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

by Ron Clark

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.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Professional Development, School, Parenting, Teachers

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2011

About the author

Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator." In 2000, he was named Disney's American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose book, The Essential 55, has sold over 1 million copies and has been published in 25 different countries.

--from the author's website

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally don't enjoy books written by people who feel the need to plaster their face all over the book. Ron Clark loves putting his face on everything (front cover, back cover, countless photos, etc.). While I think Mr. Clark is probably a great educator and doing wonderful things for the students at RCA in Harlem, I find his books a bit frustrating. This book contains "101 extraordinary solutions" to get "our kids unstuck" from boring, problematic classrooms/educators/parents. My primary beef with this (and his previous "55 essentials") is that these numbered solutions are often very vague and obvious. Teachers (like myself) who desperately strive to continually improve don't need this guy to state the obvious ("push yourself to be innovative", "listen", etc.) or recount tales of extraordinary students in extraordinary situations with super amazing teachers in unique schools. I want concrete details explaining specific steps I can literally take each day to impact my students and enable them to succeed. This is a quick feel good read, but won't really help me when I get into my classroom. I wish he would spend more time really examining his school and teachers to locate/understand what they are doing and how those skills can be replicated.

[Jason Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very motivating and insightful stuff for teachers in this book. I'm reading parts of it to my MTE508 students lately. This book certainly goes to show that you can't be a great teacher and have a life outside of school. You can be good, not great. You have to decide. Ron made the decision to become a great teacher. Personally, I'd rather be a great father. I don't know of a single person who has been able to do both.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I admire this man's dedication but I think you can be a wonderful teacher without going to his extremes. He admits that he only sleeps 4-5 hours a night and has little time for family, friends, hobbies, or relaxing. It is amazing that he has the patience to be such a good teacher when he does not take any time for himself. I disagree with some of his philosophies but I agree with his overall message that teachers have the power to do great things if they are willing to try. He makes up statistics several times throughout the book and that really annoyed me. He "estimates" that only 20% of students receiving special education services are actually benefiting from them. Where did he even come up with that number?

[Lisa Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Completely horrible. I don't see how it would help parents or even teachers, except maybe private school teachers. And it is so self-agrandizing, with that gee-whiz-who-me humility while tooting his own horn, it was sickening. Horrible read.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confession: I was persuaded by the raves this book has received on Instagram. I was looking for something inspirational to keep me pumped throughout the summer.

I applaud Mr. Clark's verve and commitment. However, no teacher should be obligated to stay on campus until 5:45 daily, and no teacher should feel guilty for not doing so. To remain effective, teachers need to take care of themselves, including rest (since Clark appreciates research and data, perhaps someone should alert him to the health dangers of not getting adequate sleep), nutrition, and emotional health. Frankly, I was looking for better advice than what is essentially keeping lessons interesting and going above and beyond to give students the best education. I, along with every teacher I've worked with, do these things 365 days a year. Thanks anyway, Mr. Clark.

[Holly Jorgenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for all teachers AND parents. I especially loved the parts about not being a helicopter parent and allowing your child to experience consequences. I completely agree with the author that teachers should not give extra credit and that, by doing so, we actually LOWER the academic standards we're always bragging about. This author really loves teaching and working with kids. He has so much enthusiasm for making the curriculum come alive and capturing students' attention. He also discusses ways to really get to know your students (or your own children). Read this book! It really does contain useful information for parents.

[Aimy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. Truthfully, I couldn’t get past tip 17. There are plenty of other amazing books with practical advice and inspiration. I read no less than 4 anecdotes that made me cringe before I stopped. You can love being a teacher and commit yourself to become the best you can be without it taking over your entire life. If you believe, like I do, that life is about balancing what’s important to you (family, career, friends, interests, down time) and standing up for your right to be paid properly for your time and efforts then this book is probably not for you.

[Anna (bibliophiles_bookstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As wonderful as the 101 solutions are, some (many?) of the examples discussed are ideal but not practical in many situations. I also struggled with the fact that teaching 5-8th is very different than upper level high school; however, I found ways to picture modifying some powerful solutions. That being said, as a mother of 3 young kids, I struggled with the reality of certain situations in MY real world (picking up kids before daycare closes and spending my evening with them and my husband...the only few hours I get with them each day.) I agree with other reviews that it is possible to be a great teacher without going to the extremes Ron Clark does, though his extremes are clearly all for the good of the kids. Regardless, there were many great reminders and ideas sparked as I prepare for my 12th year teaching.

