The Top Teacher Movies

We have been remodeling our kitchen, so it's been a little crazy around here.  Since I have to be upstairs and basically do nothing, I thought it would be a good day to write a post.  I've been meaning to write a post of all of the sub jobs I've had lately, but for some reason I can't access the pictures on my phone.  I've tried multiple times.  Grrr....so frustrating.

So instead I thought that I would write a post about The Top Teacher Movies.   I got this idea from watching some new movies and wanted to share.  P.S. I'm including movies about coaches in my list because they are teachers as well. 


1.  The Ron Clark Story
Rated PG

A true story about Ron Clark, a teacher from a small city, who wants more out of teaching and his life.  He moves to New York and teaches the hardest class behaviorally and academically.  He changes their lives and teaches them how to learn by coming up with fun ways to get their attention.
What did I learn as a teacher: I saw this movie when I was in college studying to be a teacher.  It opened my eyes to what being a teacher really is.  Ron Clark is a very inspirational teacher who taught me to love my students no matter what and to go the extra mile to help them learn.

2. Mr. Holland's Opus 
Rated PG

This movie is about a frustrated composer who decides to become a high school music teacher.
What did I learn as a teacher: This movie taught me to never give up on a student and to remember that you never know what kind of an impact you are making on a student's life.

3. Remember the Titans
Rated PG

This movie is about an African American football coach who has the challenge of bringing a racially integrated football together as a team.
What did I learn as a teacher: This movie taught me the importance of teaching students that race doesn't matter.  We should all love each other. If we're able to set aside our differences and work towards a common goal, we can accomplish it.

4. Facing the Giants
 Rated PG

This movie is about a coach who is struggling with his wife and in his failing career.  He turns to God for answers and inspires his team to also.
What did I learn as a teacher: I need to better myself to be a better teacher or coach.  It's okay to ask God for help to be a better teacher.  My first year of teaching was exhausting and hard.  I loved it, but I struggled knowing how to help certain students.  I finally prayed to God on how to help them.  I know that he helped me to know what to do to help my students.

This is one of my favorite parts of this movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSM1mvMypWU  I cry every time.  Sometimes we give up in life because we don't think we are strong enough.  We are strong enough with God's help.  As a teacher, we can help our students see that they are strong too and to never give up in school or life.

5. Dead Poets Society
Rated PG

This teacher inspires his students at an all boy school to love poetry and to seize the day. 
 What did I learn as a teacher: I saw this movie growing up, so I haven't seen it in a really long time.  What I do remember is that this teacher taught his students that there is more to life than their own lives.  As a teacher, I realized I wasn't only teaching my kids academically.  I was teaching life skills as well.  

6. October Sky
Rated PG

A true story about a boy who was inspired by the first Sputnik to learn about rockets against his father's wishes.  His teacher helps inspires him. 
What did I learn as a teacher: I like how this boy and his father are able to have a better relationship in the end because of his interest in rockets.  I like that he dreams big and they come true.  I like the affect his teacher had on him. As a teacher, I need to remember how powerful my support can be.  I had a lot of ESL (English as a Second Language) students.  A lot of the parents couldn't help their children with homework or reading.  I was able to help these children find the motivation.  One of my proudest moments as a teacher: One of my lowest readers was able to get the second most AR points in my class with an 85% comprehension.  (AR points is a program that creates quizzes for books.  Children take a test to figure out their reading score and are assigned a book color to read.  They then take quizzes on those books to help teach them about comprehension.  Here's their website: http://www.renlearn.com/ar/)

7. School of Rock
PG-13

 A wannabe rock star who has been kicked out of band, needs cash quick and pretends to be a substitute teacher at at prep school.  He tries to turn his class into a rock band.
What did I learn as a teacher: haha well...this movie is silly, but there is a positive message: every child has a talent.  As a teacher, I need to figure out what that talent is and encourage them. 

8. Freedom Writers
Rated PG-13

"A young teacher inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school." IMDb website 
What did I learn as a teacher:  I learned to have high expectations for my students and to truly believe that they can accomplish those goals.

9. Pay it Forward
Rated PG-13

A teacher challenges his students to come up with a project to help make the world better, like recycling.  A young boy impresses his teacher with his idea of "paying it forward" when someone does something nice for you. 
What did I learn as a teacher: You never know how big of an impact you can make by influencing one child.

10. Mona Lisa Smile
Rated PG-13

"A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 50's Wellesley girls to question their traditional societal roles." IMDb website
What did I learn as a teacher: Teach students to think out of the box.

11. Music of the Heart
Rated PG

A violin teacher tries to teach inner-city Harlem kids how to play.  She is faced with several challenges of people thinking teaching children music is not important. 
What did I learn as a teacher: I learned to never give up on a program that you feel strongly about.

12. Forever Strong
Rated PG-13

"This movie is about a rugby player who is put in a juvenile detention center. There he plays for the Highland Rugby team and ultimately plays against his father in the National Championships." IMDb website
What did I learn as a teacher: You can change someone's life by being a good coach or teacher.  I have to include this movie because 1. I live in Utah and this movie takes place here. 2.  I worked with the coach's daughter.

13. Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea
Rated.....It doesn't say, but I'm pretty sure it's G or PG

Anne of Green Gables: "An orphan girl, sent to an elderly brother and sister by mistake, charms her new home and community with her firey spirit and imagination." IMDb website
Anne of Avonlea: "Anne Shirley accepts a teaching position at a girls boarding school in a town dominated by a rich and belligerant family determined to make her life miserable." I MDb website
What did I learn as a teacher: In the movie, Anne of Green Gables, her teacher encourages her to seek higher education.  As a teacher, I should always encourage students to go to college no matter what their circumstances are.  In Anne of Avonlea, Anne is a teacher.  We've all had students who challenge us.  I learned from Anne that you don't give up on those students.

I know that there are more movies, but these are the ones that I've seen.  What movies do you think I should include?


*All of the images of the movies are from the IMDb website.