Is it horrible for a teacher to pop in a movie???

[SDFgirl]

If you teach, how do you feel about putting in movies?

I'm not talking about educational shows that go along with the curriculum. I'm talking about fluff cartoons or movies.

Today, I was a bad teacher and popped in a movie that had no real educational content. It was only 30 minutes, and I was literally about to blow my top and I needed a BREAK!

I feel bad about it now, but it was Friday afternoon, dang it!

How do you feel about putting in movies occasionally? Do you feel guilty when you do?

 

[kdudley3]

I'm not a teacher, but I loved those surprises when I was in school!

 

[azgal81]

I loved watching movies in school. I'm sure your students enjoyed it.

 

[Daisy Chick]

From a kid's point of view it isn't horrible, it is excellent!

From a parent's point of view, I'd be a little ticked that I paying good money to have my children watch cartoons and might divide the cost up by hour and ask for that much back.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Nope, especially if it's not an every day occurance. We all need a break once in awhile.

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't mind it if it's to reward them for good behavior (like on a points system or something). We all need a little down time! On the other hand, don't let them think all they need to do to get a movie day is to drive you bonkers. Woohoo! Let's drive teacher crazy! Free day!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Hope it helped! Glad you chose that over fussing, etc. Have a great weekend!

 

[babytrees]

the only time, as a parent, that I don't like it is when they've seen it a bunch of times already....with the same teacher/sub!!

No kidding...oldest came home this week saying they watched this movie at least 10 times (probably actually only 5)...that's when I get torked.

I know teacher's just sometimes need that break!!

Don't worry!!

 

[Disneyland1084]

I don't see anything wrong with a teacher popping in a movie or cartoon once in a while. My teachers did that throughout the years when I was in school. My favorite was when I was a senior in high school my Economics teacher would pop in an episode of Southpark once in a while. It was fun!!

 

[profdsny]

One of the teachers where I sub puts on the Simpsons every day for his classes. Sorry, but while on occasion there might be a segement that applies, this is a cartoon show and not educational material. What next? Road Runner?

 

[SDFgirl]

On the other hand, don't let them think all they need to do to get a movie day is to drive you bonkers. Woohoo! Let's drive teacher crazy! Free day!

No, this is generally a very good class. They were not even really misbehaving, as much as I was feeling very edgy and irritated over small things.

This is the FIRST time I've done this all year, and I generally kind of look down on it. But today - I felt like I was gonna throw myself off a cliff!! I'm pregnant and tired and hormonal. Sigh...

 

[Feralpeg]

I was even worse! I let the kids in my computer class play games on their PCs. It was a long, long, long, long week!

 

[Dina]

My friend taught in an inner city public school, one day during her sub period, the teacher had instructed her to let the kids watch "Booty Call" (I kid you not)-- The VCR and Video was provided. --- Now, that's a problem hehehe! Otherwise, don't worry about it. I didn't usually use fluff movies, but every now and then, when I needed a break with my government class-- I usually had a West Wing episode ready that illustrated what we were learning about-- but , sure-- I was showing it to partly give myself a break.

 

[lulugirl]

Nope, Dd's 1st grade class watches a movie every Friday.

 

[DisneyDotty]

I taught--and always looked forward to when there was a film I could show that related to the unit being taught. It did provide a nice break! (But I taught h.s. English, so there were a lot of tie-ins. Although I did have one department chair who totally forbade movies in the classroom, even those that were film versions of a book we were studying. He was a pain.)
But frankly, as a parent I get a little cranky when my kids come home and tell me they watched some inane hour-long movie that had nothing to do with anything they were learning in class. If classroom time is so important that we cannot allow our kids to miss school for anything other than illness or death in family (policy in my district--anything else like vacation to WDW is unexcused), then use that time productively, please.

 

[CEDmom]

I'd only have a problem with it if you didn't give a child who didn't want to watch the option of doing something different. My DD7 doesn't like movies. Most of them have something in it that upsets or scares her. If it's educational I tell her she has to learn to cope but if it's something for fun I'd be a little annoyed if she was upset by it and didn't have a choice of whether to watch or not.

 

[jillyjoey]

I'm not a teacher but I've been a student and I am a parent. The most interested by 10 year old has ever been in American history is while watching National Treasure (that's the most he's learned too -but that's a sore subject with me & current school system). 2. When I was in law school, my evidence professor told us that the best way to get a crash course on evidence was to watch My Cousin Vinnie. Last but not least -- I think every person my age learned the preamble to the Constitution by watching School House Rocks.

Sometimes something that doesn't appear education may be and if its not, oh well. Don't sweat the small stuff ... I am more concerned with the fact that my 10 year old is learning no American history at all with the exception of one month a year and what I teach him (American history is my favorite subject).

 

[aprilgail2]

Nope, Dd's 1st grade class watches a movie every Friday.

Mine does too...they had Friday in first and friday in second where they have movie time. The kids that didn't finish their work during the week go to the work room, the kids that didn't do all their homework go to the workroom and the kids that did it all go to the movie room.

 

[diznygirl]

I taught--and always looked forward to when there was a film I could show that related to the unit being taught. It did provide a nice break! (But I taught h.s. English, so there were a lot of tie-ins. Although I did have one department chair who totally forbade movies in the classroom, even those that were film versions of a book we were studying. He was a pain.)
But frankly, as a parent I get a little cranky when my kids come home and tell me they watched some inane hour-long movie that had nothing to do with anything they were learning in class. If classroom time is so important that we cannot allow our kids to miss school for anything other than illness or death in family (policy in my district--anything else like vacation to WDW is unexcused), then use that time productively, please.

This is true. Don't get on my case for my child missing school to spend the day at MK and I won't get on your case for popping in the movie!


(actually - I've never had a teacher get on my case - but I've read about it a lot here! )

 

[va32h]

I taught--and always looked forward to when there was a film I could show that related to the unit being taught. It did provide a nice break! (But I taught h.s. English, so there were a lot of tie-ins. Although I did have one department chair who totally forbade movies in the classroom, even those that were film versions of a book we were studying. He was a pain.)
But frankly, as a parent I get a little cranky when my kids come home and tell me they watched some inane hour-long movie that had nothing to do with anything they were learning in class. If classroom time is so important that we cannot allow our kids to miss school for anything other than illness or death in family (policy in my district--anything else like vacation to WDW is unexcused), then use that time productively, please.

Hear hear!

My son (1st grade) routinely mentions watching a movie in class. Like, on a weekly basis. One day he said that they had watched a movie in music class. About what? I asked. About mice, he answered. Mice? Were they at least singing mice?

Nope, not even a musical cartoon!

I appreciate and admire teachers, but I think a weekly (or more) movie in class is too much.