I was in third year high school when I first watched that film.

And honestly, I nearly cried upon watching

that. I was touched by each student’s life story. The diversity of the students and the conflicts are
evident.

I admire Mrs. Gruwell so much. She was able to get the hearts of the students with all her efforts. At
first, I thought that the students have no future to begin with. They are rebels to their parents, they love
gang fights and the likes; but Mrs. Gruwell made them realize that there is more to life than those fights.
That losing is just a part of the battle; they should treasure their lives for their friends that had sacrificed
their life. I also admire her for being a good company to the students. They were able to express
themselves through the help of their teacher. They became comfortable with each other and found
family within themselves.

Putting myself in the shoes of Mrs. Gruwell, I think I would feel the same on the start of my job. Students
disrespecting teachers is a sign of improper education. I want to help the students but the
administrators are not willing to do so. Trying to help is a way to show that you care, in the case of the
administrators; I’m disappointed that they don’t even care towards their students. Like what Eva said,
“Everybody thinks you should be happy because you’re young. They don’t see the wars that we fight
every single day.” They are students who are undergoing many circumstances and our role is to guide
them and bring them back to the right path.

In the end, I realized that teaching is not an easy job. Let’s face it, after getting your degree, you need to
swim to the reality that students are not the same as before, students now are uncontrollable and
gaining their respect is quite hard. We, teacher, should find a way to get to their hearts and let them see
the path that they should take for a better future.

Davin, Queenie Joy J. BSED 2 4:30-5:30 MWFREFLECTION FOR EDUC 2A

“FREEDOM WRITERS”

“Nobody ever listens to a teenager. Everyone thinks we should be happy

since we are still young, but nobody

knows the battles we go through everyday”

I watched the movie entitled “Freedom Writers”. "Freedom Writers" tells the tale of an extraordinary
high school class who, by learning about World War II, broke a cycle of violence and failure in their inner
city.It shows how one teacher transcended deep-rooted prejudice and a struggling education system
with reading,writing, energy and genuine faith in her students. Picture an anonymous segment of 90s
American urban sprawl.Homicide rates soar. High school kids bus in from surrounding ghettos where
many expect to die in gang-related conflict before graduation. But something very unusual happens: a
new teacher inspires them to take pleasure in learning. And in living. She does this by introducing them
to history and the joy of reading - not justthe mechanics of it, which is a struggle for some - but also the
art of writing and the intense impact of creativelyexpressing their experiences, and their soul. Today,
"Ms. G's kids" are in college and have jobs they'd neverdared to dream about. They've published a book,
traveled the world and brought members of Congress to tearsand a standing ovation. Their journey from
despair to hope lies at the heart of this personal and national dramaand is the central theme of our film.
It was one of my very inspiring movies I ever watched in my whole life. Atfirst I am confused of what
would be the perfect movie I will chose, a movie that can relate my experiences.God gives me wisdom
to choose the right one. Indeed I followed my heart.I watched the movie at room M43 under PROEM
privilege. They have complete instructional mediaused. But I am not comfortable in the area. It was very
hot overloaded area. As a future educator someday, ifyou will conduct a film showing the instructional
media should be complete and the area must be comfortablewith. In order that they can focus and get a
moral lessons of what the movie wanted to impart to the viewers.Laptop, Speakers, Projector, and DLP
are some of instructional media that you can say it is complete. How wecan use this? We can use this by
giving them moral lessons about the movie and as guided tools to make yourstudents more
knowledgeable in other areas. For instance the students would be able to wide their mind andheart
open up new things in their learnings. With the help of instructional media, different interpretations
amongteachers can be avoided and can reduce the information gap between students wherever
located. The learning process becomes more clear and interesting and becomes more
interactive.Wishing that there should be more teachers like Mrs. Gruwell, the determination and the will
to teach nomatter what the atmosphere of the classroom is or the attitude of the students. It is really
difficult to handlestudents with different personalities. I liked Mrs. Gruwell, she never gave up and even
got divorced but neverlet down her students that really needed her. Eva changed her attitude from
protecting her own doing inaccordance of right. She chose to change his gang life in the streets to saying
sorry and going back home withhis mother.Just like these kids made a really important transformation
of their lives

, who don’t have nothing. T

hey startedhaving hope and realized that no matter how difficult life is there is always hope. The
teachers can learn that nomatter what is their situation in the classroom they are the ones that are
capable of making a change. They justhave to believe in themselves first and then do whatever it takes
to make a difference. Teaching is a noble

profession; it’s our calling t

o make our student change or to make ourselves change. We are the one whounderstand to our
students, we are the one who can understand. We just need to make them open up with us ofwhat
problems or difficult situation they encountered.