Teach with Your Heart: Lessons I Learned from the Freedom Writers

This book, I believe, is a must-read for all teachers. It demonstrates the powerful and far-reaching influence of a teacher who made it her primary aim to nurture her students' ethical ideal and passionately dedicated herself to this aim. Our educational system has much to learn from Erin Gruwell and her students. If you are an educator, I highly recommend that you read this book. It will give you hope and inspire you to be a better teacher and human being.I would like to respond to the two previous reviewers'critiques of Erin and her book.First of all, studies have indicated that students do better when they stay with each other and with the same teacher (assuming the teacher is a caring one) for an extended period of time, the longer the better. Erin and her students must have recognized this truth and her example proved this hypothesis quite well. Secondly, so what if Erin only taught for four or five years? I speculate that the difference she made in the lives of her 150 students in those four years is more significant and lasting than the contribution some teachers make to their students in a 20 or 30-year long career. Erin is serving our society and our students on a larger scale by speaking and providing training to teachers on a methodology that yielded astounding success. I don't think she left teaching because she was "burned out". She was smart enough to know that she could serve the world more effectively in a different capacity.And this one is to the reviewer who called Erin's book "self-serving and trite". Like you, I am sure all of us--as teachers--have spent our own money on our students and felt that every dime has been worthwhile. However, I don't know how many of us has actually worked a second or third job like Erin to cover our students' expenses. Erin is SELFLESS and anything but "self-serving". I am saddened that this extraordinary teacher has been so harshly criticized for what I consider an extraordinary act of love.

Oh my goodness, this book definitely exceeded my expectations! I was so inspired and motivated by this book! Anyone who wants to be a teacher, is a teacher, loves kids, or loves a good moving book should definitely read this book! I will warn you though this book is almost guaranteed to make anyone with a heart cry a few times while reading it! If you get this book make sure to also check out The Freedom Writers movie and The Freedom Writers Diary since they are talked about a lot in this book. If you've already watched the movie and read the diary and loved them, then definitely read this book because it gives a lot more insight than both the movie and the diary give.

After looking forward to reading this book, so I would be inspired to better serve my students, I was extremely disappointed. This should be read only as a memoir of a very fortunate, privileged girl who was able to accomplish success with her ONE class of students because of her rich connections. In my opinion it should not be a required reading in any education course, giving future teachers the idea that "breaking through" to tough students is as easy as Mrs. Gruwell made it seem. It took her only two days, as a student teacher, to engage the "bad boy" in her class. And she did it by asking a couple of questions about football!New teachers need to realize it takes more than that, and if you do not have Ms. Gruwell's opportunities, such as speaking personally with Steven Spielberg, it will take much more dedication and perseverance than Ms. Gruwell had to demonstrate. I had a difficult time justifying what seemed to be her superficial values - she referenced being a cheerleader four times in fifteen pages - to the themes of tolerance and equality. She obviously is ambitious and self-confident - two positive qualities, but I could not ignore her negative portrayal of her colleagues and her obvious ego.I would hope new teachers are encouraged to collaborate, rather than compete, with current teachers for the betterment of all students. In the case of this memoir, I would definitely like to hear "the rest of the story" from the other students and teachers at Ms. Gruwell's school. I do not recommend this as any type of teaching tool. It is simply another memoir. I know many teachers who could write a much more realistic, inspiring autobiography.

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This book gives examples of how to teach from your heart. If you truly seek to engage your students in an effective manner - READ THIS BOOK!! If you can already reach your students in an effective manner I still encourage you to - READ THIS BOOK! I like to think of myself as an effective teacher. I am a Mexican-American male Language Arts Teacher with a profound background, having lived at several socioeconomic levels myself. I am blessed with the ability to identify with students at many levels on their terms. I gained so much more understanding concerning how to reach out to the students who you feel are largely at risk.

Erin Gruwell is an amazing person. She was able to reach her tough students and make connections with them that "the system" had written off. Much as people would like to deny it, there is racism in our schools. If given a chance, I think that all kids can succeed. It's the stereotypes and told that you're stupid that brings a lot of these kids down. Poverty and their domestic situations don't help in the least either. Erin saw through everything and at such a young age! I believe it's people like her that truly change the world for the better.

An amazing, heartwarming story. I loved learning how one teacher, with the help of the community, could do for teens!

Reading this book my life felt... small. I came away determined to do more and be more. Erin’s story is a clear example of what a difference one person can make.

I absolutely love Erin Gurwell!! I read the first freedom writers diary 20th edition. It inspired me so much. I just started reading this book I am only chapter 6 but it’s already so captivating. I recommend this book to anyone!

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T'was a wonderful, inspiring, read!

First came across this teacher when I randomly watched the film on Netflix and was blown away.So much so, I had to buy the books and dvd for my daughter who is a teacher and of a similar vain - she likes to stretch the boundaries and is a caring sensitive person - great qualities for anyone to have!The main thing for me that stood out was the link between real life and current situations and how they came together to take on the challenges and move forward with so much inspiration and determination to touch others.Buy - Read - Go Do!

Eine unglaubliche, begeisternde, faszinierende und und Geschichte!!!Ich war so sehr von Erin Guwell's Leben beruehrt, dass ich alles moegliche ueber sie im Internet (YouTube, Wikipedia, Google) fand und mich weiter begeistern liess."Teach with your Heart" - wie genau gesagt. Nur wenn man etwas vom Herzen macht, trifft man die Herzen von Anderen!Ich kann das Buch nur weiter empfehlen. Jeder kann was davon fuer sich mitnehmen!