Students will discuss films with peers.
Students will learn how to write a review of films.
Students will compare film as text.

I have worked in education for over 15 years, the last 9 as a homeschool parent. My passion is helping students create a deeper understanding of complex material by examining different perspectives. The stories that are told matter, even more in today's world. Understanding another perspective and story can help us relate. I love sharing new diverse literature that is engaging and expands students' understanding. History can come alive using both novels and primary source materials in my classes. When examining history there are many factors that we will discuss including socioeconomic, religious, bias in narration and understanding who the narrator is. Critical thinking is a skill that all students will work on, while we engage in discussions about the topics covered students will be questioned to consider different perspectives and reasons for events or choices.  

I have taught at a local homeschool co-op for over 7 years (in person and online) During that time one of my favorite classes has been running the middle and high school book clubs. Beside introducing books to students; I have been facilitating the discussions around difficult topics. I have attended many teacher professional developments over the years focusing on how to handle these difficult topics with sensitivity and care.

I started my schooling with a B.B.A. from Northwood University. After several years in the corporate climate I decided to go back to school to get a teaching degree. I attended Eastern Michigan University and finished my classes and testing required for the teaching degree. The semester I was to start student teaching one of my children became seriously ill. Once they were recovered I was starting to homeschool my children and never went back to finish the program. 
 
While I have taught at several homeschool groups and co-ops. My experience at the high school has focused on several topics: English, History, Finance, and Engineering. With my love of books I ran the middle and high school book clubs for over 5 years. During this time I have also taught classes on essay writing, short stories, grammar and mechanics of writing and novel analysis. I ran the book club and novel analysis class together exploring a new book each month.  The class was split into two, one with a middle grade selection and one with a YA book selection. I worked hard to select new books that were diverse, own voices, and covered many genres.(24 books a year) I facilitated discussions about the books we read. This included plot, themes, symbolism, character development, and more. My students have also participated in NaNoWriMo and Camp NaNoWriMo. 

I created the Literature through film series at the request of students. While we were reading excellent books and engaging with the primary source material. Students, especially my reluctant or slow readers, wanted to learn about the "classics" without giving up the book club. Some of these students had just started to enjoy reading or couldn't complete 2 novels a month. By using film students were exposed to 14 book-to-film adaptations in one semester.  We were able to still discuss all the major elements of our novel analysis. I used passages from the text to discuss unique grammar usage. Some students enjoyed it so much they even read a book or two after watching the movies. 

With my History classes I use a combination of primary sources, articles, reference materials, and videos to teach students. I teach students to evaluate the bias of the author, the purpose of the piece of writing, and who's points of views are put forth. We were often trying to look at marginalized peoples stories that may not always be highlighted. I have taught both Howard Zinn's History for Young People, Big History Project, and History through film. 

The classes I taught under Finance, Entrepreneurship and Accounting. While covering the topics themselves I find that students do well with hands-on application of studies. For example my Finance class besides learning the basics of finance. Students researched careers, living locations, wages, housing expenses, job growth or decline projections in the area of their chosen field and living location. With that information they made a budget, calculated mortgage rates, loan interest rates, amount of student loan debt they anticipated and payment schedules. They considered the impact of credit scores and of credit card debt at different interest rates. We also did a class long mock investment tracking, investments over time, and retirement series. 

Our group was lucky enough to have access to Lego Education Kits. I taught several classes with engineering challenges and using the kits materials.  My Outschool engineering classes are based on those I taught at the homeschool groups but do not require a kit. 
I have continued to attend teacher professional developments including:
EdCamp - EMU
NerdCamp - Parma
NaNoWriMo - Online, and local events
Others offered at EMU and MSU

Homework Offered
Students are expected to watch each film before the class it is assigned. Film length is listed and varies between 1 - 3 hours. 
Students will also be given a choice of  "Ratings and Review" sheets that they can fill out when they watch the film to help them remember what they want to discuss in class. This is not a requirement.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students will receive an informal assessment unless a grade is requested.
For students that wish to receive grades:
Students "Ratings and Review" sheets and class participation will be used to assign a grade for the course. 
Grades Offered

Students will need to watch the films listed before class. Many are available at the library or online to stream for free or low cost. 
A "Rating and Review" Sheet PDF will be available in the classroom for students to print at home. I recommend using it while watching the movies so that thoughts can be captured while fresh. 

