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Teacher Tips

Writing and discussion prompts

Lesson plans from The Freedom Writers Diary: Teacher's Guide

Ms. G's Teacher Tips

Believe in your students.
"She told me she believed in me.  I have never heard those words from anyone…especially a teacher."  Diary 23

Break down "comfort zones" in your classroom.
"Everyone in here seems to know everyone else; just like that TV show Cheers, where everybody knows my name." Diary 25

Make your classroom a safe environment.
"I walk in the room and I feel as though all the problems in my life are not important anymore. I am home."  - Diary 24

Make learning relate to your students' lives.
"This story ["The Last Spin"] is a trip. I've never read something in school that related to something that happened in my life."  - Diary 14

Engage your students' by tapping into their different learning styles.
"Ms Gruwell has some pretty amazing teaching methods.  Our class just read a book called Durango Street, and now we are making a movie of it…Not only did this movie give us a better understanding of Durango Street, we also learned a lot about one another." - Diary 13

Enlighten your students by bringing in guest speakers.
"Now after meeting Miep Gies I can honestly say that my heroes are not just made up characters - my hero is real." - Diary 42

Make learning come to life.
"Ms. Gruwell can never do things the simple way.  She always has some big teaching scheme even when we are nowhere near a classroom." - Diary 116

Involve your students' families in class projects.
"Our day began with a breakfast by the "Dream Team Moms."  These are the dedicated moms who have adopted our class as their kids." - Diary 49

Be inclusive and treat your class like a family.
"I bet if it wasn't for this second family, a lot of people wouldn't even be with their first." - Diary 44

Empower your students to succeed!
"Historians say history repeats itself, but in my case I have managed to break the cycle because I am going to graduate from high school and go to college, an opportunity my parents never had."  - Diary 105

Writing and dicussion prompts

Prompt 1:

In Diary 94, a Freedom Writer argues that people should "rock the boat" and "speak out" when they witness an injustice.  Have you observed an unjust action or behavior?  What did you do?  If you could go back in time and revisit that moment, would you handle it differently?  Why, do you believe, is it sometimes difficult for people to speak out or act against wrongdoing?

After reading Anne Frank's and Zlata Filipovic's diaries, the Freedom Writers wrote letters and raised money to invite Miep Gies (the woman who helped hide Anne and her family during WWII) and Zlata to visit their school.  What activist or writer would you like to invite to your school?  Why?  What do you think you and your classmates would learn from him/her? 

Prompt 2:

The writer of Diary 36 asks, "Why should I read books about people that don't look like me?  People that I don't even know and that I'm not going to understand because they don't understand me!"  How would you answer this student's question if you were his/her teacher?  Why is it important to read books about different people?  What did the Freedom Writers learn from reading Anne Frank's and Zlata's diaries?

Prompt 3:

The Freedom Writers made a "Toast for Change" in which they freed themselves from the stereotypes and labels they felt had been placed on them because of their races, their ages, their family backgrounds, and their education and gave themselves a second chance to prove themselves.   What are the dangers of stereotypes?  What can people do to break free from stereotypes?  Why is this important?

Lesson plans from The Freedom Writers Diary: Teacher's Guide

Click here to download a copy of the Toast for Change lesson plan.

Click here to download a copy of the Line Game lesson plan.