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What is the Teacherlinx Race?

- The Teacherlinx Race rewards teachers who contribute to our community. Through posting links, videos, lessons, worksheets and more, teachers receive points and badge recognition!

How do I start?

- To begin, register or login and post through the "Post" page.

What do I get for posting?

- Users who post receive points and badges. Posting a lesson, worksheet or assessment receives 10 points! Posting a link or video receives 5!

I gain points, but what are the badges?

- Badges are symbols of contributions to our community. Once you gain points, you automatically start to receive badges. The Freshman badge is 10 pts., Sophomore is 50pts., Junior is 150 pts., and the Senior is 250 pts..

When can I get started?

- Get started today!

Featured Interview with Andrea Knope

Andrea Knope


- What grade and subject do / did you teach? Why did you want to become a teacher?

I have taught 4th, 1st, and kindergarten. I also taught for two years at Sylvan. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was young, but I managed in retail for several years while my husband was in the military and when my son was young. I finally went back to school in 2001 for my degree and just in 2010 received my masters in teaching.

- What is your stance on education?

Education is more than academics; it’s motivating and inspiring students to learn and grow. Furthermore, education is not just in the classroom; it’s a myriad of learning experiences that come from home, the community, families, friends, varying cultures, and life experiences. Also, the education of life should and hopefully is a positive one for our youngsters. We, as teachers & parents, strive to assist and guide our children towards the most healthy, constructive and prosperous education, in both the social & academic avenues of learning.

- Do you believe in merit pay? Why or why not?

Personally, I do not feel merit pay is fair simply because of the fact that every teacher’s classroom of students is different with a variety of needs, especially for special education teachers. Not every individual student is the same, they all have different weaknesses and strengths and some take longer to learn, whereas some learn quickly. One cannot base a teacher’s effectiveness on how much a student learns from a single test in a small amount of time. This is not a true measurement on how each student was able to learn and how much he/she has grown academically.

- Do you have any horror stories dealing with your class or students?

Every teacher has had ups and downs throughout their years in teaching, but what’s most important is knowing that the children are learning…truly learning and seeing that “spark” in their eyes once they have understood a concept.

- Can you recall an inspirational or memorable experience you had while teaching?

My most memorable experience is when a student has said to me “Learning is fun!”

- If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself about teaching, what would it be?

My advice to myself would be “take one step at a time” and “move a little slower”. I tend to get very enthusiastic when I teach and find that I may speak too fast or loud and I have had to learn to slow things down a little, as well as tone down the volume.

- What would you tell someone thinking about becoming a teacher?

You must truly want to teach-it’s not an easy job. It takes dedication, patience, strength of character, flexibility, and a motivation to continue to learn and improve on one’s own skills.

- Public or Private school? Why?

Either school is fine. I have taught in the public school setting but would not have a problem teaching in the private school setting, as well. Teaching is teaching. However, I do not think private schools have the ability to insure their employees as much as the public schools.

- Do you think that education in America is improving? Why or why not?

{Oh dear! That’s a tough topic.} I think that it has improved through the years since I went to school, because there is a more thorough set of standards for the school curriculums, and teachers are held at a higher standard. What I mean by this is that teachers are required to go through stricter procedures and schooling in order to become a teacher. However, I personally feel that education has NOT focused on the fact that each and every child is different in their strengths, weaknesses, how they learn, and how they grow.

- Can you please share with us your website? What is it about?

My website is Knope’s New Educators’ Website at http://www.knopesneweducatorswebsite.com/.

I first developed the website to help my colleagues with activities to use in their classroom. Now it has grown into a website for any teacher to find ideas and activities they can also utilize in the classroom, along with articles and other rich resources.

- Teaching is……………….an art, a skill in all skills, a commitment, and a myriad of inspiring ideas transferred from one mind to another.

“…one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater. “~Gail Godwin

“..leaving a vestige of one-self in the development of another.”~Eugene P. Bertin

“…cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers. “~Author Unknown

One thought on Teacher Evaluations and Education in 2011

The year of teacher bashing

Yes, it’s that time again. Time to look at where your tax dollars are going in education. Around five years ago I wrote about how there were multiple instances of wasteful public spending in education that included teacher ed. Programs and lavish lunches for training sessions all paid for by “The District.” As we have seen, those expenses have been cut back due to the downturn of the economy and state funding for education across the nation. Yay! Order has been restored, for now……

Now, we’re into teacher bashing. With films such as “Waiting for Superman,” the public now knows the truth. They know teachers don’t work hard enough and unions are a huge umbrella protecting their jobs. It’s the union that shot that kid in a Gardena public school. Or, it was because of a teacher that a school lockdown kept students from going home for around five hours. Let’s look at “teacher scores,” and not “student scores.” As the L.A. Times suggests, let’s evaluate the teachers. Wait, what year are we in? Isn’t it a little late in the year 2011 to finally suggest this. No one must have thought of this idea before. Why golly, haven’t they done this before, shame on you public education.

