The Freedom Writers Foundation, through the Freedom Writers Institute For Teachers, offers a professional development curriculum to train and support teachers of at-risk middle and high school students by providing Freedom Writers Method-based lesson plans that can be used in classrooms, regardless of age, academic ability or socioeconomic level. Research shows that of all the educational resources devoted to helping students learn, teachers matter most—and that the professional development of teachers improves the academic experience of students.

The Freedom Writers Method is fundamentally built upon a student-centered learning model based on "internal motivation." Students who are internally motivated inherently feel a sense of choice in the classroom and are more likely to achieve academic success. Teachers who support internal motivation listen to their students, engage their interests, encourage questions and allow their students flexibility in problem solving. The Freedom Writers Method finds ways to make lessons speak to the student's experiences and tap into their talents. It is grounded in an educational philosophy that promotes tolerance and encourages students to rethink their beliefs about themselves, find productive means of self expression and see school as a place where they can feel valued and validated.

The Freedom Writers Method encourages educators to:

1) Believe in their students
2) Break down comfort zones
3) Establish a safe environment
4) Validate prior knowledge
5) Motivate their students
6) Encourage collaboration
7) Teach tolerance
8) Promote diversity
9) Create community
10) Build bridges
11) Expect accountability
12) Celebrate success

Many teaching methods aim to increase students’ interest in school and, in turn, help to decrease high school drop-out rates. The Freedom Writers Method differs in several ways:

• The Freedom Writers Method not only increases the involvement and satisfaction of students with school but also of teachers. Teachers on the brink of quitting the profession find renewed energy and focus for teaching using a method that helps them to better reach their students. 
  
• The ripple effect of the Freedom Writers story brings students and educators together in an environment that promotes acceptance and embraces diversity. Instead of judging others by their economic standing, the color of their skin, or their learning abilities, students learn from each other and find common threads in their lives.
  
• Much of the educational community and the public at large believes that “at-risk” kids cannot learn until society fixes the problems that make kids at-risk in the first place (i.e. broken families, poverty, gang violence, etc.). Erin’s method teaches that the answers to society’s problems are in educating the kids. Until we do this, the problems cannot be fixed. This simple difference is what offers the most hope to this nation to improve the lives of millions.