In last month’s posting I talked about my holistic approach to the Freedom Writers project. There has been, however, another crucial element in my lessons, and that is history.
I believe that if you don’t learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. That is why I deliberately infused historical lessons into my literature projects. We spent a lot of time talking about the Holocaust – but I deliberately chose to let them discover Anne’s fate on their own.
Eager to learn more
After reading the entire book, my students were eager to learn even more. They spent time researching Anne’s family, Miep Gies, the Holocaust, and other authors from the Holocaust, including Eli Wiesel.
One final note on the diary text itself. Even though she wrote her diary in the 1940’s, my students were able to relate to Anne Frank. The at times ‘old-fashioned’ language did not turn out to be a barrier. They were able to look past the language, and delve into the actual content and power of Anne’s words.
Don’t miss out on my next posting. I will tell you more about my students’ reactions.
Erin Gruwell
Dear friends,the remarkable story of the Frank family,moves me to pass on to you the story of my first and late husband Robert Reens,born Amsterdam,23.6.1936.died in Worthing England his 23year,from the trauma inflicted on him,by the Nazies.His morher Gertrude Langenberg Reens,a Dutch farmers daughter married a Jewish man Abraham Reens ,who worked for de Beers.He went into hiding.My poor husband ,as a child had the Yellow Star pinned on him at 6 yearsold.the mother was a sister at the Zickenhuis in Amsterdam,this s aved her life,also Roberts and sister born 1944,his child ,but where was her husband hiding.Robert looked after mother and baby sister Dina,and did not take much to his rather dominating father returning.He went to the Hollands Shewberg ,to see if his grandparents and aunt had survived,but no.This February I visited and saw the Reens family names on the memorial wall,and the Eternal flame,it moved me to tears. Our dear daughter Heather Juliana Reeens,was born in England 7 months after Robert her father took his own lifeby gassing,it was a terrible shock,to me,it has done me good writing this.I had no money and brought her up on my own,for many years.Leo Reens was born in 1947did not understand for many years what his older brother suffered.I have met them twice,Gerda and Daphne,living in Arnhem,not long enough.
Ive been researching Anne Frank. she is inspiring and i’ve just recently started reading her diary. It is excellent. She inspires me.
i cried
I think that the Anne Frank book is wonderful and i just love the way Anne can relate to alot of people even though they are not in the position she was in. As for me i can relate to her in the way that she wanted to live her life and just be like every one else and be treatd like every one else. I’m mexian/american but i feel and i know when someone looks at me different just bcause of the color of my skin.
I think that any one who feels sad or just misunderstood should sit down and read anne frank because they are not the only ones that feel that way.
ANNE FRANK IS AND WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON!!
Erin, what you did with the students was wonderful. Many of mine have read the Freedom Writers and would relish the opportunity to meet and greet you. How could my school and I go about setting something like that up? Thanks!
WE LOVE YOU ANNE FRANK WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!
AMBER LITTLE
i think anne frank’s diary is a great book to read because anne relates to other people that have problem being a type of race. the other thing is that anne frank wanted to be treated like every other girl or person just because she was jewish the german dutch people didnt like jews or jewish people. ANNE FRANK IS INSPIRING TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO READ HER DIARY!!!
Dear Mrs. Erin:
Just recently this week, I rent the movie and all of my students, from 10th-12th grade saw it. And I just want you to know, how much me and my students admires you. Thanks to you and the inspiration on your movie, the next week I will ask to my students to buy the “Diary of Anne Frank” we will let you know if we like it or not.
Thank You!!
Dear Erin:
During my first year of Bachelor Degree (1979) I read the Diary of Anne Frank as an assignment before the test. The professor gave us a list from where to select before the exam. For some reason I bought and read it. It left me a special feeling about this girl. She lived in such a horrible moment of the history but she still had the hope that everything would change. She saw the world from a different perspective.
Even though Business Education is not directly related to history I try to make my students to be aware of historical events that has changed the world. I always talk to them about this book as well as some others. I believe the same as you, they must have a chance to be better students.
I still have some “Mrs. Campbell’s” around making things hard to do, but you have inspired me to keep up. I hope I can have a “Mr. Cohn” I want to be a different kind of a teacher as you were to them. You made changes in them, you made history. Keep up the excellent work.