IELTS, ESP, EAP and CALL

6. Stand and Deliver
Themes: abuse/neglect, poverty, violence, racial oppression, resiliency, school

Synopsis from Amazon.com: Look at the too-cool-to-cope kids in Jaime Escalante's class at East L.A.'s tough Garfield High, and many will say they see a bunch of losers. Escalante sees scholars. How he cajoles, instructs, challenges and inspires his no-expectations barrio kids to pass the daunting Calculus Advanced Placement Test forms the amazing heart of Stand and Deliver, starring Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Why to watch it: Although this movie takes place in 1988, the messages ring true today. Stand and Deliver, like Freedom Writers, is about an inspirational teacher who believed in the potential of students.  Mr. Escalante pushed his students to succeed and changed their lives. 

Amazon Video On Demand: Stand and Deliver
7. Lean on Me
Themes: abuse/neglect, poverty, violence, racial oppression, resiliency, school

Synopsis from Amazon.com: Paterson, New Jersey's Eastside High is the setting for Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman as bat-and-bullhorn-toting principal Joe Clark, whose controversial methods turned the failing school around and made Clark a national symbol of tough-love education. His message: Don't lean on excuses, drugs or anger. Lean on yourself and me...and learn. 

Why to watch it: Lean on Me is powerful and shocking at times. Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman), calls for a complete overhaul of the failing New Jersey school. He literally cleans house, not just by cleaning the physical building, but by kicking out students who are not serious about their education.  He announces high expectations and expect students to rise to the occasion. 

Amazon Video On Demand: Lean on Me

8. Boyz 'N the Hood
Themes: abuse/neglect, poverty, violence, poverty, racial oppression, resiliency 

Synopsis from Amazon.com: The story about three friends growing up in a South Central Los Angeles neighborhood, and of street life where friendship, pain, danger, and love combine to form reality. 'The hood' is a place where drive-by shootings and unemployment are rampant. But it is also a place where harmony co-exists with adversity.

Why to watch it: I was at a training where they showed a clip from this movie and it made me want to watch the whole thing. This is a powerful movie that depicts many issues that inner-city adolescents face. 

Amazon Video On Demand: Boyz 'N the Hood
9. Antwone Fisher
Themes: abuse/neglect, masculinity, poverty, violence, racial oppression, resiliency, sexual abuse 

Synopsis from Amazon.com: Inspired by the true life experiences of its title character, Antwone Fisher tells the dramatic story of a troubled sailor (Luke) who is ordered to see a naval psychiatrist (Washington) about his volatile temper. Little does he know that his first step into the doctor's office will lead him on a remarkable emotional journey to confront his painful past--and connect with the family he never knew.

Why to watch it: When I worked at the Allegheny County Jail as a substitute school counselor, the counselor I was going to cover showed this movie to all of the juvenile students in the jail school program. She had the students watch the movie and discuss the feelings Antwone Fisher was feeling under the anger he expressed. The students could relate to Antwone and the struggles he faced in his life. It was amazing to see how the students were so open to share about their lives and how they could relate to what Antwone was going through presently and what he endured in the past.  It would be beneficial to show some of the clips from this movie to boys in anger management groups or boy groups working with children of incarcerated parents. 

Amazon Video On Demand: Antwone Fisher

10. The Blind Side
Themes: abuse/neglect, homelessness, poverty, violence racial oppression, resiliency

Synopsis from Amazon.com: Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) knows little about family. Less about football. What the homeless teen knows are the streets and projects of Memphis. Well-to-do Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) knows little about his world. Yet when she and Michael meet, he's found a home. And the Tuohys have found something just as life-changing: a beloved new son and brother. This real-life story of family and of Michael's growth into a blue-chip football star will have you cheering with its mix of gridiron action and heartwarming emotion. Share the remarkable journey of the college All-American and first-round NFL draft pick who was a winner before he ever stepped onto the playing field.

Why to watch it: This heartfelt movie, The Blind Side, is based on a true story. I believe the Tuohy family receives more of an education than Michael. The Blind Side is not as in your face as some of the other movies I recommended. It is inspirational and shows one person truly can make a difference in someone else's life.

What is your movie with a theme related to relationship, hope, and resiliency with a focus on "at-risk" youth? Comment below, email me, tweet, or share on the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page!

Danielle is a K-12 Certified School Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and blogger at School Counselor Blog, a blog where school counselors can share innovative ideas, creative lesson plans, and quality resources.  Contact Danielle via email, follow her on twitter, and become a fan of the School Counselor Blog Facebook Page.

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