1.  Watch the video before you show it!  Take notes and create a binder so you don't have to preview the same videos again next year.  Mark your notes to show the best parts.  Next year your job will be that much easier.  (Be sure to ask your principal for advice if there is anything that might be inappropriate for your grade level.) 

2.  Don't play long videos - break them up into segments to use as one part of a larger lesson plan.  Find good break points and mark your notes when you preview the tape or DVD.  A good historical dramatization might hold student attention for 15 or 20 minutes at a stretch.  But videos heavy on factual content need to be broken into shorter segments.  Pick the parts you want - there's no law that says you have to show the whole thing, or show it in one sitting.

3.  Videos must have clear content, strong narration, and visual impact.  Many "educational videos" marketed for schools are poorly produced, boring, and expensive.  Videos produced for the general public, like those from the History Channel, the A&E Network, and the National Parks Service, are often much better.  They are also usually cheaper.  Some PBS videos are very good, but many are too slow and tedious for classroom use.  Ask your students to "rate" your choices.

4.  Begin switching to DVDs wherever possible.  It is much easier to access specific segments, and DVDs will remain crisp on the screen year after year.  VHS tapes gradually wear out.

5.  Be on good terms with your school librarian, and get his or her help to build up the school video collection.  Most librarians understand that videos are an essential part of a library.  Show the librarian the list of video recommendations on this site.

6.  Build up your own personal collection of your favorite historical videos and DVDs.  Many of the best are only $20 or $25, and will make life in your classroom a lot more enjoyable year after year.  Best of all, you know your copy will always be there when you need it.

7.  If you use video handout worksheets, have students answer them only when you pause between segments.  Many teachers make worksheets with questions to keep students focused on videos.  But students often miss key concepts while writing trivial answers. 

8.  Don't try to grade papers or sort out your email while students watch a video.  Turn off the lights and watch it actively with the students.  Move around the room unobtrusively every few minutes.  At the end of each segment, either discuss what you saw or have students complete a related assignment.  Your interest and attention is a model for the behavior you want them to show.

9.  It is a big help to have two monitors, one on each side of the room.  You can probably pick up the second monitor for free from a parent who is buying a new or larger set.  Hook them both up using a splitter, which costs just a couple of dollars.  That way, students in the back and sides of the room can actually see the picture.  Would you be willing to watch TV at home 25 feet away from the monitor?