Running head: THE RON CLARK STORY: TEACHING STRATEGIES AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan Angela N. Ouellette The University of North Texas

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

Abstract This paper summarizes the movie The Ron Clark Story, as well as describing the teaching strategies presented throughout the film. Also, how to implement these strategies in the classroom and present them to the school administration to solve school wide problems. Additional sources and research are presented to support the strategies supported.

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

The Ron Clark Movie: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

Why did the Author Write this Book and Produce a Movie
Ron Clark wrote the book and had the movie created for several reasons. First, it allows the general public to see inside the education system, and to see how poverty affects schools. It also shows what some teachers do for their kids, on a daily basis. From a teachers view, this movie can be really inspiring and encouraging, and can introduce new strategies for teachers to use in their classrooms, regardless of what type of school it is.

The Impact of Poverty and other Factors Outside of our Schools on Public School Classrooms
Poverty, among other things impacts schools and classrooms. I know, because of our project comparing types of districts across Texas, that the lower the socioeconomic status of a school area, the more funding they actually get from the state. This makes a difference. At my school, which is title one, we receive extra funding, but the funding has to be allotted to certain things. Most of ours goes to professional development, which indirectly affects the kids. The money isnt really directly spent on the kids. Just as shown from the movie, other problems at home affect the classroom. Some students have to watch younger siblings, some have jobs, and some have pressures of society (such as the student who was selling stolen good with his friends). These all impact the classroom, and are obstacles that teachers must combat and deal with daily.

Movie Summary
The movie begins in Aurora, North Carolina in 1994. Ron Clark becomes a fourth grade teacher at Snowden Elementary School. He begins by introducing himself to a trouble making student and created relationships with his students. His fourth grade class was ranked number one in the district four years in a row. He was so well liked that his school gave him his own parking spot with his name on it.

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

Clark wanted to take a risk, and chase his dreams, and so he did. He moved to New York, and tried to find a job in Harlem. His luck did not go so well at first, not being able to find a job, so he became a waiter at a costume restaurant. He went to Inter Harlem elementary school, where he practically begged the principal for a job, while continuously spouting out I specialize in raising test scores. The principal offered him the best class in the school, but Clark took the worst. Clark attempted to meet all of his students before his first day of teaching. This is a fabulous idea if you have 20 kids as Clark did, but it is next to impossible when you teach 160 kids like I do. His first day did not go very well. It took the kids a while to warm up to him. Clark began by telling them the rules. Rule # 1 we are family. (I love this rule, and actually use it in my classroom, when I watched this movie; I was surprised to see it!) On day two, he painted the room a nice tranquil blue, when the principal saw it he disapproved, and said My schools, my rules, my way. Clark continued with the rules. Rule 2, we respect each other. Rule 3, line to enter and exit class and go to lunch. Rule 4, no smacking lips or rolling eyes. Rule 5, no cutting in line. When Clark comes to school the next day he finds his pretty blue classroom vandalized with graffiti and sayings like Go home Clark. Clark fixes the room before school starts. Students begin fighting in class, one storms out and is determined to leave school, but Clark convinces him to come back to class. The next scene begins with Clark asking his students if they brought their journals to class. None of them did. He them asks Shamika, and she gets disrespectful. He became frustrated and shook her desk. He grabbed his stuff, said you win and walked out of the room. (This was a Friday.) On Monday, Clark came back (to everyones dismay). Clark begins to teach the kids grammar, but with a twist. He drank milk every 15 seconds if they are quiet and paid attention. The kids learned grammar. Clark drank A LOT of chocolate milk, but to the kids disappointment, did not puke.

