Rating: 
Summary: Well Duuuuhhhhhh!
Review: No wonder Oprah likes this guy. Just like Dr. Phil, he is the master of stating the obvious. My mom got me this book to give me a few teaching ideas as I start my first year of teaching. The thing is, almost all the 55 rules (with the exception of a few interesting ones) are things that any teacher worth his paperweight should be applying to the classroom: Say please, thank you, and excuse me. Don't interrupt. Well, duh. Perhaps the point of the book is not the rules themselves, but the concepts that they all rotate around: respect and courteousy, which are concepts admittedly absent from most SUV driving cell phone using adults nowadays, let alone kids. If that's what Mr. Clark is trying to pound home, perhaps another format would have made that point better. Then again, perhaps not. I got a thing or two from this book, but not nearly as much as it's lauded to provide. Perhaps all the best teachers are just too intuitively good at what they do to provide much advice.
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Summary: A Child Named Arlis
Review: One of the most connecting points for my family was the story about Arlis. Arlis was a child who ranked quite poorly in regard to reading levels and his abilities to catch up with the others. He had managed to slowly slip deeper into a serious era where he would surely have to attend summer school or repeat the fifth grade. He lacked guidance and the confidence needed to pull himself up. Mr. Clark saw this to be a special challenge and thought perhaps he could build this little boy's self respect by boosting his self-esteem, thus showing him he had the ability to be successful and learn like his peers. Instead of pointing out incorrect answers during classroom discussions, Ron took full advantage of every possible chance to include Arlis in each question and answer segment. Each time the little boy made an attempt to become involved in offering his opinion to any question, Mr. Clark praised him for his efforts. There was an immediate change in Arlis. Ron decided to turn other teachers onto what he was doing with Arlis and asked for their help. He even called his mom. Soon Arlis wasn't afraid to try new adventures in reading and other subjects and became one of the best readers in class. The concept of going the extra mile and getting others to help increase this child's confidence may seem simple to many but ideas are often not carried out without constant supervision by someone who cares. It's one thing to care and yet another to follow through. Arlis had changed his life for the better and one teacher started the ball rolling. Positive motivation is the key to every person's success. While it may begin in preschool, it is the turning point in elementary, double that for middle school and it is of triple importance in high school providing positive motivation and success. The Essential 55 is not only unique for children and teens but also for us as adults. There is something for everyone in this book and everyone should read it. There are a couple of other books that I would highly recommend in conjunction with this little but powerful book, Sign Me Up, by Stacy DeBroff, a parenting book that will help with every activity a parent has a question about, and Mommy-CEO, a family motivational book filled with tips and 5 golden rules, by family columnist and former teacher, Jodie Lynn. These books have a skillful talent of presenting a simple concept of treating children the way you want to be treated as in RESPECT and KINDNESS. They explain simple overlooked down to earth day to day life skills with positive motivation as the main ingredient. Congratulations to three authors who tell it like it should be told to all of us wandering through the piles and piles of parenting, family and academic book sections in the mall, bookstores and on the Internet. Here are three very different books with similar points of view and firsthand experience to prove how to make life a little easier with our kids. I have to say they made a huge difference in my family and will be frequently referenced throughout the year.
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Summary: "Textbook for Teachers"
Review: Ron Clark's book is an amazing reference for teachers and should be included as a required text for pre-service teachers to follow. As a childhood education major this book has given much insight into how I will expect my classroom to be managed. Mr. Clark truly cares for the future success of his students and his "Essential 55" are the roadmap to take them there. This book is an easy, fun, read that will leave you inspired and encouraged for entering a classroom or helping your child at home to become a well-mannered child.
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Summary: from one teacher to the next
Review: As a teacher, I am constantly looking for ways to better myself. This book helped me as a person and as a teacher. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to work with people more affectively. We, as a people, have come a long way from Southern Hospitality. I hope this book will bring some of it back. Every teacher should not only read it, but also add it to their library.
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Summary: Great for Beginning Teachers!
Review: I was given this book as a gift from my mom and found it a great read! I started reading it and could not put it down. Ok, you can laugh, however when I faced some of the same problems in my class I wanted to see how Mr. Clark would handle those situations (being he was Disney's Teacher of the Year, and was on Oprah). Mr. Clark gives excellent advice and tips on how to manage your class and set up routines from the get go. Being a beginning teacher it was refreshing to have someone say, this is what happened and this is how I fixed it. It is funny and useful and I can't wait to try some of his essentials in my room!
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Summary: Hats off to Mr. Clark!
