Post due by midnight November 18, 2012
Chapter 9 - Ending with the Beginning in Mind
Anne Sullivan's story is inspiring. She overcame great hardships and went on to become an extraordinary teacher. Write a reaction to her speech and how it relates to you as teacher.
TLIM describes "modern day miracle workers" (teachers) I love that phrase. Choose one miracle worker from the list below and share with your colleagues what you find out about him/her. Make your choice known on this blog. Once a person is chosen, they can't be used again. :)
1. Marva Collins
2. Ron Clark
3. Rafe Esquith
4. Jaime Escalante
5. Erin Gruewell
6. Geoffrey Canada
7. Dr. Steve Perry
8. Salome Thomas-El
I would like to do my comments on 3. Rafe Esquith.
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment on 7. Dr. Steve Perry.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do my comments on Ron Clark.
ReplyDeleteI would like to do comment on mr. Canada
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DeleteI always enjoy a story of someone who overcame. I am also glad to see that you saw some similarities in yourself and him. Maybe that is an indication of what great things that are to come for you. I like that he incorporated his interest of martial arts into his dealings with his students. I hope to do the same with my interest in nutrition.
DeleteHe and I are similar in back-round (single mother raising three kids in a poor nieghborhood). The neighborhood I grew up in was not a bad place just poor. He grew up in a tough area. He carried a knife to protect himself.
DeleteFrom Biography.com it states "he is a Social activist and educator. He was born January 13, 1952, in Harlem, New York City". It goes on further to say he is a martial artist. He used his martial arts to teach kids conflict resolutions. His martial arts lead to the opening of the Harlem Peace makers Program.
He is a Harvard Graduate and he took over an education center in 1990 and changed the name to the Harlem Children's Zone. He gathered $100,000,000 in private donations to realize his goal to start the Harlem Children’s Zone to save the children in that area of poverty where 2/3 of the children read below grade level on standardized tests. It takes 36 million dollars a year to run the school and 1/3 comes from the government. President Obama had announced plans to duplicate the model of the center to 20 other cities.
Arne Duncan profiled him in Time magazine (Time 100 List 2011) and describes him as an innovator. He was also profiled in the documentary "Waiting for Superman" He is an author and has made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show and 60 Minutes among others. He believes that all children can succeed, regardless of race, wealth or ZIP code. He is currently married with four children.
(Biography.com http://www.biography.com/people/geoffrey-canada-537578).
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066100,00.html)
Time Magazine 2011. http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2058044_2060338_2059975,00.html).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Canada).
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-1611936.html
I would like to comment on Marva Collins
ReplyDeleteI would like to comment on Erin Gruewell
ReplyDeleteI guess I have Salome Thomas- EL
ReplyDeleteThe teacher i chose to share was Erin Gruewell. Erin Gruewell taught at a school that was racially divided, filled with gangsters, and very tough. Her first year teaching at the school she was given students other teachers didn't want and that were sure to drop out of school. Mrs. Gruewell's student's saw people they knew doing drugs on a daily basis, were homeless, had seen people murdered, and came from broken homes. The administers of Mrs. Gruewell's school expected her to leave after she say the fighting and the hate that was shown through out the school. Mrs. Gruewell's did not leave but instead she stayed and taught her students in her on loving way. Mrs. Gruewell worked an extra job on the weekends so she could take her students on field trips. She also provided her students with books that they could relate to in order to help them. Mrs. Gruewell brought in many speakers for her students such as Holocaust survivors.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Gruwell's class became like a family. They made a life-altering "Toast for Change," where they all agreed to give themselves a chance to start life over. Inspired by the stories of the original Freedom Riders who fought segregation and prejudice, they called themselves The Freedom Writers. All the time they continued writing in their diaries.Eventually The Freedom Writers' stories gained media attention. They began travelling around the country, presenting their ideas on education to the Secretary of Education in Washington D.C., accepting awards, and giving television and newspaper interviews. Mrs. Gruewells helped her students diaries to get published into a book called The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them. Mrs. Gruewell helped all 150 of her students to go to college.
