The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child | 
 enlarge | Author: Ron Clark
Publisher: Hyperion
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy Used: $0.38
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Avg. Customer Rating:  143 reviews
Sales Rank: 59182
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5
ISBN: 1401300014
Dewey Decimal Number: 371.102
EAN: 9781401300012
ASIN: 1401300014
Publication Date: May 14, 2003
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Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: FEW BENT CORNERS Used - Good Default Text
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Product Description
When Ron Clark walked into his fifth-grade class in rural North Carolina, he was confronted with a tremendous challenge. The children had little interest in learning, and were sorely lacking in guidance. How would he transform a group of apathetic kids into disciplined, thoughtful, and curious students? He quickly realized that they needed to learn some basic rules. Clark compiled a list of 55 lessons, and soon, his fifth-grade students-who once struggled to read at the third-grade level-were reading at the sixth-grade level . . . and loving it. What's more, they were gaining something crucial-self-respect. Those 55 lessons evolved into what Clark calls The Essential 55-guidelines for living and interacting with others The Essential 55 will prepare parents and educators to teach students the rules for life-everything from knowing how to say thank you, to acing an interview.
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Ron Clark's ESSENTIAL 55 rules were created to help him control his first class in rural North Carolina where the students had little interest in lessons, and the parents believed school was extended day care. In teaching these students to be orderly, respectful and to feel appreciated, he took a group of below-average students and turned them into stars (for example he took 5th grade students who were reading at a 3rd grade level to reading at 6th grade level and loving it). He continued his mission in Harlem, where he found a school that needed him the most and worked the same magic. But it's not magic. Ron Clark knows how to teach by using discipline and affection in almost equal measure. He devotes his time to teaching these kids how to live in the world so that they have respect for themselves and those around them;rules that apply to all of us. Some of the ESSENTIAL 55 include: how to accept compliments, how to return a greeting, how to gracefully lose a game. In hearing Ron Clark's engaging voice, combined with his confident manner at changing the lives of these kids for the better, any reader will feel she can influence a student, a young child or a son graduating from college and going out into the world.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 138 more reviews...
 Good Book August 27, 2008
Very Interesting Outlook on Everyday Skills as well as Classroom Skills!!
I LOVED IT
Not perfect, but some good ideas August 21, 2008
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 August 19, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
Helpful Ideas for Every Teacher August 6, 2008
The book presents an abundance of great ideas related to teaching. It offers lots of help not only to beginner teachers but also for teachers who feel that it is time to make some changes in the classroom which will lead to a more positive atmosphere. Of course, not all 55 rules can be applied by every teacher but everyone will find rules that he or she will want to remember and try out in his or her classroom. Even if you are not looking for help or new ideas, the book will be fun to read because of its many real-life stories.
AWESOME!! June 28, 2008
The Essential 55 is well worth your money. We are using it for my fifth graders next year to teach manners and over all character education. It is an easy read and these "rules" will teach a lot of valuable information to anyone. More people should read this book because they will be motivated to be a better person.
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