So a few months ago we had an early day at school. It was an awkward early day.
Let me explain. We normally get out of school at 3:25 pm, with our second dismissal getting out at 3:50. We have a super small parking lot and not a lot of space to get in and out, so they stagger the carpool by having two dismissal times. The extra half hour is just homework time for the students who are there. On Wednesdays we have early days. The day ends at 1:25 with second dismissal out at 1:50. Then there are early early days (like half days for times before the end of the term or for staff development, etc.). On those days we get out at 12:15 with second dismissal at 12:35. Nice.
So this awkward early day. We got out at like 2:15 or something weird and that threw the kids into this frenetic bedlam because the day was so "different." This is one thing I've learned about children. They survive on structure and routine. Take them out of it and they go crazy. Anyways.
We were let out early because a certain Ron Clark man was coming to our school. I had heard of this man before. During training they talk about him and how he inspired our teachers to do cheers at school to help the kids move and get excited for a couple seconds before going back to teaching. There's also a movie made about him. Matthew Perry (or Chandler, as I like to refer to him) plays Ron Clark, I think. I haven't seen the movie, obviously. Other than this little knowledge of him, I knew nothing.
So Ron Clark just got up and talked to us. It was amazing. He's mesmerizing when he talks. He's walking all around the room, looking in your faces and jumping on chairs. He talked about motivating kids, among other things. It didn't seem like he had anything specific prepared, he just got up and started talking. Telling stories and giving ideas. The fact that he was hilarious could have to do with it. Or maybe it was his southern accent, ya'll. Whatever it was, those two hours went by in a flash, and I found myself wishing I could just listen to him talk the rest of the night. He actually made me want to do cheers in my classroom (which I only really do when a coach is in there, the mandatory "A maaaay ZING!"). That's motivation.
The point of all this is that my sister sent me this email the other day with the link to this article:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html
It was written by Mr. Ron Clark himself! That made me excited to read it. Plus the topic caught my attention as well. Turns out he is an excellent writer as well. If I wrote this article, it would end up being a complain-fest. Ron Clark tells it honestly and positively. Good for him.
Read it. It's perfect. Maybe I'll print it out for some of my parents...
Let me explain. We normally get out of school at 3:25 pm, with our second dismissal getting out at 3:50. We have a super small parking lot and not a lot of space to get in and out, so they stagger the carpool by having two dismissal times. The extra half hour is just homework time for the students who are there. On Wednesdays we have early days. The day ends at 1:25 with second dismissal out at 1:50. Then there are early early days (like half days for times before the end of the term or for staff development, etc.). On those days we get out at 12:15 with second dismissal at 12:35. Nice.
So this awkward early day. We got out at like 2:15 or something weird and that threw the kids into this frenetic bedlam because the day was so "different." This is one thing I've learned about children. They survive on structure and routine. Take them out of it and they go crazy. Anyways.
We were let out early because a certain Ron Clark man was coming to our school. I had heard of this man before. During training they talk about him and how he inspired our teachers to do cheers at school to help the kids move and get excited for a couple seconds before going back to teaching. There's also a movie made about him. Matthew Perry (or Chandler, as I like to refer to him) plays Ron Clark, I think. I haven't seen the movie, obviously. Other than this little knowledge of him, I knew nothing.
So Ron Clark just got up and talked to us. It was amazing. He's mesmerizing when he talks. He's walking all around the room, looking in your faces and jumping on chairs. He talked about motivating kids, among other things. It didn't seem like he had anything specific prepared, he just got up and started talking. Telling stories and giving ideas. The fact that he was hilarious could have to do with it. Or maybe it was his southern accent, ya'll. Whatever it was, those two hours went by in a flash, and I found myself wishing I could just listen to him talk the rest of the night. He actually made me want to do cheers in my classroom (which I only really do when a coach is in there, the mandatory "A maaaay ZING!"). That's motivation.
The point of all this is that my sister sent me this email the other day with the link to this article:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html
It was written by Mr. Ron Clark himself! That made me excited to read it. Plus the topic caught my attention as well. Turns out he is an excellent writer as well. If I wrote this article, it would end up being a complain-fest. Ron Clark tells it honestly and positively. Good for him.
Read it. It's perfect. Maybe I'll print it out for some of my parents...
emily what a great article. I believe everything he said we always support the teacher at this house. In fact we love teachers. I loveyour blog and read it all the time thanks Suzanne Campbell
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