Movies in Lit Classes? Uh, yeah...





It's been a movie week in my classes. It just happened that way, following the syllabus and adjusting over and over again for testing sessions, field trips, and so on. But I'm not mad about it, not one bit. Kids are stressed about the AP tests (this is our school's first year doing AP things, and the tests are a real eye-opener for the kids). They are continuing to read for homework, but while they are in class, we are watching the films that are part of the curriculum. British Lit kids are watching Jane Eyre (the Timothy Dalton one, which I had to move heaven and earth to find a used copy for-- my other one is VHS and God forbid we have a player left in the building). They are loving it! It is long, to be sure-- this version is the only one that truly follows the text, and it's got 11 installments (it was originally a mini-series). I don't mind at all. The AmLit kids watched Fences this week, and they are truly incensed at the character of Troy Maxon, as portrayed by Denzel Washington. It's easy to see, too, why Viola Davis got the Oscar for this role. Of course, there are follow-up assignments/discussions, and so on, but it's nice to just watch the film first, instead of dissecting it (which, in my opinion, usually ruins it). 

And during Writing Lab time, I have one student who wants to see allll the movies they've not been able to watch; of late, we've watched My Fair Lady, Dead Poets Society, and we are now almost done with Twelfth Night (the one with  Ben Kingsley, Nigel Hawthorne, Helena Bonham Carter, and a truly stellar cast). I am so pleased that this one young person has such a thirst to fill in the gaps in their visual lit!

To be honest, I am a huge fan of well-made films for lit classes; no one has time to read all the great books. And to only read chapters or excerpts is unfair to the text as a whole. Why not find truly great movies? Especially for longer works; we have so much to cover, and our classroom time is interrupted all the time: class meetings, advisory time, testing, field trips, and illness, among other things. 

I have amassed a wonderful collection of really nerdy movies over the years, and I'm constantly adding to it. But when I need one, it's right there. I'm glad to have them. And I'm really glad that the kids are getting to know these great movies, too. It's the least --and the most-- I can do for them.

Have a good day,

C

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