There are many books and movies that are about educators. They may be highly dramatic, humorous, political, or even musical, but certainly most set out to try to be inspirational. Here are a few favorites to check out when you need a pick-me-up.
To Read:
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Educating Esme: Diary Of A Teacher's First Year by Esmé Raji Codell (Algonquin Books 2001) – a light-hearted, motivating narrative about an offbeat first year teacher in an inner city school. |
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The Freedom Writers Diaries: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them by Erin Gruwell (Main Street Books 1999) – a first-year teacher in an urban California high school uses writing/journaling as a tool to explore tolerance and freedom. |
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Teacher Man: A Memoir by Frank McCourt (Scribner 2005) - Humorous and honest chronicle of 30 years of McCourt’s unconventional and creative teaching in NYC schools. |
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My First Year as a Teacher edited by Pearl Rock Kane (Signet 1996) – diverse collection of 25 compelling and illuminating essays. |
To Watch:
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To Sir, With Love (1967) – The Sidney Poitier classic about a young engineer from Guyana who ends up teaching high school in the slums of London. |
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Stand and Deliver (1988) – The story of real-life math teacher Jaime Escalante who successfully teaches calculus to teens in East LA. |
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Music of the Heart (1999) – Based on the true story of Roberta Guaspari, starring Meryl Streep, as a woman who becomes a violin teacher in East Harlem. |
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Akeelah and the Bee (2006) – An 11-year-old girl in South Central LA is coached by a retired professor (Lawrence Fishburn) to be a spelling bee championship contender. |
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Chalk (2007) – A “mocumentary” that attempts to present some of the day-to-day challenges in the lives of teachers. |
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