[Angie Stich · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was curious about the Ron Clark hype and, honestly, it's exactly that: hype. I do share some of his fundamental beliefs (raising the bar rather than teaching to the average/lowest common denominator), though I don't necessarily agree with him about how to go about it. Using food as rewards? Never. Failing kids when absolutely clear expectations about what is required to succeed haven't been laid out? Cruel and unethical.

I stopped reading after his passage about plastering the girls' bathroom at this namesake academy with photographs of (male) heartthrobs. Because, honestly, we all know educators and adult role models should be encouraging girls to focus MORE of their attention on boys and frivolous b.s. Instead of the things they can think and do.

[Jean Brazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The amazing Ron Clark, Disney teacher of the year and founder of the Ron Clark Academy, gives helpful and motivational advice to both teachers and parents. However, I wonder how much can be applied outside of the ideal situations he has: with less supportive parents and the rules and limitations of a public school, a class of severe special needs students like I teach and yes, an energy and motivation level not up to the level of his. It is something to consider, but in a way, a very frustrating book when I found myself over and over thinking it could never happen for me and my school.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely over the top. Beyond over the top. So if you're the kind of person who gets irritated by someone who seems to have limitless energy, drive, and determination, this might not be the book for you. But if you're looking to read some amazing stories about the power of education, to be inspired on a grand scale, and to find a spark of hope, you should probably read this right now.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not rating this one yet because I have to cogitate on it first. After reading and following Charlotte Mason's views of: Let the students interact with the book, and get out of the way yourself, I have his view which is to stand on the desk and sing and dance your way into the kids' minds and hearts. He does have the kids do skits about what they've read- which is a great way to get the story into a child's mind. And some motivation seems almost mandatory in a class setting where children have to wait for others to finish work, instead of just going on to the next assignment like with home schooling, so clapping other's successes and learning to wait politely and positively for other's responses, or bursting out with encouraging words instead of the answer when you can't hold yourself back seem like great ways to promote kindness & patience.

I'd love to have been in a school where there are secret doors and a sorting wheel A la Harry Potter! Would I have the energy (and money) to do his stuff? Probably not.

I also believe in his view that children need to see the world and travel is important. It's given me incentive to take my daughter to Europe, like we did our son, when she reaches 11 or 12 or so.

It gets a 3.5, maybe upped to 4, after I think on it a bit.

[Arminzerella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Clark is a teacher and administrator who saw a need for a radical reform in the way we educate our kids here in the USA. He has used the techniques he discusses in “The End of Molasses Classes” in his own classrooms and at RCA (Ron Clark Academy) with great success – creating enthusiastic hordes of students AND teachers, who live to learn and love to explore their world. You probably need to see this man in action for the full effect, but listening to him narrate the audio edition of the book is almost as good – he oozes energy and passion with every word (and you’ll either love or hate his homey drawl). Infusing classrooms with color and energy and demanding excellence from every student while instilling them with values and addressing their concerns and problems inside and outside of class and involving their parents - *deep breath* - is only the beginning. For Ron Clark and the other teachers at RCA, this mission of theirs is their life and they give most of their time and energy to the kids and the school. Very inspiring. If you’re going to have kids, you should endeavor to bring them up Ron Clark style.

[Michaela Gyure · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was extremely disappointed by this book. Clark seems to have a bit of a Messiah complex, and many of his strategies are too vague to be more valuable than a self-help motivation book. His anecdotes, while fun, do not represent things that are achievable by public school teachers. I cannot take my students to NYC and put their faces on a giant screen on a whim, or host a spur-of-the-moment political rally. Some of his actions also seem ethically questionable, like rewarding students with cookies in front of their peers for “performing well” when Clark admits to not giving students what I’ll call “real” criteria for their projects. All in all, I’m sure Clark is a great teacher in his own school with his own kids, but I don’t think his ideas will work for me.

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short review: An encouraging look at how we can change education from one of the more innovative leaders in education. Ron Clark is a teacher, not a researcher. He runs a school with the express purpose of teaching teachers. So the rooms have 30 kids, but seating for 80-100 adults to see what goes on in the classroom. In the four years since it opened about 10,000 adults have seen how teachers can learn how to teach to the needs of the child.

A longer review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/molasses/

[Maria Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every teacher in the world should read this book and probably every parent. Alot of what Ron Clark has done does seem very unrealistic but really can't we just attempt to teach the way he suggests. Really, if you don't love the kids and love teaching...choose another profession! I am going to reread this one. I really want to keep reminding myself: "We have no time for fear" "A smile will erase any error" Exhibit the same energy you expect from your audience" "Laughter can help us all through any problem, and it can make any task seem manageable" and much more.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't bear to read yet another "Education can be so wonderful!" book. I'm just burnt out now. The book might be good if I still felt hope. Will again, soon, but it's just a burnt out time right now.

