1. The Freedom Writers Diary

2. Erin Gruwell Graduated from the University of California Irvine
Began at Woodrow Wilson H.S. in Long Beach, California as a student teacher
Earned full-time teaching position in a classroom of “low achieving students”

3. A Product of the Environment
The LBC – Long Beach, California
Homicide rate 8 times the national average
South L.A. “Ghettos” make crime prevention difficult
Drugs, gangs and poverty rule the area
LBC made infamous by Snoop Dog and others in the 90s
Takes place following LA Race Riots

4. It all started with this…
Gruwell intercepted a racist drawing and questioned her class about the Holocaust – no one had heard of it!

5. Just a teacher?
Hatred, Racism, and Gang Violence rule the atmosphere at Wilson
Gruwell encourages students to write journals about their experiences being evicted, abused, or watching their friends die
Reached her students by relating famous stories like Romeo and Juliet and Anne Frank to their lives

6. Making a Difference
Writing journals became therapeutic for many of the students
All 150 Freedom Writers graduated from high school and many went on to attend college
The students’ journals went on to become The Freedom Writers Diary

7. They were inspired
The Freedom Riders fought against segregation during the Civil Rights Movement.
What they had in common:
Both subjected to racially motivated Violence
Both possess a desire for change
Both have help from others
Both ensured their stories would live on!

8. What this means to you
We will be reading excerpts from The Freedom Writers Diary and watching clips from the movie
Using their writings as a basis, we will be writing our own book composed of narratives based on our life experiences

9. And then a special treat
In May we will be video chatting with one of the actual Freedom Writers

10. I had the honor of meeting her!