For kids who need a little help in the "unwritten rules" department -- this teacher finally writes them all down. Excellent read.

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Product Description

Now in paperback, Ron Clark's New York Times bestseller that's changing America one child at a time!

The runaway bestseller that's a must-have for every parent and teacher. How many authors would travel coast to coast on a bus to get their book into as many hands as possible? Not many. But that's just what Ron Clark, author of The Essential 55, did to keep his book and message in the public eye. And it worked. After his Oprah appearance, sales skyrocketed: we've sold more than 850,000 copies in six months! The book sat tenaciously on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks. Ron Clark was featured on the Today show, and in the Chicago Tribune, Good Housekeeping, and the New York Daily News -- not to mention the calls we've received from teachers and parents who want to get their hands on Ron's guidelines for teaching children.

Now in paperback, The Essential 55 will be the perfect book for parents and teachers to slip into their own backpacks, to read on the train or at lunch, and to highlight the sections that resonate for them. And with an author who is truly a partner in getting his message to the masses, we just can't lose.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2227 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06
• Released on: 2004-07-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
The winner of the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award presents some revolutionary ideas for the classroom: manners, industriousness and accountability. Many of the 55 rules Clark outlines read, at first, like excerpts from a 1950's primer: "If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return," says Rule 6; stand to the right on escalators, insists Rule 43; and rule 29 includes 26 sub-rules about polite eating. Clark may seem like a bit of a fussbudget, but closer examination shows his rules go beyond simple politeness: they promote respect for self and others, and help foster a mature and responsible way of living in the world. As Clark explains each rule, he weaves in anecdotes of student projects, class trips (including one to Washington, D.C., where his students sang Christmas carols with the Clintons) and instances in which the particular rule proved invaluable. Clark, a North Carolina native, writes with a warm, Southern friendliness, and his cogent explanations about why he created his rules and his closing tips on dealing with parents and children offer plenty of ideas and much-needed support. Teachers will have to be determined to succeed before any set of guidelines will have an effect in the classroom, he warns-and indeed, Clark's tireless dedication might be daunting to some. And while the content of his lessons is presented only vaguely, for inspiration, this book is a definite winner; it also makes a strong case that students lack only good teachers to achieve great things. Clark's slim but valuable volume will make a welcome addition to any teacher's library.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Tired of unruly, uncivilized students? Here's the structure they need, according to a gutsy young teacher who knows what works in the classroom and in life. These are old-fashioned rules--do your homework every night, say thank you, don't talk at the movies, respect everyone, tell the truth. In today's wide-open culture, some of them will seem demanding. But the message from this North Carolina teacher is that kids feel more secure and happy when these expectations are in place. This welcome initiative is delivered in a way that will inspire the persistence one needs to be carry them out. A valuable resource for people who are too inconsistent with their expectations of children and unhappy with the results. T.W. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"Clark's book is a handy blueprint for parents who want to equip their elementary- and middle-school children..." -- Time magazine

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Customer Reviews

Good Book
Very Interesting Outlook on Everyday Skills as well as Classroom Skills!!
I LOVED IT

Not perfect, but some good ideas
Famed educator Ron Clark originally agreed to teach for North Carolina solely because of a program which would pay for his college tuition if he agreed to do so. His first classroom was a troubled group of elementary students who had already run through a slew of teachers by midyear. After becoming very well respected in rural North Carolina, Clark stunned family and friends by deciding to move on to a different set of challenges and teach in Harlem, New York. To deal with difficult students and situations, Clark developed 55 rules to help students achieve to their highest potential. A few of these rules include, "if you are asked a question in conversation, ask a question in return," "do not show disrespect with gestures," "know other teachers' names and greet them in the hall by name," and "do not bring Doritos into the school building." While all of these rules are used in his classroom, their goal is prepare students for later life as well.

Quote: "Kids are kids, and many actions that may seem like common sense to us will seem foreign to them."

This book contains many helpful tips for working with children. While many of the same concepts will work will for children (and people!) of every age, the advice is specific to elementary school. There are many traditional bits of wisdom, such as giving students praise, using rewards, structure, and organization, as well as some untraditional methods, such as scolding students in front of the rest of the class (although the peers are not permitted to look at the student being punished), and taking students on class trips to basketball games and the movies. It is a good book of ideas for teachers and others who work with students, even if just because Clark encourages people to read his rules, but them come up with the ideas that will work best for them.

Good for people who never took an education class
This is a great book for someone who has never taught in a classroom or taken any introductory education classes. All of the information in this book is taught in any entry level college education class. Since Mr. Clark was not an education major in college, the things he learned on the fly while teaching astounded him. To an education major, they are givens. By the way, Mr. Clarke quit teaching within 2 years of receiving the Disney Teacher of the Year award to go on the book promo circuit and make more money than a dedicated teacher does. This book is a waste of money.