Students will be shown clips from the movies listed when we discuss them. These will be shared from the teachers screen. Students will have watched the films at home before the clips are shown in class. 

During class while reviewing these film students difficult or upsetting topics may arise. I take great care to validate students feeling about tough topics, while also keeping the class moving in a constructive way. For example, The Call of the Wild even though this is a "simpler, somewhat sanitized take on the book" students may still be upset with the treatment of animals. If this topic is brought up by students we will discuss how the film used cinematography to tell the story. What film techniques such as CGI, sound, scene cuts, music and more to handle telling the story without harm to animals.  

These films were chosen with care for a middle grade audience and are all rated G or PG. However, you know your student best please review the Common Sense Media guidelines for each movie before registering and consider your student. I have included the recommendations from Common Sense Media ratings and what parents need to know under each movie. The website this information was taken from is: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Week							Movie

1							Holes
						Rated PG 2003 1 hr 51 min
						Common Sense 10+, Parents 9+, Kids 9+

Parents need to know that Holes, based on the bestseller by Louis Sachar, has an edge to it, but it's not as gritty as it could be. Portraying a teen boys' work-camp could give excuses to broach more lewd subject matter, but this movie portrays the rough and tumble without devolving into a gross-out fest. There are some moments of racial and gender tension played out in glimpses of the past (reference to a lynching, men trying to force their attentions on a woman), which might be too intense for younger viewers.

2					Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
							Rated PG 2010 1 hr 31 min
							Common Sense 8+, Parents 9+, Kids 8+

Parents need to know that this 3-D adaptation of Kathryn Lasky's best-selling Legend of the Guardians books is more intense and violent than most animated adventures -- even though the characters are all owls. The movie focuses on the conflict between a group of owls that considers themselves a master race entitled to enslave "lower species" of owls and the Guardians, a hidden group of warriors that fights to defend all owls from evil. With such a heavy plot and many action-packed battle sequences, this isn't age-appropriate for all young children. But kids old enough to read the books and mature enough to handle the themes will benefit from the movie's message that all owls (and therefore people) are worthy, not just those whom one group thinks are better than the rest. Note: The 3-D factor makes many of the movie's battle/fight scenes much more intense.


3 							City of Ember
						Rated PG 2008 1 hr 35min
						Common Sense 8+, Parents 8+, Kids 8+

Parents need to know that this fantasy based on the popular middle-grade novel of the same name doesn't have much to worry about in the way of sexual content, language, drinking, or strong violence. But its constant tension and often-dark mood -- it's about a decaying underground city founded to make sure humanity survived the end of the world -- make it too intense for the youngest viewers. The teenage main characters face challenges ranging from corrupt officials to a ravenous giant mole; they navigate these problems with persistence and resourcefulness.

4							Bridge to Terabithia
						Rated PG 2007 1 hr 35 min
						Common Sense 9+, Parents 10+, Kids 9+

Parents need to know that this movie based on Katherine Paterson's classic children's novel isn't a fantasy adventure as much as it is a thoughtful drama. The story includes mature themes about loneliness, platonic love, parental affection, family relationships, religious/class differences, and even death. For example, a financially troubled father is emotionally distant from his son, while the mother seems too overwhelmed with five kids to connect to any of them. At school, kids are ridiculed because of their appearance, and a bully and her associates routinely terrorize younger kids. Potential spoiler alert: Due to a central character's death, sensitive children (or those who've experienced the loss of a loved one) may need to be comforted after the film.

