A very interesting account of a teacher's first year. Written in diary form; very moving. Not sappy at ALL. Very eye-opening and inspiring.

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Esme records her first year of teaching in a Chicago public school with humor. Teaching IS like this.

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Well, I've been a teacher for 2 years, and I suppose I should feel sympathetic towards her, but she seems to think everything revolves around her and expects everyone to jump in and make her goals a reality. I suppose that is what helps make someone a good teacher, but she basically just irritated me.

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Esme Raji Codell has come to teach. Fresh-mouthed and miniskirted, this irrepressible spirit does the cha-cha during multiplication lessons, roller-skates down the hallways, and puts on rousing performances with at-risk students in the library. In Educating Esme, the diary of her first year teaching in a Chicago public school, she opens a window into a real-life classroom. While battling bureaucrats, gang members, abusive parents, and her own insecurities, this gifted teacher changes her students' lives forever.

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Good story of a woman's first year teaching. Perfect for a newer teacher.

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I found this book to be very similar to the experience of my sister-in-law in a couple of the schools where she taught. Sad. Her anecdotes about the kids will break your heart. Her enthusiasm will give you hope. Quick little book well worth reading if for no other reason that to remind you what a DANG HARD job teaching is.

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TThis is a good read for first time teachers. A bib reality check, but hard to believe she got away with what she did!

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Cute, spunky, and a whole lot of attitude! "Educating Esme" is a collection of a first-year teacher's journal entries on her experiences in the classroom, with militant administrators, and uptight colleagues in an urban Chicago school district. EE is a fun and short read, even made me laugh out loud in certain passages. One important lesson I take away from this book: great teachers are passionate and creative! They don't fit into prescribed small boxes!

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Engaging read--I read it in 2 sessions. It was interesting to read about all of the different emotions that teachers experience, and I enjoyed Esme's creativity in the classroom.

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