Who is Miep Gies? What does the word genocide mean? These are just some of the questions out of many that my students were curious about. I was told one week before winter break that my class would be attending the Holocaust Museum located in Skokie, Illinois. What?! We are not to teach about WWII until the spring. But it should be fine, everyone knows about the Holocaust right? To my dismay, their knowledge did not surpass Hitler killed Jewish people.
I took time over break to dive into materials, artifacts, movies, etc. There is so much material that I began to feel stressed because I only had four days to cover it all! Throughout my research, I discovered so much information that would not only be valuable to my students, but to myself. A teacher is also a student. The process of learning never ends.
Crunch time....winter break comes to an end. I must teach a large extent of sequential facts crammed into just four periods. This task actually turned out to be the best week of work I have ever had. My students were asking high level thought provoking questions, completing unassigned research out of school, and became educators in their very own homes. One of their homework assignments was to complete a KWL chart and teach someone at home about what they have learned. The person or people they taught had to sign their KWL charts. They came into the classroom thrilled because they knew more about a topic than their parents and older siblings did. For the first time, they saw something within themselves that I've been seeing for quite some time...potential. They are capable of achieving whatever they desire if they put their minds and hearts into it one hundred percent.
I had to hold back tears at the museum for all of the human beings that were tortured during his horrific time in history. My students entered with background knowledge and left knowing this event is so broad that there is still so much to learn.
So who is Miep Gies? She was a remarkable woman that passed away yesterday at the age of 100. She was known for being the one who preserved the diary of Anne Frank. She smuggled food and other necessities to Anne and her family. She was courageous, compassionate, and a true companion to those in hiding. She never wanted to be known as a hero, but yet I’ll always think of her as one.
I try to instill upon my students no matter how bad life gets to always remain positive.
I took time over break to dive into materials, artifacts, movies, etc. There is so much material that I began to feel stressed because I only had four days to cover it all! Throughout my research, I discovered so much information that would not only be valuable to my students, but to myself. A teacher is also a student. The process of learning never ends.
Crunch time....winter break comes to an end. I must teach a large extent of sequential facts crammed into just four periods. This task actually turned out to be the best week of work I have ever had. My students were asking high level thought provoking questions, completing unassigned research out of school, and became educators in their very own homes. One of their homework assignments was to complete a KWL chart and teach someone at home about what they have learned. The person or people they taught had to sign their KWL charts. They came into the classroom thrilled because they knew more about a topic than their parents and older siblings did. For the first time, they saw something within themselves that I've been seeing for quite some time...potential. They are capable of achieving whatever they desire if they put their minds and hearts into it one hundred percent.
I had to hold back tears at the museum for all of the human beings that were tortured during his horrific time in history. My students entered with background knowledge and left knowing this event is so broad that there is still so much to learn.
So who is Miep Gies? She was a remarkable woman that passed away yesterday at the age of 100. She was known for being the one who preserved the diary of Anne Frank. She smuggled food and other necessities to Anne and her family. She was courageous, compassionate, and a true companion to those in hiding. She never wanted to be known as a hero, but yet I’ll always think of her as one.
I try to instill upon my students no matter how bad life gets to always remain positive.
Empowering words of Anne Frank......
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.
Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
Thank you Miep Gies for giving us the opportunity to share this book through multiple generations. And thanks to Anne Frank for writing these words of encouragement and for teaching us to remain kind spirited individuals no matter the circumstance.
A young girl who was not able to truly experience life remained at peace. We all have problems, but don't ever let it get the best of you.
Love, H