Mrs. Gruwell now teaches at California State University, Long Beach, and she is developing curriculum materials so that other teachers can help their students follow the path of the Freedom Writers. Mrs. Gruwell and her students story became a movie called Freedom Writers.
This woman had it rough. I couldn't imagine working at a school like that. This story reminds me of the movie Dangerous Minds. I would have loved to have a teacher like this. When teachers go above and beyond for their students it always leaves a positive impact on the child. The fact that she worked a part time job to fund field trips is amazing to me. I would love to study under this woman for a semester.
DeleteMrs. Gruwell sounds like a very dedicated teacher. I have heard of the Freedom Writers but did not know anything about them. Now I want to learn more.
DeleteVanessa,
DeleteInclude a few of their presentations or articles that you can find online. Also, contact Ms. Gruwell (should be easy since she is working at a University) and ask her to give you some advice since that is the area you would like to eventually work in. I know at one time some of her students traveled with her. See if you can find info on one or two to see where they are today.
Finally, where did you find this information?
For over 20 years, Salome Thomas-EL has had the absolute belief that every child can and will learn as long as adults in their world care enough to not give up. Salome Thomas-EL was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has been a teacher in the Philadelphia School District since 1987. He received national acclaim as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School. His students achieved recognition as Eight-Time National Chess Champions.
ReplyDeleteSalome Thomas-EL is a graduate of East Stroudsburg University. He also studied in Cambridge and London, England. He currently holds an Honorary Doctorate from Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. Thomas-EL received the Marcus A. Foster Award as the outstanding School District Administrator in Philadelphia as well as the Martin Luther King Award from the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas-EL speaks to groups across the country and often appears on, The O'Reilly Factor, C-SPAN, The Tavis Smiley Show, CNN and NPR Radio. He was recently featured in Reader's Digest and Black Enterprise Magazine.
He began his career as a teacher and chess coach at Vaux Middle School. Through his years as principal at several traditional public and charter schools, Thomas-EL transformed the attitudes and strategies of school staff, parents, and members of the community to help hundreds of troubled children not only graduate from high school but also go on to earn higher degrees from major colleges and universities. He brings to the process a powerful combination of passion, caring, and leadership to craft a refreshing, commonsense roadmap to help kids achieve their dreams, no matter the odds.
He is currently the Head of School at Thomas Edison Charter School in Wilmington and a doctoral candidate. He was a regular contributor on the first season of The Dr. Oz Show and is the author of the best-selling books, I Choose to Stay, about his Vaux Middle School experience, and The Immortality of Influence (foreword by Will Smith), which stresses the importance of leadership, mentoring, parenting, and service to others.
I found a quote, of his, that I absolutely loved “Every child needs someone to be crazy about them.” Salome Thomas-EL committed his life to answering the question, “How do we ensure that every child achieves their greatest potential?” Central to this challenge is how we succeed with children who are facing the most serious barriers to success: poverty, violence, neglect, and low expectations.
http://aalbc.com/authors/salome_thomas-el.htm
http://www.apbspeakers.com/resources/speakerpdf/1002459.pdf
This sounds like a very interesting person. You have piqued my interest enough to read more. I am especially intrigued by the role chess plays in his teaching. Since I have read about the benefits of learning to play chess, I have been committed to teaching chess in my classroom. I have seen the difference it has made in my life/family. I love the quote! Thank you for sharing it!
DeleteI had the priviledge of hearing him in person a few years ago (actually at a program I use to take AAMU teacher candidates to)-he was so motivational. His story is one that help you to remember that teachers really do make a difference.
DeletePlease contact him--tell him who you are and that wanted to know more about him and his school. Additionally, he was a keynote speaker at one of The Leader in Me Symposiums you might ask about his involvment with Covey as well.
