( http://amazon.com/gp/product/B005DD7SQS )
The movie will run for 1.5 hours, approximately. The movie has received less than favorable reviews, but one can overcome this with some patience and tolerance. Certainly, it is at an appropriate level for children who wish to see a glimmer into the life of the author of one of their favorite series of books and movies.
J.K. Rowling has her own website which might also bear a review adjacent to or subsequent to the watching of the movie depending on the setup of the home. A parent can load the website and navigate with the left arrow to the beginning of the timeline view. This presents a sequence of stories originating in 1965 when her parents met on a train. Details can be found on the timeline not apparent in the movie.
If your child, like mine, has voiced an interest in being a writer later on in life, they may have a degree of interest yet remaining for this topic. For a slightly different approach, we also have a British Documentary from 2007: J. K. Rowling: A year in the life..." This documentary might be a bit dry for younger audiences. One cannot, however, fault their dedication. (1 hr)
At the end of these three efforts at learning about the author, the student should have a better understanding of the author as a person. I like the idea of assigning a little creative writing as a review. This doesn't have to be particularly well defined. Ideas for the essay might be as follows:
What interesting details of J. K. Rowling's life most appealed to you? Specifically, what do you admire about her?
Rowling's life, like most lives, involves struggles. Her mother's illness. Pressure to pursue a practical or pragmatic career over her love of writing. How one confronts the difficulties in life builds their character. In what ways would you wish to be more like Rowling?
Have you learned anything about the life of an author or the process of writing? Would a career producing fiction appeal to you based upon what you've seen here?
Not everyone can be a successful writer, the job requires creativity, ability, and persistence. Would you be able to write a full story? Would you worry if people will like it? If so, would those fears keep you from persisting? Even with a good book, selling the idea to a publisher can be challenging and require great patience. Can you see yourself sticking with your dreams despite setbacks?
The first serious relationship a woman has upon leaving her parent's home can seriously impact her life. She moved away from England to Portugal, why do you think she chose such a move? Her romance and marriage to her first husband went quickly. What caused the relationship to move so quickly and why did it fall apart?
People are imperfect, they do not always make ideal choices. The consequences of our decisions are not always evident while we are in the process of making life-choices. A gypsy wind blows J. K. Rowling from England to Portugal seeking for some change in life that will make her happy. She has experiences there; Memories are made. Yet, she also finds herself separated from family and friends who might have been able to advise or help.
Returning to England, she tries to rebuild her life. What obstacles created difficulties for her? What are your thoughts about the public aid system in place? How would you feel if you were in a similar situation?
Into every life some rain must fall. Some people could have become complacent and resigned to being a part of the system of public assistance. One woman suggests having a second child to make it easier to live 'on the dole.' Certain hurdles made it difficult for Joanne Rowling to work. Her persistence, however, made it work.
Comparing the style of the movie, the website, and the documentary, which of the three appealed most to you?
The timeline view allows more personal choice in which areas to explore more deeply. This may be far more interesting because it empowers the learner to focus where their interest is greatest. The the movie tries to present some of the facts with a sense of imagination and drama. The emotional content of such story telling can be more appealing and allow one to have better recall of details after the fact. The documentary will provide the most details, but can seem dry and a bit boring in the slow and methodical approach. It can be important to identify what seems to work best for the individual student.
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