After I had decided to use the diary of Anne Frank, one question sprung to my mind: how could I bring Anne’s story to life? In my view, when approaching any text, teachers must engage, enlighten and empower their students to make literature relevant to their lives. They must activate their students’ prior knowledge, and find ways to link what they already know about their own lives with the lesson at hand.
Variety of modalities
In anticipation of the language, cultural and historical differences, I engaged my students by tapping into their multiple learning intelligences. I used a wide variety of modalities to activate students’ prior knowledge– such as introducing film clips, studying archival photos, using appropriate songs, engaging in kinesthetic activities and visiting the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. I found that this holistic approach using multiple learning modalities really engaged my students. In my view it formed the key to my success.
Holocaust survivor
We also had a unique opportunity to invite a Holocaust survivor to our class. As a child she had been in hiding and she was able to juxtapose her experience in great depth to Anne’s. This turned out to be a turning point in the project. Her vivid description truly brought Anne’s diary to life.
Read my posting next month to see why history formed a crucial element in my lessons.
Erin Gruwell
“Freedom writers” is a great book with a great influence.I’m glad Erin was inspired by Anne Frank and Zlata Fillipovic to help inspire her “unteachable,at risk” students to help change themselves for the better.If there’s more Erin Gruwell’s,Anne Frank’s,and Zlata Fillipovic and other great and inspiring people,we’ll be a world where racism and violence don’t exist and all the brothers and sisters in the world will love and care for each other.
the book or movie the freedom writers is a great way to show how people should act or be. In which case i think that is why Erin thought that the diary of Anne Frank was a good way to show that. i read the book and watched the movie on Anne Frank in 6th grade and that had a great impact on the way I see life and on people.So Erin thank you for showing other childeren like me the Anne Frank life cause I think everybody even young and old should read or watch the Diary Of Anne Frank
the diary of anne frank is a very inspiring story. her emotions, opinions, && actions reflect me!!! i
I teach “at risk” 8th graders in Ohio. My students have never been able to relate to literature before. The Diary of Anne Frank is the first book that they have ever related to. They became motivated and truly dynamic in ways I could never have predicted. We just recently watched Freedom Writers in class and AGAIN they connected to something bigger than themselves. I believe that what Erin Gruwell has done in writing her story and the important stories of her students…she is showing the world the simple, yet earth moving change that Anne could only hope for.
well, i think that erin gruwell is a great person for teching these students to think on their own and she beleived in them even when they didnt believe in themselves, but i am writing a biography on her and i cant find very much info. on her… it’s really annoying and it is due in a week. i need to know about her early childhood mostly, and where she grew up.
sincerely,
kristen
You’re the most inspirational person I have ever read about. I want to become a teacher when I get older, and I am so very inspired by you. I am doing my senior research paper over you, because it is on who inspires us and after learning about you and your expereinces, I really hope that one day I will get to meet you and shake your hand. You’re one of the only people who inspires me to become what I know I am capable of and even though I have never met you, I feel very close to you. I hope that I do get a response from you, it would be a terrific honor and I would cherish it so much.
Your greatest fan,
Audrey Murray