Sometimes we just need a little
inspiration. Grab a box of popcorn and a great teacher movie. Get ready to
laugh, to cry, to be inspired by both fictional stories that often mirror real
life, and true stories of amazing teachers who defied the odds and overcame real
world challenges in their classrooms.
Dangerous Minds
Rated R
Starring Michelle Pfeiffer
A former U.S. Marine challenges students and administrators
during her first year teaching. She takes on the system by
creating her own curriculum in order to reach a touch group of
high school kids.
Mr. Holland's Opus
Rated PG
Starring Richard Dreyfuss
Mr. Holland dreams of composing a great piece of music, but
reality sets in when he takes a "day job" as a teacher in order
to support his family. Mr. Holland discovers his real passion is
teaching and inspiring his young students, and in the end
discovers some dreams come true in unexpected ways.
Dead Poets Society
Rated PG
Starring Robin Williams
English professor John Keating is passionate about life and
teaching. He inspires and changes student's lives through his
unconventional teaching methods, but ends up dealing with
consequences that ultimately changes his life.
Stand and Deliver
Rated PG
Starring Edward James Olmos
Based on a true story about a high school teacher who
inspires a group of East LA students to care enough about math
to pass the Advanced Placement Calculus Test.
To Sir, With
Love
Not Rated
Starring Sidney Poiter
This 1967 British film is about a rookie teacher that throws
out his lesson plans and convention to take on his unruly
students.
Finding
Forrester
Rated PG-13
Starring Sean Connery
A 16-year old basketball star with a secret gift and passion
for writing finds a mentor in a reclusive prize-winning
novelist. Both men learn about the power of friendship in this
story.
Coach
Carter
Rated PG-13
Starring Samuel L. Jackson
This movie is based on the true story of Coach Carter, a man
who fought for and inspired a group of basketball students to
rise to an academic challenge in order to better themselves and
secure their future.
Great Debaters
Rated PG-13
Starring Denzel Washington
This inspiring story based on true events is about a college
debate coach who takes a group of underdog African American
students (1935) and uses words to challenge the Harvard elite
during tense racial times.
The Marva Collins Story
Not Rated
Starring Diane Kirksey and Ed Asner
This amazing true story is about an African American teacher
who starts a private school in her home for children no one
believed could succeed.
Inspired by a true story, Antonio
Banderas stars as internationally acclaimed ballroom dancer
Pierre Dulane in the energetic and moving film Take The Lead.
When Dulane volunteers to teach dance in the New York public
school system, his background first clashes with his students'
tastes...but together they create a completely new style of
dance.
Freedom Writers
Rated PG-13
Starring Hilary Swank
Based on the true story of Erin Gruwell, a teacher who rose
to the challenge and met her tough group of high school students
where they live by assigning them the freedom to write in
journals. The assignment resulted in bonding a group of students
together and proving to them that they could succeed in both
school and life.
Based on the classic true story of Helen Keller and Annie
Sullivan, this inspiring movie will remind viewers of the power
of believing and persevering. Helen is born deaf, blind, and
mute, but her teacher, Miss Sullivan doesn't let this stand in
her way. She is determined to teach Helen to communicate and in
the end she succeeds.
Sarefina
Rated PG
Starring Whoopi Goldberg
In this critically acclaimed entertaining film, a teacher
dares to teach her students lessons not found in the school
books.
Knights of the South Bronx
Rated PG
Starring Ted Danson
Recently unemployed, Richard Mason returns to his first love
- teaching. He takes a group of fourth graders, teaches them how
to play chess, and not only inspires them to a championship, but
inspires them in life.
Teachers
Rated R
Starring Nick Nolte
An uncaring, unmotivated teacher gets a wake up call when he
is forced to face a former student, a lawsuit, and the school
establishment.
Chalk
Rated PG-13
Starring Troy Schremmer
Chalk is an entertaining, politically astute statement about
the challenges faced by today's teachers, and the need for
school improvement. Mr. Lowery leads the cast as he competes for
the teacher of the year award in this comedy with a deeper
meaning.
The Ron Clark Story
Not Rated
Starring Matthew Perry
This award winning movie is the true story of Ron Clark who
left his small hometown to teach in one of the toughest schools
in Harlem. He takes on his students with unconventional methods
and rules to help them realize their potential.
by Erin Gruwell
by Erin Gruwell