Anne Sullivan, in my opinion, is most definitely one of the greatest teachers of all time. Before now I never Anne's backstory all I knew was that she helped Hellen Keller to become a remarkable woman. Now I see that, Anne was able to do so because she was a remarkable woman herself. Dealing with the problems that she had as a child is difficult in itself. I couldn't fathom doing it in the late 1880s. Through abandonment, death, disease, and lack of eyesight Anne emerged as a valedictorian, that is amazing.
ReplyDeleteMuch like Anne I hope that I can apply my experiences into my classroom. I want to be the teacher that students positively remember forever.
How very cool that you have mentioned Anne Sullivan. I, too, admire her greatly. Until I read more about Helen Keller, I never understood the role that Anne played in making Helen a success. How devoted a teacher! Thanks for mentioning her here. She was indeed a remarkable woman. The two of them accomplished a great work.
Deleteshe is a strong woman
DeleteMarva Collins is an educator who in 1975 started Westside Preparatory School in Garfield Park, an impoverished neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. She ran the school for over 30 years until it closed in 2008 due to lack of sufficient enrollment and funding. She is famous for applying classical education successfully with impoverishes students, many of whom had been wrongly labeled as learning disabled by public schools. She once wrote, "I have discovered few learning disabled students in my three decades of teaching. I have, however, discovered many, many victims of teaching inabilities.
ReplyDeleteMarva Collins uses the Socratic method, modified for use in primary school. The first step is to select material with abstract content to challenge students' logic, and that will therefore have different meaning to different students, in order to aid discussion. This is done specifically to teach children to reason. Next, the teacher should read the material, because unknown material cannot be taught. New words, the words to watch, should be listed, and taught, for pronunciation, use and spelling before the material is read. Without this step, the reading is meaningless.Next, one begins a series of pertinent questions as the reading progresses, starting with a reference to the title, and a question about what the material is about. Predictions should use logic, reasoning and evidence without fallacy. The reading must be out loud, so the teacher can ask questions at pertinent points. Students are taught to test their reasoning. Afterward, they write daily letters to the author or characters, and write a critical review. Why is the work important to them? The child must be taught to refer to what was previously learned to support their opinions.
In the Socratic method, the rate of information is controlled by the teacher. Properly paced, this encourages participation, reducing discipline issues and encouraging self-discipline. The program specifically avoids work-sheets and inane busy work. It establishes an intellectual atmosphere, a general attitude suspending judgment, and examining reasoning.
Marva Collins created her low cost private school specifically for the purpose of teaching low income African American children whom the Chicago public school system had labeled as being "learning disabled. One article about Marva Collins' school stated, "Working with students having the worst of backgrounds, those who were working far below grade level, and even those who had been labeled as 'unteachable,' Marva was able to overcome the obstacles. News of third grade students reading at ninth grade level, four-year-olds learning to read in only a few months, outstanding test scores, disappearance of behavioral problems, second-graders studying Shakespeare, and other incredible reports, astounded the public.During the 2006-2007 school year, Collins' school charged $5,500 for tuition, and parents said the school did a much better job than the Chicago public school system.Meanwhile, during the 2007-2008 year, Chicago public school officials claimed that their budget of $11,300 per student was not enough.
I don't understand you last statement. Ms. Collins is still living and I would like for you to contact her (through email) to get a first hand look into her school and what she did to change the lives of students in Chicago. She has several books-have you read any of them? What is she doing now? Where did you get your information?
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ReplyDeleteTo write a proper reaction to the speech and how it relates to me as a teacher one must look at her story and how it relates to me because we have some parallels in life.
ReplyDeleteLike Anne Sullivan I suffered my share of hard knocks. My life struggles didn't compare to hers but it is parallel. I was blindsided with divorce, illness and loss of employment in all the same year. Later on I found myself living in my car for about a year.Begging or digging through the trash for food or something I could use but that was not the worst for me. The worst moment in my life was when I went to church during that period. I never missed church. I went to that church for years. To save money I would bathe once every two weeks. That day at church I needed to go. I was heading for my favorite spot to sit on in the pews. They, the church deacons, met me at the doors of the sanctuary. I guess they smelled me coming. I went there for about 7 years. they asked me to leave because I may make the other members uncomfortable, not that I did because no one showed up yet. I was 40 minutes early. What could a man do? I left.
