My History of Movies in the Classroom

As a child I was not a very good reader and I did not do very well in school. My teachers moved me into a group where I had to do extra reading and writing classes just so I could keep up with my regular class. This continued for a long time until I was able to read a book in class and then watch the film afterwards.

I read Little House on the Prairie when I was in 3rd grade. I had a hard time visualizing what was going on in the book and so my teacher let us watch clips from the movie and TV show so we could get a better understanding of what we were reading. This was one of the first times I was able to enjoy a book. Before then I hated reading because it was hard for me to read something that did not interest me.

In 5th grade I read The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I had to do a book report on it. I love this book now but when I first read it I was not as interested in it. But at that time there was a cartoon movie of the book and I was able to watch it and get a better understanding and appreciation for what was happening in the book.

Once I got into Intermediate school, the teachers became more lenient about showing the class a movie about what we had been reading or learning about. During this time I grew to love history and especially history movies. My classes allowed me to expand my mind through film.

It wasn't until my Freshman year in High School when I was in my Honors World History class that I was able to watch films based on actual events. My teacher thought it would be a good idea to show what it might have been like during certain time periods. We also read The Odyssey in his class and he showed us the movie. The movie really helped me and the class get through the Epic Poem by Homer. It brought his words to life. This class later went on to watch Schindler's List. This movie shows what it was like during the Holocaust and nobody in my class had ever seen anything like it before. The movie had been out for sometime but we were all too young to see it. My teacher did not show any of the sex scenes but he showed us the rest of the movie.

Ever since then I have been reading books I do not like or understand and watch their movie version of the book or the time period to help me better understand the book or the time period. I had another professor have us watch the 10th Anniversary Version of Les Miserables just so we could understand the characters and see some of what the characters are going through in the book by Victor Hugo.

I will always strive to learn and gain as much knowledge as I can. Going to the Movies and reading books help me do that. Some teachers do not think that watching movies in class will hep their students. I say that is just them being blind. Kids need to be able to imagine and see things that are not just on the page. This is why I am so steadfast in my beliefs of why movies and school go hand in hand.

A conversation with Katherine Restaino Dick Ph.D.

I have been talking about how I think movies are great for educational purposes. Because of my topic I thought it would be a great opportunity to discuss this topic with a scholar who is just as and even more passionate than I am.

I attend Fairleigh Dickinso University and here I have taken a couple of film classes. There is one professor in particular, I feel, is the best at the University. Katherine Restaino Dick, Ph.D. is one of the most respected professors in the Communications Department and in the University. I decided to ask her a few questions on the subject of movies and Education.

• Do you think that movies should be taught in the classroom? Why or Why not?

Thank you for asking me about the role of movies in the classroom. Film is an important reinforcement. Students who read Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will find reinforcement by watching a film version. History related to the Revolutionary War is enhanced by seeing the films Johnny Tremaine and 1776. Gone With the Wind makes the Civil War come alive.

• 
  
  Do you like going to the movies? Why or Why not?

I enjoy going to the movies, but I usually wait until they are on television or I buy a DVD. It's a pain to go to movies theaters today because members of the audience often talk and scrunch on popcorn.

• Do you learn or get anything out of the movie after seeing it? Do you think that movies are an important part of scoiety?

Films make you think about cultural issues and social problems. Every time I watch The Deerhunter, I recall the early days of my teaching career during the Vietnam War. The young men who were subject to the draft could get a deferment if they were full-time college students. What would the instructor do if she had to fail the student?

I found this last question she posed to be extremely enlightening. I would never have thought about this because of when I was born and because my generation has not had to face anything like that before. Being able to watch a movie that is set in a time that I am not familiar with really opens my eyes to what it might have been like and with that I am able to see into history or into literature.

Movies are a very important part in our society but also in theclassroom. How else is a student sippossed to see what happens in war or during a depression?

My Life in the Movies

I have blogged about different subjects and different movies that I love. I have yet to explain my real love of movies and learning. This is what I wanted to focus on today.

I grew up in a home that is filled with art and culture. My dad would read me stories of fantasy and adventure as I would fall asleep. My older sister would buy me books by authors that would take me to a world that I had never seen before. My mom would take me to Disneyland when I was not feeling well. But as a family we would go to the Movies and I would experience some of the most amazing sights and sounds that changed my life. Before I go on I should probably explain who my parents are and who my sister is.

My dad is a professor of Theater at Chapman University. He specializes in Shakespeare and Directing and through out my life I have been around him while he has taught his students about the intricacies of Shakespeare and Directing. He also spent summers directing many Shakespeare productions where I was able to see Shakespeare's works come to life. My Mom teaches at an Intermediate School. Recently she has become the head of the Art program at the school. This involves any type of performing art or creative arts in the school. And my sister graduated with her Bachelors in Theater and is now getting her Masters in directing in Canada. As you can see we love the arts. But they also love learning.

Because my parents love the arts and education I sort of became obsessed with the movies and learning from movies. I am currently taking a class about Crime in Film. I am required to watch a wide variety of movies in order to understand crime in film. But, after class I go straight onto IMDB and I research more about the movie I have just seen. The website I visit the most, more than Facebook, is IMDB. My teachers would show movies in the classroom and I always thought it was a great day in class. I learn so much from watching movies and I feel that the classroom is a great way for students to grow as individuals. If I were a teacher I would try to use movies as much as possible to try and expand the minds of my students. Sometimes students can only see what is on the page, what the movies do is show another world that we are not familiar with.

