One subject that has boggled my mind is the subject of Film. I am definitely not a movie buff and I am pretty much clueless when it comes to the latest movies and who is acting in them. Most importantly, I know nothing about movies that are based on books. This, I have learned, is extremely important for my future career as an English high school teacher. Turns out, as if we did not already know, students are extremely receptive to movies and there are a variety of ways to tie them into readings and writing assignments. However, in order for me to be an effective educator who is aware of the different versions of “Hamlet”or “Macbeth”, I need to get movie savvy A.S.A.P. Which is something that neither interests me nor do I have the time for.
We all know that students get impatient, grouchy, tired, uninspired, and just plain dramatic towards the end of the year. Which is why presenting them with a film project can be fun. Towards the end of May or beginning of June, it would be a good idea to present students with a project that involves making a movie out of a book or short story that all the students have read using either a Literal, Traditional, or even Radical approach. This would involve assigning various roles, such as actors, screenwriter, director, costume designer, lighting etc… Not only will students become extremely familiar with the play, book, or short story that they are basing their film on, they will also make some lasting memories. They may even remember you as the cool teacher who assigned them “that project” to keep them from falling apart the last few weeks of school.