So, I understand Anne's back round. We both were rejected by our so called family. Her family was biological and my family was from the church. I know the feeling when the teachers rejected her, because i was. It's a shame that teachers aren't understanding and or have any compassion of a student. It was very similar of the Christians not understanding or having compassion of another human being. Both groups are suppose to do so but they refused.Despite her obstacles and her Nay Sayers, she succeeded. I will do the same.
In her speech its not about success for herself , it is about others . Like her, I want to make sure no one else suffered like me. She believes through the education, society will progress. What does progress mean? It could be numerous of things such as Science and Technology. For others, it could be in the realm of humanity such as the acceptance of other people who are different or feeding the hungry and the protection of the weak, while eradicating evil. What ever progress is it has start by having a compassionate teacher.
William,
DeleteWOW--- I read and reread your response. You have so much to give your students. I hope you will work in a situation where the students who serve have their backs against the wall and they feel like they can't make it. THEN share your story and how you DID!!!!!!!
On another note, sometimes teachers DON'T know-which reminds me of Dr. Peters describing that personal relationship that is needed. I am also saddened to hear the response from the church, but it reminds me of a Shirley Ceasar song when the deacons ask a gentlemen to stop "shouting and making so much noise". He just asked them to hold his mule right then and there in order to give God the praise. I encourage you to praise God NOW for what He is going to do through you as a teacher. Your test has become your testimony!!!!!
Through all your hard times i'm glad that you never gave up and that you kept trusting in God. Sometimes we have to go through somethings in life and we don't understand why but i do believe that God never gives us more than we can handle. By you going through what you have been through you'll be able to reach some people that others can't simply because they can't relate to what that person is going through. My grandmother always said how can you help somebody if you ain't never been through nothing. I'm glad you made it through your hardships and may God continue to bless you on your journey through out your life.
DeleteDr. Steve Perry believes that success in life is determined by where you end, not where you start. He was inspired by his childhood of poverty, to provide all children the opportunity for success in their life and education.
ReplyDeleteBefore the age of 26, Perry’s career has gone from directing a small local organization in Chester, Pa to a full scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania School Of Social Work. After this he returned to his hometown of Middletown CT where he ran a homeless shelter. During this time he became a candidate for state representative. He has also authored 4 books.
In 1998 Dr. Perry founded ConnCAP, the Connecticut Collegiate Awareness Program, at Capital Community College. The program sent low-income first-generation graduates to college. In 2004, Dr. Perry established Capital Preparatory Magnet School, which has sent 100% of its graduates to four year college. Capital Prep has been recognized by US News and World News as one of America’s Best High Schools. This recognition has been due to Dr. Perry’s uncompromising, no-excuses approach to designing the ideal education experience for children.
Dr. Perry is also going to be a part of a new television show Save My Son. Each week their will be an intervention will take place in the lives of young black males. He will use this opportunity to provide other outlets for these youth to experience success.
Dr. Perry strongly believes in personal responsibility and longs to instill the desire for today’s youth to give back to their community.
http://tvone.tv/shows/save-my-son/inside-the-show/dr--steve-perry.html
http://premierespeakers.com/steve_perry
http://www.teachersofcolor.com/2009/10/dr-steve-perry-interview/
http://www.tvoneonline.com/shows/save-my-son/inside-the-show.html
http://www.aeispeakers.com/print.php?SpeakerID=2153
April, Like Jameon's teacher I heard Dr. Perry at a conference in May (International Reading Association). However, I was first introduced to his book "When Push has Come to Shove" by a former student Spring 2012. We tried to get him to come to AAMU but could not negotiate an affordable price :(. I would like for you to contact him (by email) to see if you can get a response. Ask a few questions about his magnet school and upcoming tv show (which channel in HSV?) and post on the blog. I will need to watch that show.
