Beach Review

Chapters 3 and 4 of Richard Beaches' book Teachingmeidaliteracy.com is loaded with valuable information, techniques and numerous websites for online teaching and development skills for teaching media in the classroom. There is a lot of information to digest and comprehend. I discovered many different venues to create web based lessons plans which will aid students in their production of thinking visually and critically.
Teaching students' how to recognize and utilize film techniques such as editing,sound, and lighting were examined in the book along with analysing images of still photography. The text recommends beginning the process slowly so as not to overwhelm. I agree. The chapters mention also to keep the students' grade level in mind, not all films are appropriate for everyone.

The site, Internet Movie Data Base, (IMDB) was amazing! Their list of television, film and movies were endless, not to mention the site is FREE.
Another interesting and resourceful site is Rottentomatoes.com which too provided recent television shows and sitcoms no longer on the air.

The Closer is a crime drama show on the station TNT. The drama provides its viewers with an extremely diverse cast. The actors of color are portrayed in power positions and in excellent standing with the community. The lead character is a intelligent female who takes charge.
This is an important show because of the polished writing and the diversity. Students will see themselves in the characters and a healthy self esteem is the result of witnessing actors who resemble their culture.