Movie Clips
School of Rock (2003) Freedom Writers (2007)
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School of rock
School of Rock presents a rather unconventional style of teaching. The reason I choosing this clip is because of the unconventional, or poor teaching that occurs. The first red flag is the fact that Dewey Finn, a common middle aged man posing as a teacher while his friend (who is a certified educator) is on vacation. He constantly shows up late, hungover and does not bother to learn the students names. His only focus is himself and what will ultimately benefit his future.
Although the common teacher does not display characteristics quite like this, the truth is, most teachers fail to make good connections with their students. I have had many teachers who look like they’d rather be watching paint dry than fully engage with the students. The curriculum could play into this as it is very hard for teachers to fully express themselves in their lessons when they are told there is one way to teach.
Something that I did enjoy about his style of teaching was how passionate he is about music. There is a shift in energy when he is making music with the students. Music can be a wonderful experience when everyone lets loose and explores new ideas. Despite being engaged with the music, the lack of connection with the students made for a poor classroom setting.
One thing I can take away from this clip is to introduce new ideas to students. By having an open mind, he was able to draw new skills from the students by making them pick up new styles in instrumental playing. Most students said they were classically trained, and he wanted them to perform rock. I appreciated the way he was able to bring out a new perspective on music making even if his teaching style is unconventional and of poor quality.
Freedom Writers
This movie clip embodies powerful teaching. The protagonist, Erin Gruwell, inspires her students by making them think outside of the box, and to become aware of their surroundings. The school is filled with underprivileged, misunderstood teenagers, and the way she approaches this new environment is enlightening. She takes the time to truly understand and get to know each and every one of her students, which is how she helps tailor her teaching style to everyone.
Gruwell takes a creative approach to connect to her students on a personal level by introducing “the line game”. She asks the students a set of questions, and if the question applies to them, they step up to the line in the middle of the room. It was a very vulnerable yet effective moment when she got the whole class to connect on the same point. This made me wonder; why is it so difficult for teachers to take the time to connect to their students? By connecting with students, a more comforting learning environment is created which means more active learning is happening.
Another interesting point is the use of journals. Journals are an outlet to be free and write down all that is going on in our heads which is an intelligent way to approach the students. Although, overall I found this method of teaching respectable, and quite powerful, the one issue that arose for me was the fact that she put the students on the spot. Not everyone feels comfortable sharing personal aspects of their lives with a group of classmates. It is important to be aware of these things so that a stable, encouraging environment is created where everyone feels that they have a voice.
I chose this clip because of how effective the teaching style is. There is a clear moment of realization in the students where connections are being made. This is such a valuable moment that educators can learn from. Safe learning environments create active thinkers and learners. By engaging in a small activity, it is much easier for students to speak and be heard.
Music in my Life
UConn Reflection #1
Popular Music and Modern Band Principles - REFLECTION
Powell, B. & Berstein, S. (2017). Popular Music and Modern Band Principles. Routledge Research Companion to Popular Music Education (2017).
Powell, B. & Berstein, S. (2017). Popular Music and Modern Band Principles. Routledge Research Companion to Popular Music Education (2017).