May-June

Esme tells us how her expectations for students conflict with those of her principal. She expresses her concern for one student in particular and sees first-hand the reason for his acting-out behaviors. She learns of another student who handles difficulties at home in a much different way. A student brings her 2-year-old brother to school for Esme to care for.

Esme's Storytelling Festival goes off without a hitch, although the administration points out a number of things she could have done differently. She tries an intervention with the outspoken student above. She has more success with the girsl who confesses to stealing.

ITBS scores come back, villifying Esme's unique methods. Her students write for her at the end of the school year, reflecting upon the time they've spent together, and Esme is presented with a gift.

March - April

Esme takes in a student-in-need and finds some success with conflict-resolution in class. She receives a thinly-veiled threat from her assistant principal about the whole "Madame"-thing. In spite of this, she is retained for another year. Esme wins an award in spite of her disagreement with "the curriculum guy." Esme gives us a good reason to remember to listen to our students instead of yelling at them.

Have you ever had one of those moments/days when you think you learned as much or more from your students than they did from you?