S1, EP 22: Teacher Movies

How might we draw inspiration from movies based on teaching?

A light-hearted episode on movies that have inspired us. Find out why movies like School of Rock and Matilda inspires the Teacher Takeaway team.

Matilda 

• Miss Honey: everyone needs a teacher like her in their lives. "What would Miss Honey do?"
• Love and thurst that Matilda has for learning and how that is fostered. As teacher's it's what we hope to foster in our students. 
• Ms Trunchbull: a classic what not to do
• Reminds you that sometimes school is the escape for our students

Kindergarten Cop

• Normalises those moments where we don't feel like we know what were doing
• Highlights and captures the joy of teaching 
• Routine, structure and consistency really support the 'wild' class and how it transforms them 
• Highlights the importance of different teaching styles
• Stepping out of the mould 

Other recommendations

• Bad Teacher (for laughs)
• Mr Holland's Opus

Sister Act

• Good examples of creating connections with students and relationship building 
• She helps them to see the good in themselves even if they don't see it 

Freedom Writer's

• ​Based on a true story
• Highlights the struggles that teacher's often face at the beginning of their career
• Relationships are key
• Routines and structures are crucially important
• Consistentcy and being relentless in pursuing and caring about all students - they need you to believe in them 

​Other recommendations

• Blind Side
• Coach Carter
• Remember The Titan's
• Billy Madison (for laughs)

School Of Rock

• Highlights the importance of having fun and engaging with the students
• Shows the impact that meeting students where they are at and utilising student strengths has on learning 
• Explores relationship between teacher and leader and pressure from parents

Finding Forrester

• Importance of relationships
• Regardless of our students starting points, show care and find out their passions and work with them on developing their passions, they will achieve success. 

Emperor's Club

• Showcases what pressure placed on elite shool students looks like
• The impact of high expectations 
• Innovative changes in the school

Dead Poet's Society

• Passion for teaching subject
• Igniting that spark 
• Strategies were out-there for the time

​Other recommendations

• St Trinians
• Clueless
• Dangerous Minds
• Harry Potter

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Have you got a favourite teacher movie or teacher character from a movie? Share it in the comments below.