The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck--101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers

by Ron Clark

Overview

New York Times bestselling author and educator Ron Clark challenges parents, teachers, and communities everywhere embrace a difference in the classroom and uplift, educate, and empower our children.

Read this book to find out why so many across the country have embraced these powerful rules.

· Set the electric tone on day one
· Teach your children how to study—don’t expect it to come naturally
· Don’t constantly stress about test scores
· Not every child deserves a cookie
· Lift up your teachers. No, really, lift them up!
· If kids like you all the time, you’re doing something wrong
· Don’t be a penny parent

Be different. Be bold. Join in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451639742
Publisher:	Touchstone
Publication date:	04/17/2012
Pages:	322
Sales rank:	105,963
Product dimensions:	5.54(w) x 8.22(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Ron Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of The Essential 55, which has sold more than one million copies in twenty-five different languages. He has been named “American Teacher of the Year” by Disney and was Oprah Winfrey’s pick as her “Phenomenal Man.” He founded The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, which more than 25,000 educators from around the world have visited to learn about the extraordinary ways that teachers and parents of RCA have helped children achieve great success. Clark has been featured on the Today show and CNN, and his experiences have been turned into the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry.

Table of Contents

Introduction xvii

Part I RCA's Core Principles and Values 1

1 Teach children to believe in themselves and don't destroy the dream. 3

2 Not every child deserves a cookie. 7

3 Define your expectations and then raise the bar; the more you expect, the better the results will be. 11

4 Uplift other adults who play a role in the lives of our children. 20

5 Listen. 25

6 Give all that you have to your children even though you will often receive nothing in return. 29

7 Get to know your students in nonacademic settings. 34

8 Be selfless with your contributions to the team. 39

9 Make it happen. Don't give excuses; find solutions! 43

10 Be excellent! 46

11 Create moments that will have a lasting impact on children's lives. 52

12 Set the tone for a love of learning. 58

13 Treat every child as if he or she were your own. 61

14 Push yourself to be innovative beyond your imagination. 63

15 Know the name of every teacher, student, parent, administrator, and board member. 68

16 Use music to excite, motivate, and inspire. 71

17 Know your students. 76

18 Don't let opportunities pass you by, even if the time, funding, and circumstances aren't completely right. 80

19 Make learning magical. 84

20 Teach children that the good you do in the world comes back to you. 91

21 Teach children to embrace their personalities and present themselves with confidence in all situations. 95

22 Live with no fear. 100

23 Love what your students love, whether it's iCarly, Twilight, or the NFL. 107

24 Create lasting traditions. 110

Part II The Role of the Parent in the Success of the Child 115

25 Be prepared for the long haul if you want your child to succeed. 117

26 Don't be a helicopter parent. You can't come to their rescue forever. 121

27 Realize the power of gratitude and appreciation. 127

28 Remind children of their blessings and stress the value of a strong work ethic. 131

29 Nip it in the bud; small issues can grow into big problems. 136

30 Don't get your kid a video game system unless you are ready to be a prison guard. 140

31 Show them how to study; don't expect it to come naturally. 143

32 Realize that even very good children will sometimes lie. 147

33 Be patient. 150

34 See the potential in every child. 153

35 Punctuate the power of words. 156

36 Don't be a Penny Parent. 157

Part III Creating the Right Climate and Culture 161

37 Welcome students and families to your school in style! Roll out the red carpet-literally! 163

38 Believe that every child can learn, regardless of ethnicity, learning disabilities, emotional or behavior problems, or the economic situation of the family. 168

39 Open your doors to the parents. 172

40 Dress the part; attire matters! 173

41 Make the most of every moment! There should be an urgency in education! 176

42 Can the intercom. 178

43 Please don't interrupt a teacher's lesson to deliver a note, ask a question, or disturb the class. 178

44 Avoid sitting down while students are in the room. 179

45 Do not use cell phones or computers while the students are in the room, unless the device is part of the lesson being taught. 180

46 Make homework for home, not school. 181

47 Make sure you do your homework, too! 182

48 Begin each class on fire! 183

49 Increase teacher quality instead of reducing class size. 184

50 Set an electric tone on Day One. 185

51 Don't constantly stress about test scores. We have to stop sending the message to our students that the purpose of learning is to take a test. 194