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

At recess, the girls are playing double dutch jump rope, and Clark joins in. He made them a deal, if he can learn how to jump, they will have to learn everything they need to know in 7th grade. The principal sees this, and disapproves. He wants Clark to focus only on making them test well; he pulled Clark into the office and lectured him. Clark said the problem was not the kids, but the principals expectations for them. In the next scene, Clark is setting in front of, what is the largest birthday cake I have ever seen. He tells them this story about rock climbing, and then has each student light a candle. When they light a candle, it symbolizes they are joined, and they can achieve anything they dream of. Clark makes a rap about the presidents. This is fantastic! I make science songs for my kids, we sign them, or find some on YouTube, and they are amazing! As my kids do, thanks to the songs, Clarks kids passed test. Music is a great way to connect with the kids and help them learn with all their senses. Also, it was subtle in the movie, but Clark gave candy to the students that made As on the test. Clark also met kids on a Saturday at a coffee shop/ diner to have individual study sessions. He would buy them lunch, tutor them and play card games with them. He continues to show dedication by making home visits to students houses, starting with Shamika Wallas. He stayed at her house and did the house duties and chores that she typically does so that she can do her homework. Her mother came home and was very upset with Clark, kicked him out of her house. Mom paid a visit to the principal to complain. Clark also gave out his phone number to all his kids. This is something I do, but I know several teachers who do not, and principals who disapprove of it. Then, Clark gets sick, and the nurse suggests that he stay home. He comes to school because he only has four weeks until exams. This was fine and dandy, until he fainted in class. He cannot come back to class, so he videotapes himself and sends it to the kids to watch every day. He comes back to school, but his kids are still failing. He is very disappointed in them. He continues to meet with them one-on-one.

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

All the students were tested in one room. The kids did so well; he asked to take all kids to the Phantom of the Opera, on Broadway. All kids said they would go. At the show, all show up except Tayshawn, who got beat up by stepdad and missed the play. Clark found him outside and bloody. He was placed into a foster home. The class had an award ceremony. He gave rewards to kids for high achievement. His students scored higher than all schools in the district, even the honors class next door. After he dispersed the awards out, the kids had one for him. He was voted The baddest teacher in town. At the end of the movie, it said that many of the students went on to attend great middle and high schools.

Relating Teaching Strategies Presented in the Film to Classroom Practice Today

There were several teaching strategies presented in the film that can apply to todays classrooms. Where to start I mentioned earlier that he gave candy to students who achieved an A on assignments. He also made kids raise their expectations of themselves and taught them to be proud. He made home visits, and even took time out of his Saturdays to meet with kids and study. Clark also used a carrot and sticks classroom management style. He had rules, and if the kids broke them, there were punishments. His first rule, we are family, is a very important rule to set the feel of the classroom. He enforced the rules, no exceptions. He even met with his students parents before he began teaching the class, to develop a relationship. Clark took the time to get to know each and every one of his kids, and to build a relationship with them. This included incorporating what they liked into the classroom, such as music. He even entertained them by drinking several chocolate milks so they would learn grammar (and we all know how bad for you those school chocolate milks are for you!) He rewarded them when necessary with candy and even tickets to Broadway. The part that I identify most with in the movie is when he jump ropes with the kids. I may not jump rope with my kids, but I do my best to be involved in their lives. I had one student who was in a band, and that is all he ever talked about. He invited me to his first

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

show, and I went. He was such a squirrely kids, but after that day, he was an angel and stood up for me when kids acted up.

How these Strategies can be Incorporate in the Classroom

As stated above, these strategies can be easily implemented into the classroom, if you have the right teacher. There are some teachers that refuse to develop relationships with students and have the attitude of My way or the highway, these are usually the teachers who the kids often dislike. Clark made home visits with all his students, while possibly practical in elementary school; in middle in high school it would be difficult to visit with all the parents of your students. His classroom management style is one that is commonly seen in classrooms. I, and other teachers do give out candy and rewards for good behavior and achievement, but some teachers think this is a bad idea (my principal thinks we should not do this, but he does not teach my classroom!) Clark implemented music into his classroom. This is a wonderful to engage the kids, and if you are not the creative type, there are already songs out there written by other people! In my classroom we listen to science songs all the time and many of my students have downloaded songs from class from iTunes to add to their personal music collection. There is a song about Alfred Wegner that my kids BEG to hear, it brings me such joy! Part of teaching is entertaining. Just as Clark did with the chocolate milk, teachers need to grab students attention. It is important to make the curriculum fit your students, and make them want to learn. Clark did this by presenting the challenge of being quiet and paying attention, and drinking the chocolate milk. Clark also went beyond the classroom and played with them at recess. This shows your students there is a fun side to you, and you really care about them. You are not there from 8-5 only, and for the paycheck.

