Educating Esmé
Diary of a Teacher's First Year

This book really annoyed me. It is, as it says, the "Diary of a Teacher's First Year", and it sounds like in her first year, Madame Esme (as she insists on being called, a source of endless and essentially pointless conflict with her principal), is a really fabulous teacher. She dreams up and flawle......more

This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it for the most part. I did get a few chuckles, and I appreciated her non-traditional teaching style, but the book borders on a 200-page humble-brag. The author is constantly putting down her principal, though some of those times are warranted, but she also refer......more

This is a MUST read for teachers or anyone interested in the field of education! I loved reading this book because the author was SO honest about her feelings and her experiences. I kept thinking "WOW! Someone feels the same way I do and they are not afraid to express it." I loved her idea on page 30......more

UPDATE: The first time I read this, I was still in school. I hadn't taught in a classroom yet and I basically just believed that I wanted to be a teacher one day. Now, I am finishing my first full year of teaching 2nd grade in an inner city school. It has been equally brutal and rewarding... but mor......more

April, 2012 This novel was a required reading for my Intro. to Teaching course last semester and critiquing it against what we were learning and seeing in classrooms made me realize how difficult Esme made her life and career. I understand being out of the box and having to face challenges with stud......more