The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child, Vol. 55
If there were a code you could learn that would lead you to become a great teacher -- of students, of your children, or of any young person in your life -- wouldn't you want to learn it? The Essential 55 is a collection of the amazingly effective rules that Ron Clark used to become an extraordinary teacher. Through trial and error, this teacher has distilled fifty-five ideas that have helped him take apathetic students in some of the country's most challenging areas and transform them into...
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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. Ron Clark has been a teacher since 1995. Originally from North Carolina, he has taught in some of the most difficult schools in the country, most recently in Harlem, New York. Since winning the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award, Clark has spoken to teachers, PTAs, and school boards across the country. He lives in Atlanta. 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. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
AcknowledgmentsxvIntroductionxixRule 1Responding to adults1Rule 2Making eye contact2Rule 3Congratulating a classmate6Rule 4Respect other students' comments, opinions, and ideas9Rule 5If you win, do not brag; if you lose, do not show anger14Rule 6If you are asked a question in conversation, ask a question in return16Rule 7Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and say excuse me20Rule 8Do not show disrespect with gestures21Rule 9Always say thank you when given something24Rule 10When you receive something, do not insult the gift or the giver27Rule 11Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness29Rule 12When grading other students' papers, give only the correct grade42Rule 13Follow along when we read together in class46Rule 14Answer all written questions with a complete sentence50Rule 15Do not ask for a reward54Rule 16You must complete your homework every day56Rule 17Subject transitions will be swift, quiet, and orderly60Rule 18Be as organized as possible62Rule 19When homework is assigned, do not moan or complain67Rule 20When a substitute teacher is present, all class rules still apply69Rule 21Follow the specific classroom protocols74Rule 22You may bring a bottle of water to class, you may not leave for a drink of water during class77Rule 23Know other teachers' names and greet them in the hall by name79Rule 24Keep yourself and the bathrooms clean and germ-free82Rule 25Greet visitors and make them feel welcome85Rule 26Do not save seats in the lunchroom88Rule 27Do not stare at a student who is being reprimanded89Rule 28Call me if you have a question about homework and leave a message--once91Rule 29The ABC's of etiquette93Rule 30After dining in the cafeteria or elsewhere, be responsible for your trash100Rule 31In a hotel room, leave a tip for the hotel workers who clean your room102Rule 32On a bus, always face forward103Rule 33When meeting new people, shake hands and repeat their names105Rule 34When offered food, take only your fair share107Rule 35If someone drops something and you are close to it, pick it up110Rule 36Hold the door for people rather than letting it close on them111Rule 37If someone bumps into you, say excuse me, even if it was not your fault112Rule 38On a field trip, enter a public building quietly114Rule 39On a field trip, compliment the place you are visiting116Rule 40During an assembly, do not speak or call out to friends117Rule 41At home, answer your phone in a polite and appropriate manner119Rule 42When returning from a trip, shake the hands of every chaperone121Rule 43On escalators, stand to the right, walk to the left122Rule 44When walking in line, keep your arms at your sides and move quietly124Rule 45Never cut in line127Rule 46No talking in a movie theater during the movie129Rule 47Do not bring Doritos into the school building131Rule 48If anyone is bullying you, let me know134Rule 49Stand up for what you believe in137Rule 50Be positive and enjoy life142Rule 51Live so that you will never have regrets144Rule 52Learn from your mistakes and move on146Rule 53No matter the circumstances, always be honest152Rule 54Carpe Diem156Rule 55Be the best person you can be158A Few Tips for Dealing with Children161Tips for Dealing with Parents169Tips for Setting Punishments and Rewards181In Closing ...195
\ Publishers WeeklyThe 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. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ VOYAClark is undoubtedly a dedicated, organized, and outstanding teacher, having won several national teaching awards in just a few short years in the profession. His ability to share his success with others, however, comes up quite a bit short of the mark. There are a few gems in this offering-such as the suggestion that when leaving plans for a substitute teacher one should set up a videotape to introduce the lesson and give a stern reminder of behavioral expectations to the students-but these precious nuggets are few and far between. The majority of Clark's rules are items that virtually every education student is taught, and the others border on obsessive-compulsive. For example, Clark's Rule #1 calls for all students to say, "Yes, ma'am" and "No, sir." On the other hand, he has more than twenty-five rules regarding eating, and his instructions for how to wash up in the bathroom include absurd amounts of detail on how to exit the facilities without actually touching anything. There are also several of what appear to be overly harsh rules, such as if a student does not say "Thank you within three seconds . . ." of receiving a treat or privilege, that treat or privilege is irretrievably revoked. The remainder of the book is filled with inspiring and moving tales of Clark's impressive triumphs in the classroom, but all things considered, Clark earns only a C-grade for his efforts in trying to pass his success on to other educators. 2003, Hyperion, 196p., Ages 17 to Adult. \ —Timothy Brennan\ \