Suggested strategies to administration to remedy some of the challenges in my School

My school is not in downtown Harlem, but we face some of the same problems presented in the movie. Some of the strategies I would like to see teachers on my campus use include:

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

Parent communication Developing relationships with students Starting each day anew Award good achievement, give students credit where credit is due Incorporate music into the classroom

Parent communication at my school does not occur as frequently as it should, not in the right dosage. By this, I mean that I rarely hear about teachers calling parents about the good things, and so when I do, the parents dont know how to react. All that I have called this year said they have never had a good phone call and did not know how to respond to it. Developing that line of communication can build the relationship with parents, so that if a bad call does have to be placed, they already have a positive note with you. If we cannot effectively communicate with parents and community members our knowledge and strategies will go unnoticed (Maring, Magelkey, 1990) Developing relationships with students is also something that many teachers at my school are lacking. The sad part about it, the kids actually talk to me about it. I try to give them advice about how to build positive relationships with students, but as we know, it is a two way street. If teachers would build these relationships, classroom discipline would decrease, and classroom management would be easier. Importance of making students feel a sense of belonging and well-being; meeting their needs for autonomy, competence, and relationships (self-determination theory); and maintaining mastery-goal rather than performance-goal structures (goal theory) is imperative to a successful classroom.(Brophy,2008 ) Something that I stress to my students is to start each day, with each teacher anew. If a student and teacher had an issue in class yesterday, the attitudes should not carry over. However, this is not the case. It is not fair to the student to continue discipline from the day before. As teachers, we should be caring and understanding. Respect is a cardinal virtue in schools and foundational to our common ethical beliefs, yet its meaning is muddled (Goodman, 2009) respect is a two way street in schools, and teachers do not often view it this way. But what we often see, is teachers who view children, possessors of human dignity, but without perspective and reasoning ability, are entitled only to the most minimal respect. (Goodman, 2009)

The Ron Clark Story: Teaching Strategies and Improvement Plan

I also think it is important to award and praise students when they do something well. We should not set expectations for students, and we should push them beyond their own. I see teachers that aid students so much that they are practically doing the work for them. This is our expectation that the student cannot do the work, so we do it for them, we dont push them, and we dont make the learning uncomfortable. Students will never learn anything if we continue to do the work for them. Teachers teach and motivate by identifying and supporting students' interests and by supporting their internalization of the school's values and agenda. This style is relatively autonomy supportive, because the teacher's goal is to support students' interest in and valuing of education. (Reeve, Bolt, Cai, 1999) Teachers can motivate students by paying simple compliments that pertain to the students education. Finally, my favorite, we need to implement music into the classroom! My kids love my class because I incorporate so much and so many different styles of music. It has actually encouraged my kids to write their own science songs (on their own time, this was not an assignment!) Students have told me, Miss, why are you and Mrs. Abernathy (The other 8 th grade science teacher that I plan with) the only teachers that play music? Can you talk to the other teachers and see if they will too. Music is very effective especially when one needs to memorize something. (Estrella, 2006)

Plan for School Improvement in the Classroom, and how to Modify the Plan for Classroom and School Improvement.
The plan does not need modification for my school, because we are a 6-8 campus. What can be applied to 8th grade can also be applied to 6th. The strategies that I have suggested are able to be transferable across content areas. Parent communication should be something EVERY teacher does, but we really dont at my school. I think this would be really valuable for schools such as ours. Developing relationships with students is something that some teachers may struggle with, but is necessary to have a smooth classroom. Starting each day anew is beneficial to the student, teacher and classroom atmosphere. Teachers should also award good achievement and give students credit where credit is due. This will encourage them to try just as hard on their next assignment. Finally,

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incorporating music into the classroom will help students retain more information, and give the classroom an uplifted feel.

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References:

Brophy, J. (n.d.). Developing students' appreciation for what is taught in school. (2008). Educational Psychologist, 43(3), 132-141. doi: 10.1080/00461520701756511 Estrella, E. (2006, March 24). Using music to teach other subjects. Retrieved from http://musiced.about.com/b/2006/03/24/using-music-to-teach-othersubjects.htm?p=1 Goodman, J. (2009). Respect-due and respect-earned: negotiating student-teacher relationships. (2009).Ethics & Education, 4(1), 3-17. doi: 10.1080/17449640902781356 Maring, G., & Magelky, J. Working with parents: Effective communication. (1990). The Reading Teacher, 43(8), 606-607. Retrieved from https://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2069/login?url=http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2055/ docview/203266569?accountid=7113 Persons, H. (Editor), & Haines, R. (Producer) (2006). The ron clark story [DVD] Reeve, J., Bolt, E., & Cai, Y. Autonomy-supportive teachers: How they teach and motivate students. (1999). Journal of Educational Psychology,91(3), 537-548. doi: 10.1037/0022-0663.91.3.537