Review: I purchased this book as a gift for my sister-in-law, a 7th grade science teacher and swim coach. Mr. Clark was impressive on the Oprah show and I knew that my sister-in-law could benenfit from his teaching philosophy based on some of the horror stories she's told me. Curiosity got the best of me and I had to read the book myself...in one sitting! I found myself becoming embarrassed at some of the things I was guilty of doing myself as a student. I came to realize that I did these things in boredom and because my teachers/professors rarely won my trust and respect. Regardless of the situation, Mr. Clark handled his students with constructive and consistent discipline. I know that my sister-in-law will benefit from this book. I realize that a child's behavioral problems often stem from the home environment. In fact, I'm surprised that more teachers haven't put this on the school supply list...for the parents to read! As an engineer by trade, I realized that this book is not just for the teacher, it's for everyone. Professionals in my organization haven't learned some of the basic etiquette rules from "The Essential 55." Personally, I have already benefitted from the rules, as I become more aware of my interactions with others. These are life's basic rules that we take for granted as a result of selfishness, and I hope that I can pass this wisdom on to my children. Hat's off to Mr. Clark for an excellent read!
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Summary: The Essential Read
Review: Ron Clark's The Essential 55 is a useful tome for all educators, especially teachers that are in the first year of teaching. These basic rules, although many, are very applicable in the classroom. I am a classroom teacher myself and I am very pleased to see some of the rules I already employ. Clark's essential 55 are very succint and easy to follow. Some of my favorites are Rule 11 (Surprise others by performing random acts of kindness), Rule 19 (Know other teachers' names and greet them in the hall by name), Rule 40 (During an assembly, do not speak or call out to friends) and even Rule 47 (Do not bring Doritos into the school building).
Clark's book is well-thought out and entertaining as he goes through his rules with the ideas behind them with examples in his own experience in teaching, when he was a student and even growing up'
. He is an award winning teacher with his own ideas on classroom management. He also has a section for dealing with children, parents and rewards and punishement. These rules for discovering the successful student in every child also apply to every age and everyday life.
Rating: 
Summary: A Little Outrageous
Review: It seems to me that Mr. Clark is a bit of an egomaniac. While some of his ideas are wonderful, there are several that are completely ludicrous and unnecessary in a classroom or in any environment. In this book, he presents himself as someone who has to have his way no matter what. His no Doritos rule?!? What is that all about? Just because he had a bad experience once upon a time doesn't mean he has the right to ruin it for everyone else. His line rules are also somewhat excessive - the no talking what so ever not just in lines, but everywhere else. That may be fine for younger children, but as children get older, they are not going to follow this either because they don't want to or because they know it's going to bug the teacher. When I picked the book up, I liked the idea of the book from the back. As I got into it, however, I decided that Mr. Clark has too much time on his hands if he thinks that everyone should follow his rules than he is outrageous.
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Summary: The essential 55 book review
Review: I am a pre-service teacher about to recieve a degree in elementary education. I am always looking for books to supplement my college training. The Essential 55 by Ron Clark is one of the first books I have found that not only offers a sound theory about how to create a positive classroom environment and how to manage that environment, but also offered specific anecdotes on HOW Mr. Clark created this environment and HOW he manages his classroom. He uses real life anecdotes from his various teaching experiences. His ideas or "rules" are for the most part, PRACTICAL and easy incorperated and implemented into any classroom. His back to basics ideas are much more realistic than an elaborate discipline system. The book is also FUNNY and full of enthusiasm. I can't wait to teach and add some of his ideas into my own classroom repetoire! It's an easy read and i HIGHLY recommed it.
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Summary: I can't put this book down!!
Review: I love this book! I heard about it on Oprah, so I finally find a copy of this book a few weeks later. Many bookstore were sold out of the book. I feel teachers should teach their students manners, many children come from single parent homes where the parent works long hours and aren't aways there. Also many parents weren't taught these "rules" that Ron Clark lists in his book and don't teach their children these "rules". I would recommend this book to parents to read. Ron Clark says in his book that you don't have to agree with this opinions and use only the "rules" that you agree with. I love reading about his experiences and his stories about his students. My favorite part is were he talks about receiving a phone call from Mrs. Clinton and how the businesses in the small town that he teaches in donated money for his class to go to Washington D.C. to meet President Clinton and Hilary Clinton. That story brought tears to my eyes. As a teacher I will use some of Ron's "rules" for my students and work them into some of the lessons. I see why he was chosen as Disney's "Teacher of the year". Having polite students reflect highly on a teacher and students remember those lessons/rules. His rules are suggestions to help students prepare for the real world and be ready for interviews and talking to their bosses. Also to have wonderful relationships with other people. I am a new teacher and I think this book would be good for any teacher. I have had students who don't say "thank you", don't appreciate gifts/rewards, and/or only cares about who wins a game or if they lost.
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