5 							Hidden Figures
						Rated PG 2016 2 hrs 6 min
						Common Sense 10+, Parents 10+, Kids 9+

Parents need to know that Hidden Figures is based on the inspiring true story of three brilliant African American women who worked at NASA in the 1950s and '60s as "human computers" -- making calculations and contributions that helped launch the manned spaceflight program. Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer), Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), and Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) were engineers and computers at NASA at a time when both women and African Americans were still widely discriminated against, particularly in segregationist Virginia. where NASA's Langley Research Center is based. There's a little bit of romance (a few kisses, flirty comments, and slow dancing) and a bit of salty language (mostly along the lines of "damn," "hell," and "Jesus Christ" as an exclamation). The film also offers a realistic look at the racial tensions of the Civil Rights era (segregated bathrooms, libraries, schools, facilities), and audiences will learn a lot about these pioneering women and what they had to overcome to make their mark at NASA. They're excellent role models, and their story is full of positive messages and themes, including integrity, perseverance, teamwork, and communication.

6				The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
						Rated PG 2005 2 hrs 20 min
						Common Sense 9+, Parents, 8+, Kids 8+

Parents need to know that The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe has some sad, scary, and violent scenes for a PG film. The movie begins with a bombing during the Blitz in London. The children are separated from their mother, which could upset some younger audience members. There are other sad scenes where animals die -- including principle characters. A friendly fox is chased and caught by a pack of wolves, who also chase the children. A witch yells at a young boy, chains him in prison, and stabs him. She also abuses her servant, stabs her enemies with a sword that turns them to stone, martyrs the lion, and leads troops into battle. The children learn to fight, then engage in hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting; one sister shoots an enemy with an arrow. There is a pitched battle with deaths and grave injuries. While not overt, the movie includes Christian imagery (a martyred, Christlike lion, a rebirth from magic water) and allegorical storylines.


7							A Wrinkle in Time
						Rated PG 2018 1 hr 49 min
						Common Sense 10+, Parents 9+ Kids 9+

Parents need to know that A Wrinkle in Time is director Ava DuVernay's adaptation of author Madeleine L'Engle's classic children's fantasy book. The tween-friendly movie follows brilliant 13-year-old Meg Murry (Storm Reid), her genius little brother, and her friend on an epic, perilous journey to find her long-missing father. They're guided on their dangerous voyage across time and space by three supernatural beings: Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling), and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey). Like the book it's based on, the movie features some intense scenes of peril: Kids nearly plunge to their deaths, are whisked away in a twister, or are stuck for eternity, and there's a scary moment when three people are dragged to an evil overlord. But while the kids are bruised and knocked down, no one dies or is seriously injured, and the frightening moments are temporary. The movie, which is remarkably diverse, promotes positive messages about trusting in your abilities, asking for help, and believing in the power of love. Courage, perseverance, and teamwork are also themes.

8								Black Beauty
							Rated NR 2020 1 hr 49 min
							Common Sense 10+, Parents 9+, Kids 8+

Parents need to know that this adaptation of Anna Sewell's 1877 classic novel Black Beauty is emotionally taxing, with the central horse suffering abuse, loss, and danger. The human characters, too, find themselves in perilous situations, including being dragged, chased, thrown and kicked by horses, nearly drowning in a flooding river, and risking their own lives to pull horses out of a burning stable. There's also emotional intensity throughout. Both the horse, Beauty, and her human soulmate, Jo (Mackenzie Foy), have suffered the loss of their parents and find themselves alone, their spirits nearly broken. Teen riders make fun of Jo for living and working at the stables, saying she smells bad. When Beauty is sold off to a series of different owners, she's put to hard labor, mistreated, and nearly worked to death more than once. Some of these scenes are quite sad; cruelty to animals can be very difficult to watch. That said, the film, told mostly from the horse's perspective, ultimately shows a clear respect and admiration for the animals, and it conveys positive messages of loyalty, family, perseverance, resilience, and courage. It ends on an uplifting note.





9								Inkheart
							Rated 2009 1 hr 45 min
							Common Sense 9+, Parents 8+, Kids 9+

Parents need to know that this family-friendly fantasy is based on author Cornelia Funke's best-selling young adult novel. As in the book, there's a dark tone to the story, and the threat of violence seems real (especially the death threats). The "inked" villains may disturb younger kids, although some of the fantastical elements are funny. Henchmen hold people hostage, threaten to kill people, and burn property, and characters are in serious danger through most of the film. There's mild flirting between two younger characters and a quick kiss and embrace between married couples.