[Lauren Linn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to be this teacher!!! What an awesome book for teachers...and parents. Thank you, Ron Clark!

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Making the best of a bad thing seems to be Ron Clark’s mantra. His passion is evident, but I just don’t see many of these strategies playing out in a high school classroom.

Clearly, this book came out prior to the inception of cancel culture and there is no guidance regarding helicopter mommies, let alone Apache attack helicopter mommies, or teaching students who have been passed without demonstrating competence in any of their disciplines of Mathematics, Social Studies, Language Arts or Science.

I’d like to read up on Clark’s modifications in the post pandemic world of teaching.

While “work hard, give it all you’ve got, be there, and accept a large classroom load without complaint” all sound inspirational, they do nothing to diminish the sense of foreboding I feel when, in the first week of 11th-grade Physics, an upper class-man (uhhh class person) designated as “math gifted” spontaneously utters, “Woah mister! You lost me at ratios!”

So many challenges face teachers. It is no wonder they are leaving in droves. This is why I turned to Ron Clark for adding more tools to my teaching repertoire.

And here is where he lost me altogether; #49 “I know the big trend for years in our country has been to reduce class size, and for kindergarten through second grade, I think that the argument is valid.

For higher grades, however, reducing class size can be a waste of time because if you have a bad teacher educating thirty students, she’s still going to be a bad teacher educating thirteen students…”

Therein lies the problem got teachers. We cannot be effective teachers when the trend is to either cutting budgets or piling up more responsibilities upon teachers. And there is no such thing as teaching classes upwards of 30 students. Students need access to teachers and Clark’s corporate perspective only calls for one thing; more sacrifice of teachers and nothing in the way of raising the social value for teaching.

Unfortunately, this book ought to be more correctly labeled as pointers for elementary and middle-school teachers because it offers pie in the sky narratives without delivering on the value each teacher brings to the classroom.

[Mrs Grueb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like everything in theory and for most of the suggestions he gave modifications but I am struggling to see how you would have a life balance trying to do all the things he suggests doing in here. He praises teachers who commit their lives to teaching and I get how that is admirable, but in today's society and teachers balking against working out of their contract hours, I just don't see how anything he suggests is feasible.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audible and listening to it with Ron Clark’s enthusiasm was a great choice. He had some great ideas that were easily implemented into my classroom. I’ve found myself making songs to go with content, standing on a table to teach, communicating more with parents, and forming better relationships with my kiddos.

[Alysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is filled with what I would consider “extreme teacher” examples, I feel like I’m walking away from it with some very inspiring ideas. I felt reenergized reading this one!

[Susie Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more for leadership than classroom teachers. He’s done amazing stuff and is certainly an inspiration but this felt unreachably lofty.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ron Clark, Oprah, Ron Clark, Oprah, Ron Clark, Nelson Mandela, Ron Clark, Ron Clark, Ron Clark Academy (RCA).

Humility is not this man's strength.

Although I may have a slight eye-sprain from excessive rolling, I was inspired.

Watching my kids go through school I see them feeling like an education is being inflicted on them. They aren't taking ownership, they're getting through it. And they have had wonderful teachers. This book was recommended by teachers at my kids' school and we are studying it as a group. I'm excited to see what comes through.

The book is broken into three parts:

For Teachers - with section headings like:
Get to know your students in nonacademic settings.
Not every child deserves a cookie.
Create moments that will have a lasting impact on children's lives. (For his example he got his student's pictures on the a screen at Times Square and brought them all out at 11:30 pm to see.)

For Parents:
Realize that sometimes even very good children will lie.
Nip it in the bud; small issues can grow into big problems.
Show them how to study; don't expect it to come naturally.

The third section covers creating a positive climate and culture at home and school.

In his classroom, he wired a disco ball, music, and strobe lights to a big red button that he slams whenever a student does something amazing. He gives out drums to kids to keep the energy going in the classroom. He organizes teams to renovate people's homes and/or kids' bedrooms so they have a nice place to relax and study and to help them feel loved and supported. He takes his classes out of the country on trips. He even teached the cirruculum to parents so they can effectivly tutor their children at home. They are often on TV. A song and dance routine they created in class around the presidential election time went viral. Crazy. The man is nuts. He lives on 4-5 hours of sleep a night. He says, to run a school you have to build an altar and sacrifice yourself on it. I'd say to be a teacher in his school requires about the same level of sacrifice.

Despite all this man's utter craziness, there were several themes that wound their way through almost all of his suggestions.

