Codell's Educating Esmé

Educating Esmé is an entertaining diary of a first year teacher in a Chicago elementary school. Madame Esmé, which she prefers to be called, maintains strict stability while trying to inspire and change the lives of thirty-one inner-city students. She encounters a gang-influenced student, fist fights, child abuse, an over-demanding boss and an unsupportive administration. Esmé Codell’s first year with a classroom of her own was anything but easy.
Madame Esmé is one hundred percent unique. She creates a warm, welcoming environment and takes it to a whole new level that makes learning fun and exciting. Madame Esmé roller skates down the hallways, built a time machine in her classroom, and she invited an American Girl author to the school. Yet, …show more content…
Madame Esmé does an admirable job with her group of mislead inner city students. As far as behavior management, I want to follow in her steps. She never snapped at her students or took her anger out on them. Her classroom decorations included: a “kind words” smiley-faced mobile, a bulletin board for steps on solving conflicts, and her “Golden Rule” was written out in gold glitter. She puts a massive emphasis on making sure to maintain and be consistent with the students who challenge her. “I have to be consistent with my threat, or they will never believe me again. I’ll have no discipline. I’ll never be able to teach anything.” (p. 39) I think that is very important and something I will take to my classroom. Another diary entry that I would do in my classroom is the conflict resolution meeting that refers to one of the bulletin boards. When she had students act out towards each other, she had them resolve the conflict to each other’s faces while using appropriate language. This idea is brilliant. It keeps students from physically fighting and creates an environment where they can be open with one another about likes and dislikes. Madame Esmé uses redirection and love to help her students with their decisions, even behavioral …show more content…
Esmé Codell brings to light what cannot be explained thoroughly in a textbook. Her spirit and uncensored voice are compelling. She is bluntly honest about every aspect a first year teacher will encounter, especially when it comes to the administration. She even noted the struggles that she witnessed where some students had to overcome abuse and gang involvement. These are things textbooks do not explain but we need to learn them. Yet Madame Esmé handles these situations with such ease and it was inspiring. This book is wildly entertaining and anyone aspiring to be a teacher needs to read it. I only hope that I will be inspiring and my students will react the way hers did. I will be taking her advice with me as I continue to become a