She breaks through to her students by helping them find their voice and a common ground. Gruwells decision to adapt her lesson plans after what happened in the classroom shows that her goal is not to force a rigid curriculum upon her students but, rather to make them feel engaged with the learning process. The movie is also based on the dc program called city at peace. The book is made up entirely of their journals, which were written with encouragement from their teacher erin gruwell. One of the most inspiring scenes from the powerful film freedom writers is when ms. Armed with pens and composition notebooks, the freedom writers challenged themselves and the education system to be better. Pick a headline and write a newspaper article about the freedom. The title of the movie and book is a play on the term freedom riders. Long beachs freedom writers 20 years later where are. When 150 teachers were trained they came together in a summit where together the idea for a book by the freedom writer teachers came to life. It is based on the book the freedom writers diary by teacher erin gruwell. Single copies of the books come signed by erin gruwell.
They decide to compile their diary entries into a book, in order to share their stories with the world. The book was a new york times bestseller and has been published in over a dozen languages. In the freedom writers diary, diary one entry offers some unique insights into the writers perception of the new teacher and the classroom. The freedom writers foundation is a nonprofit organization created to inspire young, underprivileged students to pick up pens instead of guns. The freedom writers, including erin gruwell front, center, in 1999.
The freedom writers diary lesson plan contains a variety of teaching materials that cater to all learning styles. The freedom writers diary teacher s guide takes students through a threestage process that will maximize their understanding of the freedom writers diary while supporting the central message of tolerance. Freedom writers are toastmasterstrained speakers who galvanize every kind of audience. It is based on the book the freedom writers diary by teacher erin gruwell and students who compiled the book out of real diary entries about their lives that they wrote in their english class at woodrow wilson classical high school in long beach, california. After the release of the movie, freedom writers starring hilary swank an explosion occurred with teachers from around the world looking to be trained in the freedom writer methodology. We are deeply concerned by reports that the book, the freedom writers diary by erin gruwell, was removed from english 11 classes at perry.
It is about how one teachererin gruwell makes it her goal to change the way students in her class view the world. Gruwell takes it up on herself to show the kids the theirs more to life then gang violence trying to do so she risks losing her job and husband. The freedom writers diary 20th anniversary edition. The movie has gone on to inspire countless students and. Remarkably, she manages to overcome the many struggles and hardships and significantly change the lives of her students. Freedom writers by erin gruwell is one of the most interesting books ive ever read. Express yourself, is structured for use after viewing the movie andor reading the book. Teachers can implement activities in one class period or over multiple days. Paramount pictures worked closely with erin and the freedom writers to adapt a script from the successful book. Erin invites various jewish holocaust survivors to talk with her class about. Recreate this unifying experience in your classroom. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them is a nonfiction 1999 book written by the freedom writers, a group of students from woodrow wilson high school in long beach, california, and their teacher erin gruwell.
Meeting student needs in the freedom writers movie. It is the basis of the 2007 movie freedom writers, starring hilary swank. This guide includes objectives and directions, as well as questions from the film and additional question options. The freedom writers diary is a moving account from students in a high school class in long beach, california. Sue ellen was placed in an english class being taught by erin gruwell. Freedom writers is a 2007 american drama film written and directed by richard lagravenese and starring hilary swank, scott glenn, imelda staunton, patrick dempsey and mario. Her distinctive approach to the classroom continues to inspire the schools she is. In response to thousands of letters and emails from teachers across the country who learned about erin gruwell and her amazing students in the freedom writers diary and the hit movie freedom writers, gruwell and a team of teacher experts have written the freedom writers diary teachers guide, a book that will encourage teachers and students. Erin gruwell and the freedom writers are a teacher and 150 students who changed the course of their lives through writing. Freedom writers were able to touch on universal truths, illuminate the lives of teenagers, and.
As the reallife freedom writers teacher, an author, and the host of the freedom writers podcast, erin gruwell knows that books can change lives. This book is a compilation of diary entries from 150 high school students in long beach, california, who call themselves the freedom writers. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change. Their diaries were compiled into a single book titled the freedom writers diary, which was published in october of 1999. Stories from the heart these are the most influential professionals most of us will ever meet. How a teacher and 150 students used writing to change themselves and the world around them working paper pdf available december 2016 with 24,145 reads how we. Freedom writing is a pedagogical method developed by american teacher erin gruwell. Erin gruwell is now a visiting professor at california state university, long beach, where some of her students are freedom writers. The reallife freedom writers teacher shares lifechanging. Freedom writers diary pulled from indianapolis classroom. A lot of them were able to obtain scholarships to help get themselves through school.