1. Relationship:
This is the biggest one. Having a trusting relationship with each student and each family is crucial. So many of his students are reduced to tears at the thought of letting Ron down. They work hard for themselves, but also to make Ron proud of them.

2. Supporting each other (teachers, kids, parents)
This means no gossip. No going around each other. It also means celebrating each other's success. When a child does something well, the other students clap. When a child struggles with a problem, they wait patiently and send out whispered words of encouragement. When teachers and parents need help we step-up and just do it. No questions, just positive actions.

3. Just ask and ask again.
Ron and his team are masterful at asking for stuff. He wanted the teachers to wear sharp professional attire. So he called around and Macy's donated something like 1,000 per teacher to outfit them. Whaaat? He wanted to travel, so he asked, and asked, and now RCA has an offical airtravel sponsor. Whaaat? Furniture for his students' houses. He does this over and over.

People want to support education. We all know what a tough job that is and will be incredibly generous if we ask and then give donors a big thank you, especially when it comes from the kids.

3. Make it happen.
This was my favorite theme. Ron or one of the other teachers would come up with a crazy idea and instead of squashing it they'd go for it--Every. Single. Time. Unitied. No matter how silly or crazy it seemed. Like a huge slide in the entrance of the school. Like LCD screens and software for up to the minute house points, with pictures of the kids who earned them. Like setting up a mock elections in a single day.

So many times I have been in our PTO meetings and the simplest ideas get rejected. Like the first-grade teacher wants a rug for her room. The fourth-grade teacher wants a series of field trips around their history lessons. The PE teacher wants specific equipment for a new regimen he wants to try. Our stage curtain is in tatters.

Some teachers just don't ask anymore and look outside our major parent/fundraising group to find funding. And the fundraising group pulls in a lot of money... for what? I dunno. I pulled away from our PTO and work in the classroom exclusively and buy whatever the teacher needs at the moment, dry-erase pens, googly eyes, snacks, whatever. I now also run her accelerated reader group, wrote a study guide. I've brought in bare root house-plants for kids to pot and bring home. I'm considering running the school garden... However, if there was a climate change in the PTO I'd jump back in. Hard to imagine, "NO" runs deep in the PTO.

So be prepared to roll your eyes, but there's a lot of great stuff in here too.

[Kylynn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much! I will definitely add this to a must read every year to inspire energetic teaching!

[Taiba · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second I flipped that last page my fingers itched to turn the book over and start again—a guaranteed regular reread. Ron Clark’s Books never fail to leave me bursting with positive energy, unstoppable motivation, and brilliant ideas. I cannot wait to be back in the classroom!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring school, teachers, donors, students, and visionaries. This was a great book to read on the eve of a new school year. Thanks for all of the hard work and for sharing the success stories that have happened because of it, Ron Clark. I hope to visit your school one day.

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of really great fundamentals of teaching in this book, especially holding ALL students to high expectations and infusing joy into every aspect of your practice. That said, this book is filled with ideas that are just not practical for most public school teachers, both from a financial standpoint and a philosophical point of view. The examples he provides are so extreme -- I would have much preferred more of the "Try This" boxes that are his ideas but scaled down to something more easily replicated.

I am also VERY hesitant to praise anything that encourages such an out of whack work-life balance. Many teachers have families, children, and lives of their own and should not be expected to sacrifice their time without being adequately compensated. The work-martyr syndrome only leads to burnout and is a big reason why so many talented and qualified teachers end up leaving the classroom.

I will probably pick up The Essential 55 because it seems that may have more concrete tips and ideas, but overall I was disappointed by this book.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know our school sytem is broken and I have to say that many of the chapters brought tears to my eyes. But, I also have to say that many of them brought steam, boiling out my ears! He has some ideas that are amazing, incredible, and should be implemented in every school in America as soon as possilbe. He also has some ideas that for me border on abuse: giving a kid a hotdog every night for dinner until he is motivated to do his work? You have got to be kidding me.
I find him a man that I can love and that drives me crazy at the same time. I think he is wonderful and doing great things, but I also wonder how the introvert survives in a school where if you are not up and dancing on desks there is something terribly wrong with you. I'm glad he is helping kids in America and yet I find myself so relived he is not my kid's principal.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can understand why other reviewers rated this book both high and low. Ron Clark's school is extreme, and as a teacher, I do feel less-than compared to how they teach. The goal, however, isn't necessarily to replicate the school in entirety but to enliven my practices where they have become dull. I can adapt several of his strategies in my classroom, even if I don't take my kids on trips around the world. One thing off the top of my head that I'm going to implement is to make sure my students know the names of the other K-5 students and staff at our school (we're small, so this is do-able).

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