Last year, Penguin Random House U.S. launched the “Anne Frank Award for Teaching Memoir” in partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Anne Frank Fonds Basel. The program is designed to support educators in using memoir as a powerful tool to strengthen students’ writing skills, empathy, and historical understanding across U.S. classrooms. Anne Frank Fonds Basel is best known for its role in publishing Anne Frank’s renowned memoir “The Diary of a Young Girl.” The first ten teachers have now been selected to receive the “Anne Frank Award for Teaching Memoir.” Each award includes a $1,000 grant to support classroom instruction, with a particular focus on children’s voices and experiences during times of war.
‘Their work is shaping a generation’
“Through their teaching, these incredible educators are helping students connect more meaningfully with both history and their own voices,” said Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House. “Their work is shaping a generation of thoughtful, empathetic readers and writers.” The award recipients were selected by a jury comprising teachers appointed by NCTE, along with one representative each from Penguin Random House Education and Anne Frank Fonds Basel. “English language arts teachers recognize the unique value of memoir – and youth memoir in particular – to build students’ writing and reading skills,” said Emily Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of NCTE. “The applicants spanning every state in the country represent the ingenuity and dedication held by English language arts teachers.”
The award winners teach at middle schools, secondary schools, and colleges across nine U.S. states. The grant funding supports educators as they integrate new memoirs, book sets, writing projects, and other distinctive learning experiences into their curricula. In one example, eighth-grade students will deepen their literary analysis through close reading of newly acquired memoirs, create multimodal compositions in print and audio formats, and present their work at a community event. Elsewhere, an eleventh- and twelfth-grade course will enable students to learn directly from professional writers while developing personal essays for publication in the school’s literary magazine. On a college campus, first-year students – including veterans and students with military backgrounds – will write anonymous memoir reflections on life in war-torn countries before taking part in immersive educational experiences focused on war.
‘Educating about the harsh realities of the present’
“NCTE and Penguin Random House’s commitment to empowering young people through literary programs is an important element in educating them about the harsh realities of the present and giving young voices a platform to strengthen peaceful coexistence, including by addressing lessons learned from the past,” said Yves Kugelmann of the Board of Anne Frank Fonds Basel.
