FAQ’s

Is the Critic Lunch weekly activity really free?

Yes, and it always will be. Even though I’m now a film critic, the teacher in me hasn’t gone anywhere. I still love helping kids become better writers and thinkers.

Critic Lunch is a passion project. A way to give back. It’s fun, easy and rewarding for me.

Why is it called Critic Lunch?

Sitting at the lunch table, talking with my friends about all the movies and TV shows we were watching are some of my favorite memories. “What’s better, Empire or Jedi?” … “Which Goonie are you?” … “If you found E.T. at your house, would you keep him, try to get him home, or charge kids money to see him?”

These casual conversations were fueled by fun, passion, and the movies. They were always epic, and usually rather ridiculous. That atmosphere is what I’m trying to recreate with Critic Lunch because kids often do some of their best learning when they’re excited about what they’re doing (even if it’s silly).

What will students actually do?

After opening the Google Form, students will see a prompt. The topic will be a fun, low-stakes question about movies and TV shows.

There are only two rules for their response. One, it must be one paragraph long. Two, student must include a figurative language device.

The figurative language device will change each week, and a brief “how-to” video will be included for each week’s device.

What happens to the kids’ responses?

Each week, I will post a video sharing my answer, a few of my favorite student responses, and some other fun stuff. The idea is to create a sense of community and the feeling of hanging out with friends, talking about movies and shows.

*** Kids’ names will not be shared (I will neither ask for nor collect their names).

Will my students be required to watch specific movies or shows?

No. Each prompt can be applied to any movie or TV show. Students can talk about something they have seen recently or an old favorite. They can also write about the same title multiple times if they wish.

Is Critic Lunch used for primary instruction?

Critic Lunch isn’t a full lesson or a curriculum.

Critic Lunch doesn’t seek to improve writing on a technical level. Yes, kids will learn/review figurative language devices, but the prompts are intended to foster a love of writing, building students’ voice and confidence. It’s much more casual than traditional assignments

If I were using Critic Lunch in my own classroom, I would use it as an extension activity once students have finished their assignments. However, you can adapt and use it in whichever way you think it would best suit your classroom.