Review: Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year

Product Description
A must-read for parents, new teachers, and classroom veterans, Educating Esmé is the exuberant diary of Esmé Raji Codell’s first year teaching in a Chicago public school. Fresh-mouthed and free-spirited, the irrepressible Madame Esmé—as she prefers to be called—does the cha-cha during multiplication tables, roller-skates down the hallways, and puts on rousing performances with at-risk students in the library. Her diary opens a window into a real-life classroom from a teacher’s perspective. While battling bureaucrats, gang members, abusive parents, and her own insecurities, this gifted young woman reveals what it takes to be an exceptional teacher.

Heroine to thousands of parents and educators, Esmé now shares more of her ingenious and yet down-to-earth approaches to the classroom in a supplementary guide to help new teachers hit the ground running. As relevant and iconoclastic as when it was first published, Educating Esmé is a classic, as is Madame Esmé herself. ~ Amazon.com

When I was given the chance to review this book I was so excited. Ever since I was a little girl I have always thought it would be wonderful to be a teacher. Scary (large groups of children ARE scary) but wonderful. I truly enjoyed reading about one woman's journey into teaching.

Educating Esme is the story of Esme Raji Codell's first year of teaching in public school. You'll read about her trials and tribulations in dealing with the principal, parents, and students. I loved how she always persevered and overcame everything that was put in front of her. You'll see how she always tried to make learning fun ~ going out of the box and doing what she felt was right for her students. At times you will want to laugh out loud ~ you may even do so. You may also want to cry ~ this is a real story and some times it can be heartbreaking. It's one of those books that make you feel as if you are there experiencing it all.

Here's what other reviewers are saying:
"the imagination and irreverent wit she brought to education makes this bristling journal well worth reading." ~ Entertainment Weekly

"This honest and spirited account...will warm your heart and sometimes break it...Codell is no ordinary teacher." ~ Chicago Tribune

"At turns entertaining, damning, and heartbreaking, the diary is a testament to the very best and worst of teaching--to the small miracles that occur in the classroom every day, as well as the deadening bureaucracies...A must-read." ~ N.E.A. Today

If you have the chance to read this book, do it. You will enjoy it so much and you might learn something in the process. ;)

*Disclaimer: For writing this review I was given a free copy of Educating Esme. The opinion is my own.