Movie, like picture, tells a thousand words. Today, another inspiring movie had been shown. It is based on the real-life story of a dedicated teacher, Ron Clark, who moves from a small town to New York City, to teach and inspire disadvantaged students in Harlem. Guess what? The title of the movie is as simple as “The Ron Clark Story”, starring Matthew Perry as Ron Clark.
What is he famous for? According to Wikipedia.com, Ron Clark is known for “his ability to raise test scores by using unique methods that incorporate innovation, creativity and 55 classroom rules”. After watching the movie, I couldn’t help but admire the outstanding teacher who not only managed to discipline the uncontrollable children, but also raised test scores of the weakest students in the school. He could train his students from everyone’s depicted “losers” to high scorers. In fact, they could score higher than any other classes, even the honour class. That is really amazing and unbelievable. But the major question is “How did he do that?”.
From the movie, Ron Clark uses many rules to discipline and teach his students about good values. If he were to teach the educators and future educators, I believe there will be some rules or guidelines too.
After watching the movie, the messages or “rules” that I got from Ron Clark about educating students are as follow:
1. Teach your students to respect and love each other like a family.
It is sort of similar to the idea of Curran’s Community Language Learning , where students form a community in the classroom. Helping each other when in need.
2. Treat your students as your family. Never leave your students, even though they ask you to go to hell.
3. Make an effort to understand your students’ background, behavior and learning styles. It will help a long way to produce an effective teaching and learning process between the teacher and the students.
The first thing Ron Clark did before teaching his students was to understand their backgrounds by visiting their families. Next, he explores their interests, e.g. plays Double Dutch with his students. Last but not the least, he adapts his teaching method with his students’ style and interest, e.g. uses poker cards to teach mathematics to his students.
4. Believe in your students, and they will show you the unbelievable. It’s all about self-fulfilling effect. Here comes the cliché, “If you believe you can fly, you can fly.”
Principal Turner: These kids are at the bottom of the barrel.
Ron Clark: Don't talk about them like that.
Principal Turner: Now all I'm asking is for your students to pass.
Ron Clark: Oh every one of my students will pass.
Principal Turner: They can become someone else's problem.
Ron Clark: The problem isn't the kids. It's not even what they can achieve. The problem is what you expect them to achieve. You are setting the bar here. Why? Set it up here! They can make it.
Principal Turner: This community judges us by scores. Government funding judges us by scores. People who give me scores, they get my respect.
Ron Clark: Okay good. In May, they'll all test at grade level
All in all, Ron Clark is an outstanding teacher who is highly devoted to his job and his students. Hmm….. If only I can learn from him.
Matthew Perry and Ron Clark
The 'real' Ron Clark looks handsome. :) Anyway Huey Fen I am sure you can learn from him. He 'teaches' us, we as future teacher to be very dedicated towards our job as an educator. Oh no I am wrong. Not only as an educator, but to be a father, mother, brother, sister and a friend towards the student. Yes it is not an easy job but as you mentioned, 'If you believe you can fly, you can fly.' A teacher like him makes me give more respect towards this profession. Kids are just kids. They become bad not because they are bad but it's the way they were brought up and the environment they live in. For a teacher to go to the houses of the students makes a clear point that Mr. Ron Clark doesn't just wants the students to get good marks in tests but to have a good environment to live in too. Great going teacher!
ReplyDeleteyes...respect...the core in teaching...i wish i can be more respectful to others so that i can be a better teacher...i will understand students better and thus care for them like my own family...
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