10 								I Am David
						Rated PG 2005 1 hr 30 min
						Common Sense 9+, Parents 9+, Kids 10+

Parents need to know that I Am David is a 2003 drama in which a young boy escapes from a Bulgarian prison camp in the 1950s on a quest to deliver a letter to Denmark. This movie is intense but family-friendly. Sensitive and younger kids might be disturbed by beatings and a shooting at the labor camp, including flashbacks in which a man is shot and killed because he's believed to have stolen a bar of soap, and a mother yelling for her son as guards separate her from her family. A clash between Italian communists and police is shown; some beatings and blood. Based on a novel of the same title by Anne Holm. While hiding as a stowaway, a sailor accuses David of looking at the magazines of attractive women that the sailor keeps hidden; no nudity.

11							The Tiger Rising
						Rated PG 2021 1 hr 42 min
						Common sense 11+, Parents 10+, Kids 11+

Parents need to know that The Tiger Rising is a sometimes-intense family drama adapted from Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo's National Book Award finalist, produced by and starring Queen Latifah. The story follows two fifth graders who've recently moved to a small Florida town: Rob (Christian Convery), a White boy whose mother passed away and whose father is running from his grief, and Sistine (Madalen Mills), a Black girl from Philadelphia whose parents are divorcing and whose mother moved home. Rob is told not to cry or talk about his late mother, and Sistine is full of rage over her situation, sure her dad will come get her any day. The new friends find a caged tiger in the woods, and it serves as a metaphor for the bottled-up emotions both the kids and Rob's dad are experiencing. Loss is sad, and the movie's message is that it's OK to feel that way. However, the ending is (spoiler alert) very harsh -- it involves a gun being used to kill -- and is likely to upset kids (and likely some adults, too). Rob and Sistine are both bullied at school via taunts and schoolyard fights. This isn't a faith-based film, but characters of faith are portrayed positively.

12								The Secret of NIMH
							Rated G 1982 1 hr 23 min
							Common Sense 8+, Parents 8+, Kids 8+

Parents need to know that this The Secret of NIMH about a group of intelligent rats who escape from an animal laboratory is suspenseful and rather dark. Several scenes include animal children in peril and a sword fight between rats ends in one death with a little blood. The worst part for sensitive viewers: a flashback shows the animated animals being imprisoned and injected with a needle.

13								The Adventures of Huck Finn
Rated PG 1993 1 hr 43 min
Common Sense 10+, Parents 13+, Kids 12+

Parents need to know that The Adventures of Huck Finn is a 1993 family-friendly Disney version of the Mark Twain novel set in the pre-Civil War South. Unlike the novel, there's no use of the "N" word, but the anti-racist message is clear. The immorality of slavery, the importance of knowing right from wrong, and a celebration of friendship and adventure are all on display. Huck is a fearless child, abused by a selfish and drunken father. Frightening situations arise in his quest to help his runaway slave friend get to the safety of the North, but it's his failings and his struggles to overcome them that make him a character kids will identify with and perhaps admire. Language includes "ass," "butt," and "hell." Feuding families shoot and kill each other. A slave is nearly hanged but saved at the last minute. A boy is shot and killed. Another boy is shot in the back but survives. A little blood is seen. Thieves die on a sinking ship. A criminal is killed by his partners. Men are tarred. A corpse is dug up. Two men try to scam a wealthy grieving family out of their money.

14							Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
							Rated PG-13 2013 2 hrs 46 min
							Common Sense 11+, Parents 11+, Kids 10+

Parents need to know that The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, director Peter Jackson's adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's stand-alone quest through Middle-earth, is less violent than the scarier Lord of the Rings trilogy. But there are definitely some frightening sequences, like the battle between the dragon and the dwarves of Erebor, during which one character is decapitated, another has an arm amputated, and there's mass destruction. The group of Bilbo, Gandalf, and 13 dwarves is often tracked and pursued and nearly killed several times, but they manage to avoid death -- at least in this installment. Bilbo (like Frodo and his friends in the LOTR movies) again shows that size doesn't matter when it comes to making a difference.