DeleteI am a first-generation college graduate. I think it is important to support students that want to go to college but can not afford to go.
DeleteDr. Alexander I am sad to report that the Dr. Perry’s show Save my Son ended on November 14th. It first aired on September 26th which followed with eight weekly episodes. The show was created for the TvONE channel. On the bright side, you can watch full episodes on the TvONE website. Sorry for the confusion. I will attach the link for the website below. After learning more about Dr. Steve Perry and watching an episode of Save my Son, I am so hopeful that he will answer my email.
Deletehttp://www.tvoneonline.com/shows/save-my-son.html
WANTED: TEACHERS/TEACHERS CANDIDATES. 5TH GRADE POSITION OPENING SOON AT HOBART BLVD. ELEM. SCHOOL, LOS ANGELES-CALIFORNIA. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR SELF & STUDENTS; BELIEVE IN STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING; TEACH ALL SUBJECTS EVERYDAY INCLUDING ONES NOT “COVERED” BY ANY OFFICIAL TESTING; SPONSOR FIELD TRIPS ACROSS TOWN AND ACROSS THE NATION; BE WILLING TO WORK MON-SAT 6A-6P IN A YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT; & NOT BE AFRAID OF VIOLENCE/GANGS. A PASSION FOR BASEBALL, ROCK MUSIC, & SHAKESPEARE IS NECESSARY. CLASS MUSICAL PRODUCTIONS OF SHAKESPEARE ARE PERFORMED EVERY YEAR IN A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY. CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE TEACHING CHARACTER, ETHICS, AND MORAL CONDUCT USING LAWRENCE KOHLBERG’S SIX LEVELS OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. APPLICANTS MAY EXPECT TO WORK WITH AN ENTIRE CLASS OF ELLs. IF YOUR PHILOSOPHY INCLUDES HANDS-ON LEARNING, DEVELOPING TRUST FIRST AND FOREMOST, LOGICAL DISCIPLINE, AND THE BELIEF THAT ALL STUDENTS DESERVE A SAFE NURTURING PLACE OF LEARNING LIFE-LESSONS PLUS ACADEMICS, PLEASE APPLY. ONLY THOSE WHO CAN MODEL OUTSTANDING CARING AND TEACHING NEED APPLY. INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONSULT THE BOOK TEACH LIKE YOUR HAIR IS ON FIRE BY RAFE ESQUITH FOR MORE DETAILS.
ReplyDeleteI have another post coming! Just wanted to whet your appetite!
DeleteRafe Esquith has taught Fifth Grade at Hobart Boulevard Elementary School in Los Angeles, California since 1984. Although he has received numerous awards and honors from associations, organizations, and dignitaries, his commitment first and foremost is to his students. (Among his awards are National Teacher of the Year and the only teacher awarded the President’s National Medal of the Arts. Queen Elizabeth also made him a Member of the Order of the British Empire.) His typical work day starts at 6 am when his students, mostly first-generation immigrants from Central America and Korea, voluntarily come to school to work on projects and play music. He does not “teach to the test” because his personal standard is to provide his students with the education and skills they will need to be successful in life, not just for the test. He is always interested in quality teaching-not quantity teaching so he helps his students until they master the skill. And yet, he covers all national-, state-, and district-required material and his students are in the top 1% of achievers on mandated tests. His school is riddled with violence, gangs, and vandalism. Police are on campus multiple times each week but Rafe creates a safe shelter inside Room 56. He firmly believes in trust and self-discipline. He uses Lawrence Kohlberg’s Six Levels of Moral Development to instill moral character. His physical classroom is about 25x30 feet and encompasses a stage with professional sound and lighting. His students perform a different play by Shakespeare every year and incorporate rock musical numbers, performed by the Fifth Graders, into the play. The students will perform Shakespeare in the classroom, nationally and internationally. Rafe teaches classical guitar during recess and rock guitar during lunch for any students wanting to learn. He has also paid from his own pocket for students to receive musical instruction in drums and keyboards. These students in turn have taught the younger students the next year. Throughout the year, Rafe takes his students to places of historical significance, such as Washington DC. All his students have the opportunity to attend even though 90% of his students live below the poverty level. Rafe and generous