goggles and work as teams to assemble 8’x11’ Hammer Houses, under the supervision of the Hammer Boss.
In a hands-on, 40-hour program called “If I had a Hammer,” these students have been studying geometry, fractions, measurement and pre-algebraic thinking. Now they will show how they can apply what they’ve learned to construction, design and architecture, budgeting, contracting and other job-related concepts.
Visit www.ifIhadahammer.com for more details.
