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Every year I get to teach the great novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Most students enjoy the novel, what I take as my challenge is to show how relevant it is still today. I enjoy this task and take it as an opportunity to make my students challenge their own beliefs and search out answers for why they believe what they believe. I usually find that they strengthen their beliefs and are able to express their beliefs clearer or more persuasively, depending on the final task.
This year I am going to be using the American documentary, Waiting for Superman. This is an analysis of the educational issues in the USA with a very specific point of view. I am careful to explain to my students prior to the film that this is a specific point of view and that they have three jobs during the film; 1. To watch with a critical eye and open mind, 2. To relate the film to Canada and Saskatchewan, and 3. Relate the societal issues raised in the film to To Kill a Mockingbird's theme.
I will be using the following resources to help the students with my three tasks.
#1 - Critical Eye
- NOT Waiting for Superman
- Waiting for Superman official website
- Matt Damon Speaks before a SOS March
- Matt Damon "Doubling Down" on Bush's "Bad Ideas" for Education
- Matt Damon v. Reason TV
- Matt Damon v. Michelle Fields - Michelle's perspective
#2 - Relate Locally
#3 - Relate to To Kill a Mockingbird
- Assigned Essay
