Lesson plans are an essential part of a teacher's day and help to guide the learning process in the classroom. But Anne Tenaglia discovered early on that there were more crucial ways to ensure the success of her students. Most of the time, the more valuable tools were not in the lesson plan at all. It Wasn't in the Lesson Plan takes us into the world of an urban elementary school teacher, introducing the reader to her students, and their trials and tribulations. She discovered early that an advanced degree does not always guarantee that a teacher would be able to help all students succeed. But as much knowledge as she imparted to her students, they returned the favor by instructing their teacher how to make them want to learn. These lessons did not come easy, they were often learned the hard way. Sometimes they had to be learned more than once, but each lesson brought their teacher to a closer understanding of the needs of her students. Read through the pages and laugh at the antics of a student who copes by turning down his hearing aid, or the young man who uses humor to deal with his hard knock life. Beam with pride at students who used lessons learned in reading, writing, and math to take them far. Cry when the mean streets and other catastrophic events prove fatal for children too young to die. Admire the students who, despite all odds, become contributing members of society. Become frustrated with the bureaucracy of a big city school district whose policies sometimes don't make sense. Learn how important music is in the everyday lives of elementary students. Each of the lessons in the book teaches the instructor new ideas that help transform the lives of her future students. And through it all, music, empathy, and respect are interwoven and ever-present in the daily trials and triumphs in Anne Tenaglia's urban classroom.