Educating Esme Book Review And Giveaway
I value children’s education, therefore I value teachers. After reading Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year by Esme Rajii Codell, my admiration and appreciation for teachers and their work and passion grew even more. Written in diary form, I learned why Esme became and teacher and what her actual days in the classroom were like. Make no mistake, Madame Esme is one of the most zealous teachers I’ve had the pleasure to learn about.
Madame Esme? Yes, that is what Esme expects her students to call her to the chagrin of her principal. In the Chicago public school where she taught that first year, the students were commonly beaten by their parents, hungry, and lived in poverty. Expecting anything of them was, well, unexpected. But Madame Esme held high expectations for every one of her students.
Her unique teaching techniques brought out the best in her students. She used her creativity to inspire her students to learn to love reading, to get over the hurdles they had in certain subjects or even behavioral issues and to believe in themselves.
There is humor and sadness, feelings of futility and motivation, a call to action to parents, the government and others on behalf of teachers and heart warming stories that you won’t forget, all in Educating Esme. I highly recommend this book for parents, for people considering entering teaching, novice and experienced teachers and anyone that has an interest in education in the US.
This is the expanded edition for the 10th anniversary, which includes a Foreward by Katherine Paterson, author of Bridge of Terabithia, Afterward by Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook and “Advice for Aspiring and New Elementary School Teachers”.
*There is some adult language in this book. I did not feel offended by it as this is a diary and factual book. The language was also commonly used by her students.*
*You may leave comments about this book, education, teaching, etc. even if you do not want to enter the giveaway.*
Giveaway: 1 Winner will receive a copy of this book.
The Rules:
1. Contest starts now and ends Monday Sept. 7th at midnight EST.
2. Open to US Residents only.
3. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
4. Winner has 2 days to claim prize.
5. Have fun and tell your friends.
How To Enter:
For One Entry For Each Below: (please leave a separate comment for each entry)
- Sign up for this blogs RSS feed by email. I’ll be checking!
- Leave a comment about one thing that a teacher did that made you feel more confident about yourself, or helped you in a subject you had difficulty learning. This can be about you or your child.
- Write a blog post about this contest. (let me know the link to your post)
- Leave a comment on my blog Brain Foggles (let me know which blog post please)
- Leave a comment on another post on this blog. (let me know the post please)
- Join this blogs Facebook Networked Blogs page – found on the sidebar. (leave your Facebook name please).
- Follow me, ConnieFoggles on Twitter. (leave your Twitter ID please)
- Tweet this and leave your Twitter ID please: (You may tweet this once per day. Please comment for each tweet.)
Win the book Educating Esme @ConnieFoggles Read about an awesome teacher! http://tinyurl.com/m7covr PL RT
This giveaway was sponsored by Algonquin Books. By posting this I am entered to win a gift card. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.
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Comments
It sounds like an interesting read. Teachers like her who are dedicated and creative are a gem.
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Comment by JMom This sounds like a great book. I know that creative teaching has been a blessing for you children so it is wonderful to see someone talk about it openly.
Great review!
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Comment by Stefany What an inspirational teacher story. Unfortunately, I think most of America tends to take teachers for granted and we forget to give them the kudos they deserve.
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Comment by Loretta I’ll never forget when my parents pulled me out of school in the 8th grade and the only adult who bothered to ask why a straight A student was being pulled out of school was my civics teacher. Her compassion and genuine concern not just for teaching but for her students as individuals will always stick with me.
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Comment by Christina I tweeted the giveaway! http://twitter.com/JBFTampa/status/3749617562
Comment by Christina Teachers are such an important part of our lives and those of our children and future children. I also greatly admire them for their hard work and dedication, because I know it is not always the easiest job.
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Comment by Laurie My daughter is beginning her senior year in Early Childhood Education this fall. I would love to win a copy of this book for her. Hopefully she will be doing her student teaching next year at this time!
When she was in middle school she had a terrific PE teacher/volleyball coach. My daughter was very tiny and she wanted so badly to be able to do the overhand serve. Her coach worked and worked with her. It was a competitive 8th grade game and in one of the final tournaments she put my daughter in to serve even though she didn’t know if my daughter could do it! She did it! The coach ran out on the court with tears streaming down her eyes. My daughter was so touched that the coach was so encouraging to her and my daughter will always have a very soft spot in her heart for that wonderful teacher! Self confidence is one of the best things a teacher can give her students!
