Any ideas for a motivational movie for the last day of school (for those who come)? I teach 7th grade English, and another teacher suggested Akeelah and the Bee. Any other ideas? (We have 95 min. classes, and I could possibly start it the day before on exam day after they're done).
Spellbound (about the National Spelling Bee) is also a great film. It is a documentary, and whenever I show it, the kids really get into it, especially at the end when the bee is shown.
Iron Will is amazing!! The kids love it! Our language arts teacher makes the connection between this movie and The Call of the Wild and Woodsong.
The Astronaut Farmer might be a good option for tying in with the themes of believing in yourself and following your dreams.
I love this one - Akeela and the Bee. It's about a young black girl who competes in the national spelling bee. Awesome and inspiring.
I'm not as familiar with middle schoolers and their tastes, but Finding Forrester is pretty awesome. Finding your own voice. Speaking your mind, even if your voice shakes (thank you Maggie Kuhn), standing up to racism, writing as an act of self-expression, the list goes on.
School of Rock The Miracle Worker Stand and Deliver Lean on Me Blackboard Jungle Take the Lead Pay it Forward Up the Down Staircase The Emperor's Club Mona Lisa Smile- never cared for this one, but some people do Remember the Titans I am Sam- not sure if this is the best age group for this film A Beautiful Mind
I agree with some of the suggestions already shared. Akeelah and the Bee is fantastic and very few kids have seen it on their own. The Rookie is great for the theme of pursuing your dreams.
Akeelah and the Bee....my soph and juniors love that one! A more recent one that is great is The Great Debaters, but there is one sex scene that needs to be skipped....I hate when they do that! Oh yeah, August Rush is great!
October Sky I have a signed Picture of Homer Hickam I wrote him telling him I used the movie to get my students interested in building model rockets, he sent the picture and a great letter
I am trying so hard to find appropriate Doctor Who to show the kids. How about the Mighty Pawns? Or How to be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days?
I want to show this movie to my grade 11 class, but I am having a hard time finding the movie over here.
October Sky was a great film. Perhaps Searching for Bobby Fischer? It's the true story of a chess prodigy who resists his teacher's exhortations to "hate" his opponents. Rudy was also a great movie. I love one scene in which Rudy, who's trying to play on the Notre Dame football team, despairs how much of a failure he'll be if he never does. A janitor (I think?) quickly upbraids him, pointing out he'll have an education from a great college, and a great future. The movie could have ended right there for me. Good Will Hunting? I don't remember it that well -- I think some of the scenes may be geared more for adults.
I feel so frustrated...I can't find the movies mentioned, in Portugal. I have been searching for October Sky everywhere! I tried amazon.uk but they didn't have the version with the portuguese subtitles. Then i searched amazon.fr and found the DVD that included Portuguese subtitles...unfortunately it is not for sale online. Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