sponsors pay for all the expenses. The students prepare by learning about the places they will visit and their significance. (You really should read about his field trips from his book, Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire! WOW!) Former students to Room 56 continue to return to Room 56 after the Fifth Grade. A special program on Saturdays helps them to learn Shakespeare, prepare for college entrance exams, and, if they are committed to time and grades, tour about 25 colleges per year-all expenses paid. Rafe not only tells his students they can obtain college educations, he shows them the schools and provides the framework for making this happen. Every Dec 24th, Room 56 and many former Hobart Shakespearians perform for and feed the homeless. Other points of interest in Rafe’s teaching include how he teaches economics/money-handling skills to his students and his Film Club. I would recommend reading Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire by Rafe Esquith. I cannot adequate summarize it here. The scope of his teaching is amazing!
ReplyDeleteTo view three short videos of Rafe speaking about the role of teachers; the six levels of moral development, and teaching kids the value of money and ownership, go to this link: http://www.thelavinagency.com/blog-rafe-esquith-ted-2012-students-do-the-talking.html
“Rafe’s teaching methods in his own words: ‘Through a rigorous curriculum, but also an immersion into the arts, these children internalize a set of values that they will use forever…. A classroom shouldn’t be about a teacher talking, it should be about students doing...They don’t play virtual baseball, they play baseball. They don’t play Guitar Hero and Rock Band. They play the guitar and they are a rock band. They don’t take a test on Hamlet, they act it.’ ” http://www.thelavinagency.com/blog-rafe-esquith-ted-2012-students-do-the-talking.html
I thought it was interesting that he incorporates rock music into the Shakespeare plays. I think this would make the plays more interesting and help the students connect it to modern times.
Deletehttp://www.ronclarkacademy.com/
ReplyDeleteRon Clark is known as “America’s Educator”. Oprah Winfrey named him as her first "Phenomenal Man” and he won Disney’s American Teacher of the Year in 2000. His books The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child, The Excellent 11: Qualities Teachers and Parents Use to Motivate, Inspire, and Educate Children, The End of Molasses Classes and 101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers have hit the New York Times bestselling list. He taught for five years in North Carolina and then decided to move to Harlem because he was convinced that he could make a difference. The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry is the story of his first year at the school in Harlem and his triumphs. The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia is his dream come true. Not only does he teach students there he also teaches teachers how to be innovative and energetic.
http://premierespeakers.com/ron_clark/video/17522
Ron Clark spoke at the Holmes Hunter Lecture where he discussed how he was inspired to teach in Harlem, New York and how his southern upbringing helped him change the students there. He is very energetic and passionate. He wants his students to have fun and have discipline. One of the most important things to Ron is respect and he feels that this is the basis to succeeding in life. In this video some of his students sing a song about the presidential election that received national attention. He also talks about the importance of learning about the different races. He takes his students on trips around the world to learn about other cultures.
Clark, R. (2012). Ron Clark, “America’s Educator,” tapped for featured keynote at second general session. Reading Today, 29(5) 16-17.
In this article Ron Clark talks about his book The End of Molasses Classes and the Ron Clark Academy. He explains that he has visited many schools and that he is saddened by the fact that teachers have low expectations. His school the Ron Clark Academy strives to challenge every student. They do not focus on obtaining high test scores it just happens.
Just watching his videos makes you want to try harder and makes you want to smile. Unfortunately I was not able to watch the movie. If anyone has a copy of it please let me know.
