The Overly Honest Teacher: Parenting Advice from the Classroom

by Meredith Essalat, Sheryl Evans Davis (Preface by)

Overview

All parents want their children to be able to vocalize how they are feeling—to own their emotions, their opinions, their fears, and their views of the world. To achieve this, parents need to be models, showing their kids the importance of honest dialogue and effective listening. But parents don’t always feel prepared.

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. And how it’s the teachers who are often caught in the middle. In an effort to stop pointing out each other’s flaws—and instead letting kids know they are supported—Meredith 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 shows parents how to welcome everyday parenting gracefully. 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?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951412050
Publisher:	The Collective Book Studio
Publication date:	10/13/2020
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	765,908
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Meredith Essalat is an elementary school principal in San Francisco, California. With a career in academia that has spanned more than 17 years, she has spent 9 years in middle school education as both teacher and Dean of Middle School Curriculum. She possesses a B.A. in Mass Communication, a California-Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and two M.Ed.: one in Curriculum and Instruction, and the other in Educational Leadership. Meredith resides in California with her husband, Cameron. Sheryl Evans Davis is the Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC). Director Davis previously served as Commissioner between 2011 and 2016, including a tenure as Vice Chair of the Commission.

Table of Contents

Preface 1

Prologue 2

Chapter 1 The Starting Line: First Year, Out of the Box 4

Chapter 2 Keepin' It Classy 9

Chapter 3 The Thin Red Line 16

Chapter 4 Prepare to Pivot 27

Chapter 5 Not Another Face(book) in the Crowd 32

Chapter 6 Get. A. Hobby. 40

Chapter 7 Eyes Wide Open 47

Chapter 8 Say "No" 52

Chapter 9 Who Wore It Best? 59

Chapter 10 Pull Back the Curtain … 63

Chapter 11 Boring Is the New Black 72

Chapter 12 Something to Believe In 76

Chapter 13 Friend Request 80

Chapter 14 Yes, Virginia, There Are Losers 82

Chapter 15 The Basics 88

Chapter 16 I Repeat, The Football Was in the Toilet 92

Chapter 17 Would the Real Emily Post Please Stand Up? 96

Chapter 18 It's Time to LOG into Life 101

Chapter 19 Burst the Bubble 109

Conclusion: The End Is Only the Beginning 114

References 118

Editorial Reviews

"If you’re like me, you were dying to be a fly on the wall in your little kid’s classroom, and with this book you kind of get to be. Meredith Essalat, a veteran of the classroom, gives us a brave and tender sneak peek into our children’s little world, serving as a much needed bridge between parents and educators." —Jill Kargman, the writer and star of the television show Odd Mom Out, based on her novel Momzillas. She is a New York Times bestselling author and has written for Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ, and many other magazines as well as television shows.


"As a single father to ten-year-old twin girls, I have always relied on my ‘little village’ in helping rear and care for my daughters. Meredith’s honesty, passion, integrity, and love for what she does and for our children ring true in every chapter of this book. I am a huge fan of this book and its heartfelt message." —David Kirsch, wellness visionary and founder of the award-winning Madison Square Club in New York City. He is the father of twin 10-year old daughters.


"The parent/teacher relationship needs to be one of mutual respect and transparency. Meredith has approached the subject with honesty, optimism and concrete strategies that can set up all families, and their children, for success." —Liz Vaccariello, Editor-In-Chief of Real Simple and former Editor of Parents Magazine


"The Overly Honest Teacher, by former teacher and administrator Meredith Essalat, M.Ed., is an urgent, intelligent book about forging sound parent-teacher relationships. Aiming to “strengthen and improve advocacy” for today’s children, Essalat tackles the tough stuff, almost as Judge Judy cuts through the chaff to get straight to the points that matter." —Shawn LaTorre, Shawn LaTorre


"This witty, honest and wise book, The Overly Honest Teacher shows parents and teachers how to have a healthy, working relationship that benefits their classroom kids or children. It is filled with quick antidotes and advice for the busy, modern-day parent." —Shay, Outnumbered 3 to 1


"Combining humor with straightforward, practical advice, the Overly Honest Teacher shows parents how to welcome everyday parenting gracefully. The results will be well-adjusted, positive, enthusiastic young adults ready to work hard and take on the world." —Gina Rae Mitchell Blog


"In this book the author gives parenting advice from a teacher’s perspective. She clearly knows children. She wants us to filter what we say and how we act in front of our kids." —Kathleen, SMS Nonfiction Book Reviews 


"The Overly Honest Teacher is filled with tangible advice from how to best communicate with your children's teachers to how to start your kids' school day off on the right foot." —Amy Lupold Bair, Resourceful Mommy 

From the Publisher

2020-10-20
A veteran teacher shares parenting lessons learned from her students.

In this debut guide, Essalat offers parents insights derived from her work as a teacher and principal. The book covers both practical tips—for instance, when students make negative comments about themselves or their classmates, she requires them to create a list of positives on the same subject—and a broader argument. She makes the case in favor of establishing high expectations, stepping back to allow children to make mistakes and learn from them, and establishing lifelong habits of independence and self-reliance. The chapters are organized thematically, and each includes anecdotes from the author’s teaching experiences—she is not a parent herself, which she acknowledges from the outset. She also delivers concrete suggestions for parents to implement with their children to improve family relations, school performance, and general preparedness for adult life. The topics will be familiar to many readers of parenting books, from social media use and respectful behavior to managing homework and having productive conversations. But with its focus on the collaborative relationship between parents and teachers, the book presents a unique viewpoint. The writing is generally strong and well informed, based on practical experience and a solid understanding of child development. (Both references and additional resources are included in the backmatter.) But Essalat’s tone can be alarmist at times, particularly regarding social media (she tells students they are “putting our entire community in jeopardy” by posting videos that include the school’s name), as well as judgmental (“If someone isn’t going to make the time, have the time, spend the time with their own kids, then why have them at all?”). She also displays a touch of kids-these-days exasperation (“Just how little our kids appreciate things anymore”). For readers who appreciate the back-to-basics, traditionalist tone of the book, it can be a useful collection of advice and strategies for strengthening relationships with children and helping them to succeed in school. The volume also supplies a well-crafted insider’s perspective on how teachers view their students and how parents can best work with them.

A solid, if opinionated, look at parenting from a teacher’s perspective.

Kirkus Reviews

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