Loved it!!!
I was relieved to see how much she struggled, and also how much she accomplished in spite of the struggles.
It’s also Esme’s nickname. I will also say that I have read more inspiring books written by teachers such as Phillip Done. Dominique Book Review Classroom management, Educators, Teacher. She initially describes such planning perfection, such creativity, such receptiveness from the students that I was caught off guard when she started delving into the realities of working in an under-resourced urban public school. I would love to see a teacher like this work with our kids! It took me one small sitting to read, and while a few good ideas and lessons may be found only if you can tolerate this annoying woman and childlike read! The tips are very useful!I really enjoyed the forward and aftword. She has heart and creativity and strength. by Esme Raji Codell. By turns creative, silly, tough and loving towards her 31 fifth grade students, Esme's year-long journal was both gutwrenching and inspiring.
She wins awards, comes up with the "best" bullentin boards puts on "amazing events and plays" "i know the older teachers are going to say my room is over-stimulating but my room is the best " "i would want my kid to be in this classroom" .My room is AWESOME! She initially describes such planning perfection, such creativity, such receptiveness from the students that I was caught off guard when she started delving into the realities of working in an under-resourced urban public school. I'd turn around and ask them, "How much do Esmé Codell’s first teaching job was as a 5th grade teacher in one of Chicago’s poorest schools.
by Penguin Group (USA)
(I feel so guilty when I toot my own horn, but sometimes, we just need it.
She has been a keynote speaker for the International Reading Association and the American Library Association, a “virtual” keynote for the National Education Association’s “Stay Afloat!” online conference for first-year teachers, and a featured speaker at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. Confronting physical and emotional abuse, she manages to also babysit (for the day) a 2 year old sibling, move furniture for her nosy assistant principal, and endure years of micromanagement and belittling comments fAn unflinching peek into an inner-city teacher's first year in teaching, Madame Esme' spares nothing in showing the reader her inner sanctum. I think that Codell is a great writer.
I found myself relating to Esme on many levels, remembering experiences that I have had in the classroom. I liked this book a lot, because I enjoyed living through the dreaded first year teaching with someone else.
She taught fifth grade.While reading I thought at first how is she going to teach a bunch of kids with bad attitudes.
The author is constantly putting down her principal, though some of those times are warranted, but she also refers to her colleagues as crybabies and gossips. I kept thinking "WOW! So it will be interesting to find out if they agree with me.Thank you for letting me review this book. This was probably the reason why I didn't like it.
Someone feels the same way I do and they are not afraid to express it.
Since this is, essentially, her journal, it details Esme’s trials as well as her triumphs. However, something kept telling me I needed to pick this book up again and I'm so glad I did because it was perfect for now and it helped me look at my position at work a little differently!! It's interesting to read these books together, because you see how "Sahara Special" is very much based on Codell's experience as a fifth grade teacher (Miss Pointy is pretty much an exact replica of Madame Esme). Her struggles are real, similar to ones I also deal with on a regular basis. Great (and fast!) Could I do that? I left an abusive job for a dispassionate one." She teaches for the children and never loses sight of that. Is it the mothers with their lemonade smiles, employed husbands, and tantrums when their children get C's? I just could never bring myself to do that, not in this day in age when no one can find a steady teaching job and just looking at your principal wrong can get your ass fired. It made me feel better, because I know I'm going to mess up a lot too. Guess how?
Start by marking “Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year” as Want to Read: I had a hard time putting it down.