The Overly Honest Teacher by Meredith Esselat {Book Review}

Read an honest take on parenting in this relatively short, easy to read, (easy to relate to) book – The Overly Honest Teacher.

Disclosure: I received this book to review. I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

As both a teacher and school principal, Meredith Essalat has lived the daily challenges of helping children navigate through their young lives. She has seen the struggles that parents have as they balance longer working hours with the demands of home life. Essalat offers hard-won pointers, enabling parents, teachers, and students alike to encourage one another while holding everyone accountable for their actions.

Combining humor with straightforward, practical advice, “The Overly Honest Teacher” is a fresh take on 21st century child-rearing and development. The results will be well-adjusted, positive, enthusiastic young adults ready to work hard and take on the world. And isn’t that what we all want for our children?

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I have to admit; I was a little shocked at reading what can be best described as a parenting book, by someone who isn’t a parent. Then again, who better than to give advice, if not a parent, than a teacher – someone who spends countless time with our children in classrooms all day.

Being a parent is hard. Being a teacher – I can only imagine – is harder. I feel like part of parenting is a teacher’s job because they are with them so much, and I know a lot of amazing teachers who are like parents. But then on the other hand, teachers have to deal with the wrath of parents and let me tell you – I have seen some pretty nasty parents be pretty nasty to teachers.

Meredith gives a real, honest look at how we should view our children (they aren’t perfect and instead of trying to mold them into a perfect being that we want them to be, we should allow them to grow into who they are) and really, how we should treat our children; but it goes further. It’s not necessarily a “do this”, “do that” type of read, but it shares real life examples as well as suggestions on how to approach your child.

I have to tell you; this book came into my life at the perfect time because I am struggling with my teen so I am definitely going to be going back through and highlighting areas that I want to explore further to try some new tricks on my teenager.

Sometimes, whether we like it or not, advice from an outside view is helpful and I appreciated the insight that was provided in this read.

About the Author
Meredith Essalat is a K-8 school principal in San Francisco, Calif. and author of “The Overly Honest Teacher.” With a career in academia that has spanned more than 17 years, she started off in collegiate student activities before moving into both elementary and secondary academic communities. She spent nine years in middle school education as both teacher and Dean of Middle School Curriculum. In each of these opportunities, she witnessed the gamut of the scholastic, social, and developmental experiences of today’s student. She possesses a BA in Mass Communication, a California-Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and a second M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Essalat resides in California with her husband, Cameron. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for valuable lessons learned both inside and outside the classroom.