Changing By The Minute Documentary Tool Kit
One year in a startlingly upbeat public middle school in New York City that mixes 5th – 8th graders in most classes, and somehow it actually works.
Screening Page for middle school educators. (Materials are not to be used for paid attendance, or to be altered for use in other products without written permission from the filmmaker.)
Pure joy!
— Sara Davis Powell, Belmont Abbey College
A novel and extraordinary window into the world of early adolescence.
— Penny Bishop, University of Maine
A terrific documentary and an authentic portrait of what it means to be an early adolescent today.
— Phyllis Fagell, Author “Middle School Matters”
A documentary filmmaker spent one year embedded in a “startlingly upbeat” public middle school in NYC collecting unprecedented observational footage about the daily lives of students and teachers.
- authentic, unfiltered interactions of 10-14 year olds with their peers and teachers
- commentary directly from students about their social and emotional lives
- a view into a school that embraces early adolescence with joy, flexibility, and deep acceptance
The goal of the project is to help reverse the narrative of early adolescence as a negative time — and support teachers in decreasing the stress and distress experienced by 10-14 year olds. Discussion guides were developed by subject matter experts to:
- Catalyze dynamic professional development sessions with teachers and administrators
- Prepare new staff to work most effectively with students
- Engage 10-14 year olds in meaningful conversation
-
Connect with parents and families about what to expect developmentally
From this page you can stream films and download discussion guides :
- Changing By The Minute – 62 min documentary by award-winning filmmaker and child development experts
- Y’All R Real Ones: Middle School Moments – 10 min short documentary (based on the same footage but meant to be used on its own)
- Bonus Clips – 28 min additional commentary, anecdotes, insights
- 6 discussion guides for using the short and long films with students, new staff, experienced staff
- 1 discussion guide for using the bonus clips with staff
Headphones / external speakers recommended. Laptop speakers not recommended.
Click “expand” button on lower right of each window to view full screen.
TURN captions on or off via CC symbol, in lower right hand side of player.
Trailer (3 min)
Changing By The Minute (62 min documentary)
SECTIONS:
00:00 The School
12:11 Friendship
16:09 Identity
31:41 Choices
46:29 Community
Y’All R Real Ones: Middle School Moments (10 min documentary)
Bonus Clips
Click here to access seventeen short clips of commentary, anecdotes, and insights that are intended to augment the 62 min. documentary film Changing By the Minute and provide jumping off places for additional conversations.
Discussion Guides
Discussion Guide for using short film with 10-14 year olds, during school and afterschool
Discussion Guide for using short film with new teachers, teacher candidates, and school counselor candidates
Discussion Guide for using 10min short film in professional development sessions with teachers, administrators and school staff
Discussion Guide for using 62min film with 10-14 year olds during school and after school.
Discussion Guide for using 62min film in professional development sessions with teachers, administrators and school staff
Discussion Guide for using 62min film with new teachers, teacher candidates, and school counselor candidates
Discussion Guide for using Bonus Clips with teachers, administrators, teacher candidates, college students, after school staff
To learn more, see: ChangingByTheMinute.com