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Summary: Educating EVERYONE!
Review: Educating Esme is a fantastically funny, engaging, and sadly "real" book about teaching today. I laughed and cried as I read this fast-read book. It is a must read for all teachers and parents of elementary-aged children. Esme's realistic anecdotal records of her teaching experiences in a public school will open eyes to what is "really" happening in the schools. If you have ever wondered about public education and what teachers endure as public "servants," then read Educating Esme. You will see firsthand what teachers face on a daily basis. Scary, but true!
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Summary: Inspiring, to say the least
Review: I am a first year teacher and have found more support and inspiration in this book than any so far. It is a wonderful account of what can be done and should be done. It is a source of strength and motivation for those who teach in a unconventional way. A success story with a realistic approach that with lift your spirits and push you forward. A must have for all those who are determined to find a better way of teaching and learning.
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Summary: Hilarious...
Review: Just a couple of words about this book...It was funny all the way through. Kept me cracking up. Very easy to read...I read it in just a couple of hours. It will bring a smile to your heart and remind you of times you've had in the classroom!
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Summary: So It's Rough, but What's Next for Urban Public Education?
Review: In June, I completed my first year of public elementary school teaching in a setting similar to Esme's, that of the South Bronx. Each situation she mentioned was one I encountered at least once. From breaking up fights to creative maladjustment, her book describes the hallmarks of public, inner-city education in the early 21st century. Although her deep love for her students shines through on every page, Esme is not forthright in revealing her deepest feelings about her job. She addresses the almost stereotypical fear of being shot by a student, and she repeatedly mentions her micro-managing administration. However, Esme offers little in the way of a solution ... little in the way of hope. The crux of her story is that creative, gutsy, gifted teachers pave the path to high student achievement. (I agree.) However, who will change the systems that are in place so that these one-of-a-kind leaders won't leave our inner-city schools in droves (like Esme did)? Who will advocate creativity and trust of educators as an antedote to failure instead of formulaic curriculums and standards-based bulletin board b.s.? Admittedly, Esme's creative ideas inspired me and will find their way into my style. But Esme and I are two among tens of thousands; if we glow in our classrooms (and better yet, if we pass the torch of high achievement to our students) it is only to produce a brief and tortured glow. The most creative, gifted teachers are almost always the ones most maligned by administrators who so often are as creative as plagiarists and as gifted as the Backstreet Boys. Who could love as deeply and give as much as Esme gave for MORE than a few years? What systems are in place to nurture, support, and motivate the Esmes of the world? There isn't a SINGLE real support system to nurture creative teachers in New York City that I have found, and I imagine that is true of many urban school systems. As is evidenced in Esme's memoir, systems are in place to block any creativity and preserve failure at all costs. The Board of Education drains the creative essence out of excellent teachers. It replaces energy and enthusiasm with "alignment to standards" and color coordinated bulletin board displays. Esme -- you have motivated me and reminded me of why I started teaching. I sense in you a kindred spirit! But, alas, my own experiences led me to expect much more from the book, which turned out to be a brief, shallow trip down a lane of my own rewritten memories. We need more than memoirs. We need reform.
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Summary: Fun quick read--not a how-to book...
Review: I saw this at the airport bookstore, and picked it up for my husband. I expected a dry tome, like most of his teaching books. Well, I was wrong. I read it before he did, in about 2 hours. The pace was fast, breezy, amusing, and yet also managed to be introspective to the life of teaching. I have more insight into the effort some teachers put into creativity, and the battles they have with administration. That esme had to put up with some 1960's mentality in the 90's was surprising. The ending was a somewhat hollow wrapup, but given the whole book's slight mention of esme's personal life, that fits right in. I think her decision to leave out personal home details was conscious. I didn't feel cheated or curious about her home life, but somewhat curious about year 2 of teaching... I recommend this for teachers, friends of teachers, and parents of kids in school.
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Summary: In the eyes of a future teacher...
Review: In the eyes of a future teacher, "this book was great!" I used to volunteer at a home for boys and I saw a lot of the same problems Esme had to face. This really showed me what types of things I can do if and when I face similar situations. It also really made me want to teach in an inner city school, or at least get involved in some type of social work, so we'll see what I end up doing... It also showed me how much I can and cannot do. I can't change the world or all my students lives, but I can have a slight impact on them, and will, as Esme said, have a bit of them always...
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Summary: THE TRUTH
Review: I have to admit that I was a little jealous of Madame Esme and I also kept thinking, "Yeah, right...this couldn't work." But I also found myself inspired--not to follow her exactly, but at least to meet my days in the classroom with as much enthusiasm as possible. This book helped remind me that my first priority is the children that I teach. I thought the very last section- Graduation Day- was the most truthful and inspring section of the book. Thanks you for your honesty and your love for children, Madame Esme.
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Summary: Amazing book!!
Review: I read this book in one sitting. I am a student teacher in an inner city elementary school. I am inspired by Esme's incredible energy and fabulous ideas. This book is truely an accurate portrait of what teaching in a city is like. While reading her diary, I laughed out loud and even shed a few tears. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in teaching.
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Summary: a very entertaining read!
Review: I truly enjoyed reading this book. I am currently working on a degree in teaching, and this book was a funny, but also realistic glimpse into a new teacher's life. Anyone who has worked in a classroom can relate to some of the things the author experiences and her personal reactions. This isn't a how-to book, but nonetheless, it gave me some great ideas.
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Summary: Very entertaining
Review: This book certainly was entertaining and informative. I hear people constantly say teaching is an easy job with summers off. They should read this book; might be a big suprise. By the way, I'm not a teacher, I just respect them.
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