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Today Nadia Jones from Online College brings us this interesting post about films that illustrate alternative teaching styles. I hope you enjoy it, and make sure you visit Nadia at www.onlinecollege.org

The summer is about to end which can only mean one thing for educators: school will soon be back in session.  But while some disenchanted teachers may dread returning to their classrooms filled with little know-it-alls, misfit teens and or underachievers, these featured films listed below prove that by no means should a teacher ever “give-up” on their students: the guidance, support and personal relationships an educator strives to achieve with his or her students in the classroom can really play a significant role in a young person’s life.  With that said these movies demonstrate that while it may take some unconventional teachings to reignite a student’s passion and outlook on life, an educator should never doubt his or her power to inspire, motivate and encourage students to reach their goals and make good decisions long after earning their diplomas.

5.  Dangerous Minds (1995): Featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza and Courtney B. Vance

This mid-90s flick featuring Michelle Pfeiffer tells the real-life story of Louanne Johnson—a divorcé ex-marine who takes up a temporary teaching position at a poor, inner city high school. After being ill-received by the ultimate “rejects from hell,” Pfeiffer’s character is forced to resort to using unconventional and unique teaching methods such as martial arts, analyzing Bob Dylan lyrics, and using candy bars as “rewards” to get through to her rebellious students and help them see their potential.  Despite their initial disinterest in education, this movie is the perfect example to demonstrate the impact a determined teacher can have on a classroom of socially rejected and uninspired teen.

4. Stand and Deliver (1988): Featuring Edward James Olmos, Lou Diamond Phillips, Andy Garcia

Also inspired by a true story, this film focuses on the story of Jaime Escalante— a Latino math high school teacher who desperately tries to motivate his dropout prone students to not only learn calculus, but to also pass the AP calculus exam to earn college credit. To earn the students’ trust and get them serious about learning math, Escalante uses a variety of unique teaching methods so that his Latino students can relate, such as teaching “Finger math,” using apples to explain fractions, and using the students’ personal romantic relationships when writing math problems for comedic value.  Despite the fact that the students have to fight the accusations of cheating because they all coincidentally receive  high calculus scores on the AP exam, this movie explains how one great role model can build up a classroom of low self-esteem teens and encourage them to aim for higher goals.

3. The Great Debaters (2007): Featuring Denzel Washington and Forest Whittaker

This movie, which Denzel Washington both directed and stars in, tells the story of real-life Professor Melvin B. Tolson and his journey to inspire a group of underdog all-black debate team to rise against prejudice and segregation in the early 1930s.  Despite Toloson’s harsh and aggressive teaching style, his “tough love” methods eventually prepare his debate team to only stand up against  the all-white Harvard debate team but social injustice as well. This movie truly demonstrates the power of words.

2. Good Will Hunting (1997): Featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Robin Williams

This late 90s film is about a troubled 20-year-old MIT janitor named Will Hunting who is blessed with an extraordinary intellect to solve intense math equations and recall historical events solely using photographic memory. After discovering his gift, a big shot professor promises to help Hunting resolve his legal issues as long as he promises to meet him once a week for math sessions and undergoes therapy. Through his mentor’s teachings, Hunting learns the importance of humility and understands that being “smart” is not just about regurgitating facts and numbers; life’s experiences play a major role too.

1. Dead Poets Society (1989): Featuring Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles

This film, which also stars Robin Williams, is about a teacher’s attempt to revamp the mundane attitude a group of students at a prestigious all-boys preparatory school have towards education. In the end, the student’s instructor John Keating inspires his students to see the world from a different perspective by standing on top of their desks, introduces his students to poetry and ultimately teaches them to “seize the day” in all endeavors of their lives.

Movies that almost made the cut: Freedom Writers, We are Marshall, Remember the Titans, Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Miracle Worker, Lean on Me, The Renaissance Man, and Music of the Heart.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs at online college about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

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