Rating: 
Summary: It is a Must Read
Review: I feel Educating Esme is a must read for future teachers, new teachers, and old teachers alike. Since this book is written in the form of a diary it is a day by day encounter that creates a constant picture of what is occurring during Esme's first year of teaching. Esme shares with the reader some of her creative ideas such as: a reading time machine, the trouble basket, and a talking stone. She also explains some of the power struggles she encounters with the principal, Mr. Turner and some of the other older experienced teachers. Besides that she also shares issues that are dealt with on a daily basis in the classroom. I personally would not recommend this book if you are looking for a scientific read, but if you want a good laugh and some cute ideas for the classroom then this is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Educating Esme: Educating Me
Review: Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year, by Esme Codell, is a book fulfilling its title. It provides a thoughtful witness to the experiences of a first year teacher thus providing a valuable reference for those ready to enter the field of education, or those contemplating a career in education. As a result, Educating Esme creates an atmosphere in which many of us can relate. Codell's reactions, both positive and negative, prove how a job can become a lifestyle-a specific way of thinking. Written in a journal format, Codell is able to convincingly write about her successes in her classroom and her disappointment as a teacher. She validates some of her successes when she acknowledges the achievements of her students after state testing.
Time after time, Codell is concerned with her students. She brings them into her home, supplements classroom items wither her own money, and puts many hours into the events and activities in which her students benefit. I am discouraged that administration can stand in the way of such a creative spirit and can dampen such an outlook to the point of leaving the teaching field. I believe that many will benefit from her literature; however I feel saddened that countless students will not benefit from such a caring teacher. Despite the dismal outlook Codell expresses at times, her overall cheerful manner makes her private story an enjoyable read!
Rating:
Summary: Educating Esme is perfect
Review: Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year is the best book I have ever read. When I came to the end, I cried because it was over. Esme Codell is a defiant, tell-it-like-it-is, awe-inspiring, creative and brilliant first year teacher in an inner-city classroom of Chicago and gives her first-hand account of the ups and downs of her fifth grade class. The book is heartwarming and hearbreaking, laugh-out-loud funny and bring tears to your eyes sad, and above all else - inspiring. From someone who is currently applying for her first teaching position, I loved every word Esme put into her diary. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not GREAT!
Review: Educating Esmé by Esmé Raji Codell is a diary of the author's trials and tribulations during her first year teaching. She learns that sometimes everyone doesn't like "her" way of doing things in this inner city Chicago school. She never gives up though, due to her extraordinary will to succeed. Madame Esmé, as she likes to be called, talks as though she is the only teacher in the school. She writes about being the only one in her school that really cares about the students, and she is the lone one who tries to connect with them.
This book was good, but not great. I wouldn't read it again, and I would only recommend it to someone going into teaching. I believe that I wasn't too interested in it merely because I'm not into teaching. This book is full of details, but none seem to go anywhere. Nothing eventful happens in this book that makes readers want to keep going to find out what happens next; every event is predictable. Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience, but would not read this book again.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and Wonderful!!
Review: As a newer teacher/librarian (two years) to the world of education, I found this book to be one of the best I have ever read. I lauged, I cried and I didn't want the book to end. After reading the negative reviews, I must wonder and think that you one star readers sound as if you have lost the excitement and tenacity one has when entering the profession. It makes me a bit depressed to think I might one day carry around this heavy burden of negativity. If one day I become so negative and close-minded then it is time to be done. I certainly know of your type and pity you. Sweathearts, this is real life... open your eyes. It is sad, but gone are the days of Dick, Jane and Spot. I have found wonderful ideas to use from her book. I read The Hundred Dresses by lamplight and continue to read by lamplight with the children surrounding me. Of course the older teachers raise their eyebrows at me..who cares!!! The students love it, I love it and we have tremendous, intense and stimulating conversations about the whatever book we are reading. Madame Esme you are so inspiring. I wish I could have been your student!
