Readers' Survey 2006

Credit: David Julian

Educators get to ask a lot of questions. They're masters of Socratic inquiry, pressing students to explore concepts behind schoolwork, inviting analysis instead of simple memorization of facts. But as a high school teacher in Vermont recently noted, "Sometimes it doesn't seem like people care what we think."

We do.

In every issue, we ask readers a Sage Advice question, soliciting solutions and innovation on a specific topic. We get hundreds, sometimes thousands, of responses. Many are passionate; all are thoughtful. We know our readers have ideas and love to share them. Now we have more proof: Edutopia's first annual Readers' Survey.

Two months ago, we asked our subscribers to open up and tell us about their favorite (and least favorite) things in the world of education. You have the results in your hands -- and online. Explore them, have fun, and tell us what you think. Attention will be paid.

• Best blog for educators [1]
• Best site to download free lessons and materials [2]
• Best old-school teaching tool that has not gone out of style [3]
• Best educators' Web site [4]
• Best technology product for less than $100 [5]
• Best education software [6]
• Best buys for school supplies [7]
• Best source of classroom freebies [8]
• Best movie about educators [9]
• Ideal class size [10]
• Most overrated buzzword or idea [11]
• Most promising classroom innovation [12]
• Best way to stay current on new education ideas [13]
• Hottest topic in the teachers' lounge [14]
• Best book about educators [15]
• If you could take your students on a free field trip, where would you go? [16]
• Best education conference [17]
• Best book by an educator [18]
• Who, from the past or present, would you like to teach your class for a day? [19]
• Worst old-school teaching tool that should be tossed [20]

Contributors: Sara Bernard, Geoff Butterfield, James Daly, Owen Edwards, Cheri Lucas, Grace Rubenstein, Jennifer Foote Sweeney, Joe Willis