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

By Erin Gruwell

The extraordinary memoir of the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Freedom Writers Diary, who’s been hailed as “a true inspiration” (Hilary Swank) and “simply magical when it comes to inspiring people to action” (Los Angeles Times).
 
Don’t miss the public television documentary Freedom Writers: Stories from the Heart
 
In this passionate, poignant, and deeply personal memoir and call to arms, Erin Gruwell, the dynamic teacher who nurtured an extraordinary group of high school students from Long Beach, California, who called themselves the Freedom Writers, picks up where The Freedom Writers Diary—and the hit movie Freedom Writers—left off and brings the reader up to date on where the Freedom Writers are today.
 
Including their unforgettable trip to Auschwitz, where they met with Holocaust survivors; their tour of the attic of their beloved Anne Frank; and their visit to Bosnia with their friend Zlata Filipović, Teach With Your Heart chronicles what happened with the Freedom Writers as they made their way through college and beyond. Along the way, Gruwell includes lessons for parents and teachers about what she learned from her remarkable band of students as she traveled through the emotional peaks and valleys on the front lines of our nation’s educational system.
 
A mesmerizing story of one young woman’s personal odyssey and of her unique ability to encourage others to follow in her footsteps, Teach With Your Heart is marked by the enviable radiance and irrepressible force of nature that are Erin Gruwell and her unbelievable determination to ensure that education in the United States truly meets the needs of every student.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 9, 2007
• ISBN: 9780767927376

Reviews for Teach with Your Heart

[emma_manolis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you have watched The Freedom Writers Diary then you know the basics of this book, but if you enjoyed the film then you may find that you also really enjoy the book. I don't know that Erin did anything extraordinary with her teaching, but I love how much she cared for her students. Sometimes just showing that you care about the student is enough of a motivation to work harder and achieve success. I'm amazed by her connections and the incredible experiences she was able to provide for her students. I'm disappointed that she stopped teaching after a few years and I'm disappointed by the need to paint her fellow teachers in such a negative light. Borrow it.

[dannn_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this book to be very inspirational in showing how one individual can affect so many other lives, fortunately for the better. I felt that Erin Gruwell was very self-effacing and not seeking glory nor praise. Her story was told in a very matter-of-fact manner and could have been plumped out with a lot more interesting information. The antagonism shown to her by her teaching colleagues was to be expected and I am amazed that she survived the atmosphere created through jealousy. I gave this book to my daughter, who is a Primary School Teacher, and she was extremely touched and motivated by it. Compelling real-life reading!!

[saracuse9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed The Freedom Writers Diary, so I picked this book up in order to add context to the students' stories. I wanted to know who and what was behind these young peoples' voices. Turns out Erin Gruwell is not nearly as interesting or as talented a writer as some of her students. I am oddly compelled by this story, probably because I am a teacher and the thought of a teacher bringing about what Erin helped bring about helps feed my passion for education.On the other hand, I'm not s...more I enjoyed The Freedom Writers Diary, so I picked this book up in order to add context to the students' stories. I wanted to know who and what was behind these young peoples' voices. Turns out Erin Gruwell is not nearly as interesting or as talented a writer as some of her students. I am oddly compelled by this story, probably because I am a teacher and the thought of a teacher bringing about what Erin helped bring about helps feed my passion for education.On the other hand, I'm not sure I think Erin is the best role model for other teachers. What she accomplished with her students was wonderful, yes, but what she sacrificed for her job was not. She essentially sacrificed her marriage in favor of her job and the amount of time she spent in school during that time left no other time for a personal life. She worked 3 different jobs, and while admirable, it doesn't leave room for much else in life other than work.I also wonder about her motivations for such dedication to her job, to the detriment of her personal life AND her relationships with fellow teachers, really were. In her book, she lists all the things that happened to her but fails to give any insight. Her chapters were all about the same length, even ones that covered big events in her and her students' lives. Also, she left public school as soon as the Freedom Writers graduated. I wonder what she would have done if she stuck around, or if she quit because she wanted to go out on top.