Comment by JeannaMO The book sounds really interesting, Connie. I know I’m not eligible to win, but I tweeted anyway 
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Comment by Heather in Beautiful BC Sounds like a fascinating book!
I follow you on twitter (@momsmaterial) and on Facebook.
I enjoyed the review and it made me want to read it. And with a stack of 10 + books waiting, that says a lot.
Cammie
Comment by Cammie (MomsMaterial) It takes a special person to have this kind of positive effect on children and Madame Esme seems like one of those rare, shiny gems to me.
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Comment by Arted4Life OOoh sounds interesting!
Thanks for sharing it !
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Comment by Dana (The Homesteading Housewife) Sounds like a great book–Teacher! I love stories like that. I wish their were more teachers with that kind of passion who truly cared.
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Comment by Lori (A Cowboy's Wife) I’m a twitter follower (@farrah1230) and I tweeted.
Comment by Farrah from Transforming Me I was encouraged by my English teacher. she told me that I had a great imagination for writing stories.
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Comment by Leanne I signed up for your emails…
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Comment by Colleen My 4th grade teacher encouraged me in math and helped me the following year to take a higher level math class, so learning math has always made me feel important rather than “stupid” like so many of my peers constantly told me.
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Comment by Colleen Now following on twitter too (username sunnymum)
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Comment by Colleen I was fortune to have my high school speech and debate coach as a teacher for all 4 years of high school. She encouraged me in every way as a student and public speaker. Her excellent example led me to be a tecaher also.
Comment by Nancy I subscribe to this blogs RSS feed by email. Thanks!
Bridgette Groschen
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Comment by Bridgette Groschen I have 2 children with special needs due to Neurofibromatosis. My daughter Samantha’s most recent teacher for the 3rd grade put her in charge of many responsibilities (attendance, lunch order, etc.) Her self esteem went thru the roof last year. I hope things keep gonig well for her.
Thanks!
Bridgette Groschen
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Comment by Bridgette Groschen I follow you on twitter. Thanks!
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Comment by Bridgette Groschen I tweeted your giveaway: Thanks!
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Bridgette Groschen
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twitter id: joeandbridge
Comment by Bridgette Groschen My life was changed by the care and concern of a teacher, and I feel that teachers are vitally important and under-appreciated.
Comment by Carol [...] will be emailing Colleen right now. Please reply within 48 hours to claim your prize. Thank you to all of the entrants. Please check out my other giveaways. I have one going on right now and more coming soon. [...]
Pingback by Winner Educating Esme Book | Connie's View I love her technique of teaching which she used creativity to inspire her students to learn to love reading. That is what is missing in our schools today and should start in Kindergarten.
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Comment by Alba Guevara i really have to thank my son’s afterschool care teacher, Ms.B. My son seems to forget homework but she knows how he gets in trouble. So she let him go get his homework from his teachers classroom. She saved him because it was a project he had to do. She has saved him more than once.
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Comment by Alba Guevara on September 9, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
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Comment by Alba Guevara I think teaching is the hardest profession in the world. All the paperwork, extracurricular activities you must attend, lunch duty, bus duty, and the “teaching to the test” you must do in Texas.
Children learn in different ways and a teacher must be able to adapt. There is no room for difference or adaptation in our school system today.
I was a substitute teacher in the alternative high school for several years.
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Comment by CyberCelt Teachers are the unsung heroes of society. Other than parents, they also mold the minds of children…the citizens of tomorrow. Not everybody responds to the call of service. So, in that sense, teachers are considered a rare breed of individuals and it takes a lot to be one.
Thanks for recommending this. I’ll check to see if the book is available in bookstores here in the Philippines so I can give my bestfriend (a teacher) a copy.
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Comment by Mama Mia Inspired teaching is something rare unfortunately. There are many who look on teaching as no more than a convenient job. Perhaps this book should be put on a required reading list for all potential teachers in the hope of spreading some of that inspiration further.
Comment by A. of A Changing Life Teachers see so much of our children that it is impossible for them not to be important figures in their lives. Unfortunately in American society, we’ve become so lawsuit oriented that often teachers can’t do what needs to be done to adequately teach without being sued. I applaud anyone brave enough to go into the teaching profession because more often than not it is unappreciated work.
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Not sure if my last comment went through or not.
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