I want to say that the Oscars is like my Super Bowl. Last year The King's Speech won for best picture. This film is about a country finding something and someone to believe in during a time of terrible struggle. This is a great movie for a history class and even a speech class. Movies help me understand things, they take me to a different world and they show me a world I could have never imagined. Some of my favorite movies are from movies that I watched in school.

How-To choose the best film for your class!

Movies.

A simple media but choosing the right film is always the hardest and most frustrating part, in my opinion. I think it is even harder when you need to choose the proper movie for the class as well. So I have decided to give you some steps into how to choose the proper film for a classroom.

First:

The movie needs to be suitable for all ages. Meaning, that you should rarely choose a rated R movie unless you are in college or you are only showing a clip from that rated R movie. To be safe try and stick to the PG and PG-13 movies.

Second:

What class are you teaching? For the purposes of this how-to, lets say you are trying to pick a movie for an English class. It is important to not watch a movie for each novel that you read in class. I think that you should provide your students with the idea of watching the novel that you have read.

Third:

Choose what novel you want to show the movie version of. In my personal opinion, the most complex and hardest book to understand is probably the best choice to watch a movie for.

Fourth:

Last I think it is important put an assignment with the movie. Some students do not read the novels they are assigned and wait to watch the film. Putting an assignment with the film is important so the student will pay attention and not just fall asleep. For example, compare the novel to the movie.

I love watching films in class but what I think is the most important part is writing about it afterwards. I think the student would retain more information if they are told to read the novel, watch the movie, and compare the two.

History through Movies!!

I have discussed movies about History before and some of my favorites but I thought it would be a great idea to show you a blog that takes you through movies that depict different time periods!

HISTORY MOVIES!

I found this blog to be extremely interesting. I love History and I love movies, what could be better than a blog about where they are one in the same? History is a very important subject. It is where we learn from our mistakes and grow from those mistakes. This blog ranges from the very beginning of civilizations until the end of World War II. We go threw school learning about different cultures and civilizations. We learn about the past. This blog is great to find knew movies for teachers to show to their students. There are lists of movies that are strictly about the bible or about the Victorian age. Anything you would want in a history movie list, its here.

I do have some scruples about this blog, however none that should turn you away from the blog. This blog lists movies and gives a small synopsis about the movies but I think that the blog could have a little more writing maybe explaining the time period a little more. The layout is very simple and fitting for its History themed blog. My main problem with this blog is that it stops at World War II. I love World War II but there are many great films that are about very important times in our nations history. For example, films about the Vietnam War are not listed or about the Civil Rights movement. These are parts of history that I think are also needed to be shown to students learning about modern history.

This has blog helped me find movies, in time periods I find interesting. I love learning and expanding my mind. With this blog I am able to find movies that are not as well known. I recommend this website to anyone who loves History and Movies as much as I do.

Sports in Film!

Baseball.
Hockey.
Basketball.
Football.
Gymnastics.
Boxing.
Soccer.
Cheerleading.

These are just some examples of sports that have been portrayed in film. Physical Education, also known as P.E., is a part of school that students either want to go to or dread to go to. I personally loved P.E. because I was athletic and I found it to be fun and an escape. Sadly, others do not. What is great about film is that it can be shown on a rainy day or a snow day. Most of the time, sports films are ways of inspiring people, at least that is what they do for me.

I am an athletic person. I love watching sports and I love playing them. Some of my favorite movies revolve around sports. They have such a great message and strength behind them. A P.E. teacher, instead of making their students run, could sit down with their students and watch a movie that is inspirational and teaches students about team and courage.

Some of my favorites are:

1. A League of Their Own
2. Miracle
3. Remember the Titans
4. Bend it Like Beckham
5. Cinderella Man
6. Coach Carter
7. Stick It!
8. The Sandlot
9. Bring it On
10. Hoosiers
11. Rudy
    

As a child I would watch A League of Their Own over and over again because the story is unbelievable and powerful. I play softball and the fact that women played baseball and sold out stadiums is amazing. These movies give people strength and hope. I believe that everyone should watch a sports films because their is growth in the story. Some of the movies are based on real events which is again unbelievable and inspiring.

There are many movies that are about students and education. Movies are able to show what teachers can do in the classroom. Movies can take real stories and show the rest of the world how incredible these stories are. There is a blog post that was dedicated to stories about students and teachers. They have great stories and messages every student. Below there is a link to the website listing the many great films about Education.

25 Best Movies About Education Ever Made

This is a great list of films and documentaries that are centered around Education. The films on the list are all movies that inspire change and growth. One of the movies on the list is Precious. This movie centers around an abused teen mother who has a hard time in school. This story shows her growth through the education system with her teacher helping her and giving her hope along the way. A film that is also on this list is but is the polar opposite of Precious is School of Rock. School of Rock is a film about a washed up rocker who starts substitute teaching for elementary school kids. This film is great because it shows that art and music can really help kids through school and help them find an identity.

The Documentaries on this site are also remarkable. The top of the list is Waiting for Superman. This is a great story about kids who want to go to school but the education system is failing them. People want to learn and this movie is a great way of showing education in film. It is true and gritty.

I loved this blog. It was a great way to find out more about movies that focus on Education.