Their english teacher, erin gruwell, discovers that her atrisk students have never heard of the holocaust. The authors proceeds from this book will be donated to the tolerance education foundation, an organization set up to pay for the freedom writers college tuition. This freedom writers diary collaborative poster is perfect for a book study or for viewing the movie. The movie freedom writers is an inspiring story about one teachers dedication and commitment to her students. The captivating story, written by erin gruwell, is about a teacher in racially divided high school. The freedom writers diary contains strong language, racial epithets, violence, abuse, abortion, and drug use. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them. Every one of erins 150 students graduated from high school and most went on to college. Some used their profits from the freedom writers diary book sales to. All of her students love and look forward to coming to this classroom every day. The freedom writers diary teachers guide is a howto manual on creating community in the classroom and tolerance in the minds of your students through writing. Erin gruwell born august 15, 1969 is an american teacher known for her unique teaching method, which led to the publication of the freedom writers diary.
How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them the freedom writers, zlata filipovic, erin gruwell on. Erin gruwell and the many students who became part of her extended family during her first four years teaching at woodrow wilson high school in long beach, california. The freedom writers diary is the amazing true story of strength, courage, and. The kids took bets on how long their new teacher would last in their classroom. The title is a play on the term freedom riders, referring to the multiracial.
The freedom writers diary summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. How to teach the freedom writers diary prestwick house. I drew on my classroom experiences with the freedom writers and began to teach future educators how to motivate their students from the inside out. Teaching hope by the freedom writers, erin gruwell. In the book is a page with headlines of what newspapers say about the freedom writers. Erin and her freedom writers have gained national attention, appearing on oprah, primetime live, good morning america, and the view. With over one million copies sold, the freedom writers diary caught the attention of hollywood. The freedom writers diary is a nonfiction compilation of the students anonymous diary entries that reveal the teenagers hardships and how they overcome difficulties during their four years in high school.
The students in her class view the world as one big war zone and have their own goal which is to be able to survive the streets without being killed. The freedom writers diary teachers guide ebook written by erin gruwell, the freedom writers. It was founded by erin gruwell, and john tu cofounder of the kingston technology company is a benefactor. Heermann, was suspended for a year and a half without pay for using the freedom writers diary in her classroom against the wishes of the school board. As the drawing made its way around the class, the other students laughed.
Inside youll find 30 daily lessons, 20 fun activities, 180 multiple choice questions, 60 short essay questions, 20 essay questions, quizzeshomework assignments, tests, and more. Recently updated and improved the movie is based on the book the freedom writers diary by teacher erin gruwell who wrote the story based on woodrow wilson classical high school in eastside, long beach, california. The freedom writers diary lesson plans for teachers. Long beachs freedom writers 20 years later where are they.
This teachers guide will help you implement the techniques teacherauthor erin gruwell used in her classroom, with your own students. Fun activities for teaching the freedom writers diary. How california teacher erin gruwell inspired a generation. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the freedom writers diary teachers guide. The feature film, freedom writers, starring hilary swank hit theaters in 2008. Freedom writers conduct compelling presentations about their experiences in erin gruwells classroom and beyond. The freedom writers diary teachers guide by erin gruwell.
Freedom writers, in both book and movie form, touches on powerful themes such as selfreflection, tolerance, facing adversity, striving for success and trust. The students work was compiled in the freedom writers diary, first published in 1999. Erin attempts to create a color and ethnicityblind environment in the classroom. The freedom writers diary summary from litcharts the. This essay sample essay on freedom writers movie offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. Sue ellen alpizar wiped away tears as she talked about the darkest days of her teenage years in long beach. Throughout the book the freedom writers there are many meaningful and nonmeaningful settings. The book has sold a quarter of a million copies and counting. The method has reached worldwide success, attracting an international audience since the publication of the freedom writers diary in 1999, as well as the motion picture freedom writers in 2007, based on the story of the author. Assigned the thankless task of teaching freshman english at a ganginfested long beach, ca high school, a 23yearold teacher resorts to unconventional. How a teacher and 150 teens used writing to change themselves and the world around them 1999. The name paid homage to 1960s civil rights group, the freedom riders. The book works as a standalone resource, but can also be use even more effectively with the original book, the freedom writers diary, and the movie based on the book, the freedom. Stories from the freedom writer teachers and erin gruwell hope must be taught before there is a chance of learning subject matter.
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