52 Open up your home to your students. 196

53 Stay connected; have parents on speed dial. 199

54 Give children a chance to respond and don't give up so quickly. 200

55 Realize that kids need to move! Bring education to life with kinesthetic learning. 204

56 Use chants to create a supportive, encouraging, exciting environment! 206

57 Get on the desk! ' 209

58 Resolve to find your own Red Button. 214

59 Celebrate the beauty of their ancestries. 215

60 Show them examples of excellence. 217

61 Set the bar high for parents, too! 218

62 Use an Amazing Race to bring learning to life! 219

63 Love your eighth graders. 222

64 Don't give children second chances on tests and projects. 225

65 Encourage children to cheer for one another. 227

66 Paint the walls with positive memories. (If their faces are on the walls, they are less likely to pee on them!) 231

67 Never read a speech. 233

68 Make eye contact with your classroom or audience. 237

69 Move around the room throughout the lesson and never remain in the same place. 238

70 Teach the students, not the board. 239

71 Exhibit the same energy you expect from your audience. 239

72 Smile. 240

73 Never allow students to begin a statement with "Umm," "Well," or "Me and." 241

74 Fake it to make it. 243

75 Use a djembe drum. Every classroom in the world needs one. 244

76 Don't put the blame on students unfairly. 246

77 Lift up your teachers. No, really, lift them up. 248

78 Have fun. 249

Part IV Reaching Out Beyond the Classroom 253

79 Teach parents the correct way to tutor their children. 255

80 Build strong bonds with parents. 257

81 Ask the hard questions-"What do you want this school to be?" 260

82 Join parents, teachers, and community members together to create "theme days" for the school. 264

83 Accept the fact that if kids like you all the time, then you're doing something wrong. 267

84 Recognize that the heart of the school is the teacher. Hire the best and never settle. 269

85 Always observe a teacher applicant teaching a lesson before offering him or her a job. 271

86 Teach children the history and symbolism of their home and school. 275

87 Remember that children are literal thinkers and, as adults, we really have to spell out what we mean. 277

88 Remember that the little things can make all the difference. 280

89 Provide lessons in life that will become lessons for life. 284

90 Uplift the students who have the furthest to go. 285

91 Allow teachers the freedom to make their rooms reflect their personalities-allow them to use color! 287

92 Let the students shine. 291

93 Leave the jealousy at the door. 294

94 Realize that you never truly know all that is going on in the life of a child. 296

95 Raise our children to be global citizens. 297

96 Recognize the big cost of big dreams. 301

97 Reach out to the community to build a powerful network. 305

98 Once you have donors, work hard to keep them! 307

99 Send fhank-you letters that are hand-drawn, colorful, and grammatically correct. 312

100 If you need advice, ask for money. If you need money, ask for advice. 313

101 Make your good-byes mean something. 314

What's Next? The New Dream 318

Acknowledgments 321

Ron Clark Academy Educator Training 323

Editorial Reviews

Clark, founder of the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, award-winning teacher and author (The Essential 55), interweaves the history of his school with advice for teachers and parents; the text is rife with heart-warming anecdotes and inspiring ideas. The author explains how he used funds from his first book to turn an abandoned factory into a school for fifth through eighth graders that hosts 3,000 teachers annually for training programs.. Rewards are given only to the deserving (to wit, "Not every child deserves a cookie" is the opening core principle). Kids must "earn" their school jackets, and not every child receives his or hers at the same time. Some, Clark admits, may say the practice is "cruel" or damaging to self-esteem, but he offers proven results, with test scores rising and children who love learning. "The End of Molasses Classes," the author explains, is a call to make education fun, interesting, and anything but "slow." Clark installs a slide in the lobby, jumps up on desks while teaching, encourages kids to sing and chant in class as they learn their lessons, and urges teachers to take a personal interest in each student. Clark's ode to his academy is overloaded with glowing testimonials, but educators and parents will find much to emulate in this passionate, motivating tool book. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly