I recently read an article by Michele Whipple, titled Let’s Go to the Movies: Rethinking the Role of Film in the Elementary Classroom. Whipple discusses the use of film in the classroom and argues that elementary language arts teachers need to expand their definition of text to include films. I found many of the points presented in the article to be valid. For example, Whipple notes that when a teacher uses films more students, especially English language learners, can be included more in the discussion process. Whipple also states that films provide the opportunity to support literacy development. I also believe that if your goal if to engage students in analysis of movies/books rather then the actual reading process itself, films can be a useful way for students who could not read the text to still be included in the classroom. Additionally, I think students would become more excited, and thus engaged, to watch a movie and analyze it rather then simply always reading books. Using films in the classroom can thus help to build community as it encourages all students to personally respond and connect to the “text”. Films are a multi-sensory experience and as a result engage our minds differently then books do. I personally feel that when combined with written text watching films in the classroom can be a powerful learning experience.
However, Whipple fails to note, that films can only be useful if a discussion follows. So many teachers just put on a movie, have students watch it, and then do nothing else. Movies can be a tool, but must be used as such. Thus when showing movies teachers must be committed to having a discussion to analyze the movie and relate it to the written text. For example, my mom who is a teacher had her students read The Tale of Despereaux. As a class her students then watched the movie version and compared and contrasted the different versions after viewing the movie. It is our job as teachers to provide critical thinking and viewing questions related to the movie we are showing. We simply cannot expect students to take something away from movies if we do not scaffold their analysis process.
How do you feel you would use movies in your classroom? Do you think movies are appropriate for elementary school students?
