The Ron Clark Story (2006) – Complete Movie Guide
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- Grades 5–8, Elementary, Middle School
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- The Ron Clark Story, Movie Guide
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About this resource
What's inside this resource
"The Ron Clark Story" is a 2006 made-for-television drama film that tells the true story of Ron Clark, a teacher from North Carolina who moves to New York City to teach at a school in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods. The film stars Matthew Perry as Ron Clark. The film opens with Ron Clark leaving his home in North Carolina to move to New York City to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. He arrives in Harlem and begins teaching at the inner-city elementary school, P.S. 83, where he is met with a classroom full of unruly and disinterested students. Despite the challenges, Ron is determined to make a difference and engages the students with his unorthodox teaching methods, including singing and dancing to teach math and making learning fun. His efforts pay off as the students become more engaged and start to excel academically. Ron's dedication to his students is put to the test when he discovers that one of his students, Julio, is living alone in a homeless shelter. Ron takes Julio under his wing and works to give him the support and guidance he needs to succeed. Ron's unconventional teaching methods and dedication to his students bring him national recognition and he is named Teacher of the Year. However, his success comes at a cost, as he struggles to balance his personal life with his demanding career. In the end, Ron decides to leave New York City and return home to North Carolina, but not before leaving a lasting impact on his students and the school community. The film ends with Ron's students surprising him with a special performance at his going-away party, showcasing how far they have come under his guidance. Overall, "The Ron Clark Story" is a heartwarming tale of an educator who goes above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of his students.
This 20-question movie guide will help your students get the most out of this powerful movie. The guide includes reflection questions and a short answer prompt. This movie guide comes with an answer key. Ready to print and ready to use! Enjoy!
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In the classroom
Teaching tips & learning objectives
Learning objectives
Students recall and record key plot events from 'The Ron Clark Story' in chronological order as they watch.
Students make an inference about Mr. Clark's motivation for visiting a student's home before the first day of class.
Students evaluate a moral question — whether Mr. Clark crossed a boundary by cooking dinner for a student's family — and support their opinion.
Students connect the film to their own experience by describing and reflecting on a favorite teacher.
Teaching tips
Pause after question 5 to discuss the inference question as a class before continuing, since it asks students to reason about Mr. Clark's motivation rather than recall a stated fact.
Use question 14's 'stop and think' prompt as a short discussion or debate before students commit to a written answer.
Save question 22's personal reflection for a follow-up writing assignment or class discussion once the film ends.
Share the 'Behind the Movie' background on the real Ron Clark Academy after the film to connect the story to a school still operating today.
Skills covered
Sequential comprehension — students track and answer 22 questions in the chronological order events occur in the film.
Inference-making — students reason about a character's unstated motivation in the home-visit question.
Ethical reasoning — students evaluate a value-laden classroom scenario in the 'stop and think' prompt.
Personal reflection and connection — students relate the film's theme to a teacher in their own life.
Good to know
Questions teachers ask about this resource
What kinds of questions go beyond simple recall in this guide?
Question 5 asks students to infer Mr. Clark's motivation for a home visit, question 14 poses a 'stop and think' ethical question about a boundary-crossing scene, and question 22 asks students to reflect personally on a favorite teacher.
What does the 'Behind the Movie' section cover?
Factual background on the real Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, including its 2007 founding date and the roughly 120 students it serves in grades 5-8.
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Resource details
Concepts & topics
Core concepts
Core concepts
Chronological comprehension
Inference
Ethical reasoning
Personal reflection
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