Rating:
Summary: Educating Esme is perfect
Review: Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year is one of the best books I have ever read. When I came to the end, I cried because it was over. Esme Codell is a defiant, tell-it-like-it-is, awe-inspiring, creative and brilliant first year teacher in an inner-city classroom of Chicago and gives her first-hand account of the ups and downs of her fifth grade class. The book is heartwarming and heartbreaking, laugh out loud funny and bring tears to your eyes sad, and above all else - inspiring. From someone who is currently applying for her first teaching position, I loved every word Esme put into her diary. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: Like being in the teacher's lounge
Review: Of course this book is self-absorbed, it's a diary, not a how-to book. When I read it, I wasn't under the impression that it was written to tell other teachers how to teach, it was written to share her experience. I heard Esme speak in person and she said the diary was unabridged and that she herself knew she didn't come off that well, but if she changed it around it would't be a real diary anymore. She published it to serve as a battle cry to help other teachers value their own anecdotes and start a dialogue about what works and doesn't work in education. I appreciated the the honesty of the voice, she was either brave or crazy to publish it. Use this book to look inside one inner-city classroom, and into one teacher's soul. Those people who criticize this book for not being something that it never proported to be, like Harry Wong's The First Days of School, are unfair. Don't read this if you are looking for someone to tell you what to do. Even if you don't find much pretention or insight, you're bound to laugh a lot, and I mean A LOT. What teacher couldn't use a dose of that?
Rating:
Summary: spunk is good medicine
Review: I picked up Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year and was enthralled. I am also a teacher -- this will be my 26th year and reading this book was like reliving my own first rollercoaster year. It was great to be reminded that a sense of humor is the best antidote to woes ( and there will always be a multitude.) This book is a winner in that it reminds us to honor the spirit of creativity, the humanity of each person and the possibilities of the human spirit. I can't figure out why anyone would not be inspired to do a better, more soulful job after seeing this young woman's artful and inspirational wrestling job that first year. I just finished reading it again -- I've got to get ready to teach soon and wanted that rush of excitement. If you are a teacher or want to be a teacher -- read this. It is reality with stars and moons and a big dollop of something that smells suspiciously like earthy verisimilitude. Breathe in and go forth! By the way, I would love to sit in that Time Machine and read - what an inspired way to make kids relove learning. (yes, relove - they forget how much fun it is too!)
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not GREAT!
Review: Educating Esmé by Esmé Raji Codell is a diary of the author's trials and tribulations during her first year teaching. She learns that sometimes everyone doesn't like "her" way of doing things in this inner city Chicago school. She never gives up though, due to her extraordinary will to succeed. Madame Esmé, as she likes to be called, talks as though she is the only teacher in the school. She writes about being the only one in her school that really cares about the students, and she is the lone one who tries to connect with them.
This book was good, but not great. I wouldn't read it again, and I would only recommend it to someone going into teaching. I believe that I wasn't too interested in it merely because I'm not into teaching. This book is full of details, but none seem to go anywhere. Nothing eventful happens in this book that makes readers want to keep going to find out what happens next; every event is predictable. Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience, but would not read this book again.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty, lacking substance
Review: Why should you read this book? It is a funny, quick read, about the ups and downs of being a first year teacher. Madame Esme has some great ideas for making her 5th grade classroom an exciting place to be a student. For those of us thinking of entering the teaching profession, she is inspiring: it is possible to be a witty, bright teacher set on doing what you feel is best for the students. We would all like to be a bit more like her, would we not? She has great ideas which she is capable of seeing through, even though she lacks support. Why should you approach this book with concern? Madame Esme, as she presents herself in her diary, shares more in common with college students than any of the professional teachers I have met. I hope she goes back into teaching and writes another book on the same subject after more becoming more mature. Afterall, what is she telling us? What are the real issues? I wish she had worried less about her name - who cares? - and more about the really important thing: teaching students in a system where all the odds are against the children within that system. While I realize that this is by no means a how-to book, I would prefer to spend my time reading from the diary of a witty professional who stayed in the system and learned from her first year.
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