I hope like Ron Clark my dreams will come true someday.Mr. Clark has his own Academy but i hope to have my own group home someday that will greatly impact some youths lives. I like that he teaches his students about culture.
DeleteDana,
DeleteRon Clark is doing phenomenal things in Atlanta. I was at his Academy in October. Please find more up to date info on his school. Share/post a video from him teaching, lecturing or his students involved in learning project. Email Mr. Clark and see what you can find out.
http://www.chasingthefrog.com/reelfaces/freedomwriters.php
ReplyDeletehttp://www.myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=e_gruwell
These are my resources for my information on Mrs. Gruwell
This is some information that Dr.A asked me to find about the freedom writers. I have found information on two of the freedom writers and what they are doing today.
ReplyDeleteMaria Reyes
Maria Reyes was born in East Los Angeles and moved to Long Beach when she was in elementary school. Maria came from a family with a strong gang heritage—both her father and grandfather were leaders of gangs. When she turned eleven, Maria was jumped into a gang, and was in and out of juvenile detention centers for the next few years.
When she was given the choice to stay in a detention center or go to school, Maria chose to enroll at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. At Wilson , Maria was placed in Erin Gruwell’s English class where she became an original Freedom Writer. In Ms. Gruwell’s class, Maria wrote about her experiences when she and her fellow Freedom Writers began writing in diaries that were later compiled and published under the title The Freedom Writers Diary. Since then, Maria has traveled across the country speaking to teachers, administrators, at-risk youth, and community leaders about the power of education and the need for educators to give students a second chance. She has also appeared on PrimeTime Live with Connie Chung, and the Rosie O’Donnell Show as a spokesperson for the Freedom Writers. Maria earned her Bachelor’s Degree from California State University Long Beach in 2005.
https://www.bushnell.org/index.cgi/23349
Sharaud D. Moore
Freedom Writer
In the tenth grade, Sharaud was expelled from school for carrying a gun to class, and sent to Wilson High School where he was enrolled in Erin Gruwell's English class. Sharaud hated school, and only attended because he enjoyed playing football there. Sharaud continued to be a constant burden in the classroom, until he became the victim of a vicious prank in which a classmate drew a racist caricature of him. The experience sparked the Freedom Writers movement and changed Sharaud's views on education and the world around him.
Sharaud has traveled across the country speaking to audiences about the power of education and his triumph overcoming obstacles. Sharaud earned his Bachelor's Degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa in 2000. In 2007 Sharaud's story was highlighted in Paramount Studios' film, Freedom Writers. Sharaud is currently an algebra teacher and coach at one of the schools he was once expelled from.
http://www.grandview.edu/aspx/news/news.aspx?newsid=532
Vanessa,
DeleteThis is great information. Glad I stretched you to did deeper. Thanks for sharing.
Reading about Anne Sullivan in this book has made me want to be a better person and do better. If Anne could be the great person she was with all that she went through then i feel i have no excuse why i can't do better in my life. I have a burning passion to help others and i have just realized that in order to help others to the best of my ability then i need to go back to what i do best. Reading about Anne has made me realize what i'm good at and i plan to take what i'm good at and do my little part to help the world be better, wiser, and happier. For the last couple of years i have been trying to find myself and find what i'm good at when all along it was right in front of my face. I hope as i go out into the world that i never ever lose my burning passion to help others and that i will always get great joy out of helping others. As i journey through life i hope i can be as good of a person as Anne was and touch many peoples lives in a positive way.
ReplyDeleteVanessa - There are NO DOUBTS in my mind that you will DEFINITELY achieve whatever you set your heart to accomplish! Some day I'm sure we will be reading/studying about your innovative group home and how it is saving young people from destruction! Stay strong to your dreams and your passion. You are a tremendous person with much to offer!
DeleteDitto--Vanessa you have overcome so much already. I am convinced that you will succeed and you will be a great role model to those who come behind you.
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