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Readers' Survey 2007: Best Blog for Educators
Edutopia readers weigh in on their favorites.
by Edutopia Staff
2¢ Worth
Tech-savvy soothsayer David Warlick walks away with it. Warlick's lively blend of wit and wisdom nicely complements his focus on modern thinking and design in the classroom. Warlick's approach is fresh and forward looking, but he also spent more than thirty years working with public schools, so he leavens his visionary ideas with the grit of reality. Says Warlick, "My goal is to inspire and energize with ideas and possibilities that will challenge [people] to expand their perceptions of teaching and learning, and dare to consider our professional future with optimism and excitement." Amen to that. Other popular blogs included Eduwonk, Edublogs, and Edutopia.org's own Spiral Notebook.
Our Take
Blog Wrangler
So many blogs, so little time. If you're interested in the latest blog blather about a specific topic, no matter who is writing about it, get thyself over to Google Alerts, which automatically emails you when new Google results for your search terms occur in its News, Web, Blogs, and Groups directories. The Google folks say many alerts are set up by people monitoring a developing news story, keeping current on a competitor or an industry, tracking medical advances, or getting the latest on a celebrity or a sports team -- or, may we suggest, staying abreast of educational developments.
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2007 Readers' Survey Home Page
Novice or Expert, which kind of teacher are you?
Submitted by Abby (not verified) on October 12, 2008 - 14:55.
A novice-to-expert continuum of teacher development would be different for each teacher you asked. I believe that an expert teacher is fully aware of his or her gifts and abilities. An expert teacher plays to his or her strengths. Knowing your abilities and constantly working to improve your techniques marks an expert teacher. A novice teacher does little self reflection. Problems in the classroom are often attributed to student initiative problems or problems at home. A novice teacher is not yet committed to improving themselves through self-reflection. I believe that all aspects of teaching are affected by teachers’ ability to self-reflect and improve themselves.
-Abby
Novice to Expert
Submitted by Sandtresia Sizemore (not verified) on October 12, 2008 - 12:25.
I agree with a lot of other bloggers. I am a second year 2nd grade teacher, and I have also taught Pre-K for 3 years. I still consider myself very much a novice. Sure there are teachers that have many years of teaching under their belt, but the education profession is constantly changing. As an educator, you must also continue to learn and change with it. I do not necessarily agree with the assumption that; if you have been successfully teaching you are an expert teacher. I honestly believe that no one can say that they are truly an expert, because experts know everything.
expert teachers
Submitted by Sean Humphrey (not verified) on October 5, 2008 - 12:57.
I am in my 6th year teaching. At this point, I have seen excellent teaching in novice and experienced teachers. I have also seen a few experienced teachers that should have dusted off their lesson plans and recommitted themselves. I think that expert teaching is a combination of experience and enthusiasm. Too often, education considers experience in education as the sole ingrediant for successful instruction. I believe that a combination of private sector and public education experience results in the best teaching. Sean
Teacher in Illinois
Submitted by Brandi (not verified) on October 15, 2008 - 05:25.
I am a fourth grade Title teacher in Illinois. I also believe that the number of years one teaches does not make them an "expert" teacher. It is a combination of entusiasim, experiance, and the willingness to go above and beyond. I am not sure one truly ever becomes an expert teacher because teaching is always changing. However, teachers with more experiance are better able to meet challenges that arise head on.
Novice vs. Expert Teacher
Submitted by Janida Yancy (not verified) on October 2, 2008 - 19:20.
I have been teaching for 19 years, and I know I am still learning more each year. Can a second year teacher be an expert teacher? I truly believe it takes several years to reach the expert level. What works for one group of students may not work for another group. What worked well last year, may not work the next year. The expert teacher is able to identify many problems before they happen and come up with creative ways to handle the situation. The novice teacher has to learn this, and you don't learn this overnight. However, the beginning teacher is a breathe of fresh air. They come in with so much enery and creative ideas that I have incooperated in my classroom.
Novice vs Expert
Submitted by Andrew (not verified) on October 2, 2008 - 16:49.
As a third year teacher, I believe I have left the realm of novice teacher and started a journey to become an expert. However, I don’t believe I will ever truly reach expert. Let me explain. The concept of expert, at least to me, is one who is thoroughly familiar with a subject, or task, and has all the knowledge and experience to answers any question. In education there are always new approaches to teaching. With new strategies to incorporate into your lesson, and of course, an ever-changing technology proficient student, how can anyone ever expect to become an expert! My goal is to continue to learn, to constantly hone my skills. While this approach may not make me an expert, I will keep me moving in the right direction.
Novice vs Expert
Submitted by Heather (not verified) on October 8, 2008 - 10:27.
Andrew, I agree with you. I am also a third year teacher, so not a new teacher, but not yet an expert teacher. Education is forever growing so it has to be hard to be that expert teacher, if you relate the definition of expert to our field. I will never forget something one of the Dr.'s of Ed for my old district said to me, "Heather, you will never know everything, and if you meet a teacher that tells you they do, they are not being truthful to themselves or to their field." I will never forget that as long as I live.
I have read several comments
Submitted by Noemi (not verified) on October 2, 2008 - 07:23.
I have read several comments and opinions about what an expert and novice teacher is. I have a question. Does anyone believe a second year teacher can be in the middle of both an novice teacher and an expert teacher. I am currently a second year teacher myself and with the expereiences I have had with children all my life and the challenges I have been faced already in my classroom I believe I am in the middle. I also believe I am in the middle of being a novice and expert teacher because of my passion and commitment I have for my classroom and students. I do not believe I will ever get to be an expert teacher because of the changing world. I would like to hear others opinions on my thoughts and accept any responses on what you believe.
~Noemi
Empowerment
Submitted by david (not verified) on October 3, 2008 - 14:40.
Noemi
I salute to feel in the middle already after two years of teaching.I recall my second year bombarded with meetings, figuring out what what work, and getting to know the culture of my students. My adminstration did allow me to have such an empowerment so soon. You are very fortunate to experience an achieve so soon. I have been teaching for 7 plus years. You should feel really priviliged to have a handle on things so early in your career.
Novice or Expert
Submitted by Marci Reeves (not verified) on October 5, 2008 - 20:57.
It is amazing that a fairly new teacher could feel so complete as teacher. There are so many facets to maintain such as assessments, discipline, trying new strategies, communication with parents, preparing lessons, grading, recording,ect. I have to wonder if I will ever be able to manage it efficiently . Congratulations to those who feel that they are making head way to being an expert.
Marci Reeves, Rainsboro, OH, K-3 Reading Intervention Specialist
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