Teachers in the Cinema
Assignment 1: Select and watch one of the movies below prior to September 9.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Freedom Writers (2007)
To Sir, With Love (1967)
Stand and Deliver (1988)
The Great Debaters (2007)
Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)
Lean on Me (1989)
October Sky (1999)
Dangerous Minds (1995)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Wave (2008)
The Man Without a Face (1993)
Music of the Heart (1999)
Coach Carter (2005)
We Are Marshall (2006)
Glory Road (2006)
The Ron Clark Story (2006 TV Movie)
To Be and To Have (2002)
Tuesdays with Morrie (1999)
The Miracle Worker (1962)
Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Assignment 2: As you watch your movie, pay special attention to the teacher’s
disposition. Fill out the “Teacher Leadership Disposition” form. Give the teacher a
rating in each category and then cite specific evidence from the film to support your
rating in the section entitled “Comments/Evidence.” Bring the completed form with
you to class on Tuesday, September 9. Be prepared to discuss.
Assignment 3: As you watch your movie, reflect upon the following questions about
the main characters. Respond to each of the following and post to our class website
by 8am on September 9. Be prepared to discuss in class.
1. Who is the main teacher in the movie? How did they become the teacher
they became? What were some of the significant events that helped shape
their careers? Did they change their teaching styles over time and if so, why
did these changes occur?
2. What were some of the social, cultural, political, religious, or historical events
that shaped their teaching styles?
3. Did others respect them as teachers? How do you know?
4. Compare and contrast the characteristics/traits, skills, and dispositions with
those of highly effective teachers.
5. Was the teacher more focused on getting things done or building
relationships? What impact did they have on their students? Explain fully.
6. Was the teacher creative/innovative and adaptable? When they initiated
changes, did other accept these changes? Explain your answers fully.
7. What did you learn about teaching from watching this movie?
Assignment 4: Choose one trait from Column I and one trait from Column 2. On
September 11, you will be asked to illustrate how the teacher in your movie
exhibited these traits. To illustrate the traits, use storytelling (vividly portraying a
scene that others may have not watched with your words) or you may show a brief
video clip (no more than 5-8 minutes) from your film. After sharing the scene with
the class, you will present one item that you feel best captures or represents one of
the traits you chose from below to describe the teacher in your movie and explain
how/why it represents this characteristic of the teacher.
Column I
Teachers create opportunities
Teachers create safe environments
Teachers are optimists
Teachers express their passion
Teachers nurture their students
Teachers are great learners
Column 2
Teachers do stuff that matters
Teachers thrive on paradoxes
Teachers love the mess
Teachers know when to wait
Teachers are great performers
Teachers are talent developers