So let’s take a little look into the reality of teacher evaluations.

Teacher Evaluations:
“I demand that a public employee such as a teacher perform to their best potential. I pay them for that!” So, here comes the good ole’ L.A. Times to the rescue. The same newspaper that has gone scummy by adding an LA Extra section to develop a tabloid reputation. And we all know how credible tabloids are. So, L.A. Times to the rescue to publish almost all elementary school teacher test scores over a range of around four years. One teacher commits suicide over their test score. Thanks L.A. Times. But, thankfully I can rest easy at night knowing my child’s teacher ranked as “very effective.” That makes me feel better because I know at least they’re not going to a babysitting service Monday morning like I thought they were the past five years. I was getting used to the free lunches and after school programs that the public schools offer. I was getting so used to it, I even thought of looking into charter schools.

Test scores to the rescue. But, one wise veteran teacher once told me, “if you want to know what’s going to happen in the future, simply look at the past.” But, what exactly has been the past of public education? Has it been good? Has it been bad? I wonder what my teachers evaluation was when I was going to school? Why couldn’t I look it up online? I missed out!

But wait, I do remember the principal walking in the classroom from time to time and not only evaluating the teacher, but making sure the class was ok. Ask yourself, how many times a year did the principal actually do this. Now, let’s do some “elementary” Math. If your principal came in at least five times a year, and there are around 180 school days a year, what’s the percentage of him visiting for either evaluation or supervision. Now, ask yourself if you feel that 2% visitation percentage is enough to fairly make a decision to fire your hard working Mrs. Magu who works so hard everyday trying to help you with spelling. And my friend, you have just solved the equation to the problem with teacher evaluations and public schools today. Congrats, and for the L.A. Times, please do your homework before you come to class.

Featured Interview with Mr. Perez, Educator

What do you think about the concept of Teacherlinx?

- I think it's an excellent concept. It builds on what is already out there and offers more. One can say that Teacherlinx is not new, because there are websites out there for teachers, which is true. But, they're not really user friendly. Second of all, it seems that Teacherlinx has more interactive criteria effects and it's a way for teachers to directly communicate with each other. I think that message boards are great and hopefully we can see chat-rooms where teachers can talk to each other on real time. I like it and it's great to be a part of that community.

What grade and subject do you teach? Why did you want to become a teacher?

- Currently I teach eighth grade Algebra I and Physical Science. The reason I got into teaching is because I've heard other people say, when asking the question, "Teacher wise, who do you remember as a one who has had an impact on their lives?" When I look back on my education when I was younger, I honestly couldn't tell you one teacher who made a difference in my life. So, it seemed interesting that I never had someone who made an impact on my life as a role model. I thought, if I were to do that myself, what kind of teacher would I want to have as a student? I said I would do this. I'm not here to be popular and not someone's favorite teacher. I'm here to do my job, which is teach. Which is to have them come away from this classroom and learn something. Learn something to help them in a positive way. Some kids aren't into Math or Science, but we have that in our lives. We experience it everyday. So even if you don't like it, you're going to have to deal with it. What I see as my task as a teacher is to teach them these things and show the students that they must deal with this. So learn.

What is your stance on education?

-Well, it's the key. Education happens everywhere. It's not just inside the classroom. It's outside. It happens at home, walking down the street, everywhere. You can't just categorize education into the subjects you teach at school. Education is being book smart and street smart.

Do you believe in merit pay? Why or why not?

- I think that if you do a good job, yes you should be rewarded. We give our students rewards for doing a job well done. Years ago, companies used to give out bonuses. I'm sure not everyone in the company got one. If you were a below average worker you wouldn't get stuff like that. As far as the teaching profession, I do see teachers who are here until six and seven o'clock at night. They're putting in time, effort, passion, and love. They don't see the financial rewards. Maybe they do get rewarded by seeing the students learn and grow their knowledge. But, what's wrong with also saying that you can earn a bonus. Wouldn't that motivate you to keep doing a good job over and over? So who doesn't like money? Yes or no? So I do believe in merit pay. Definitely.

What's the worst thing that has happened to you while teaching?

- As far as hearing people tell you that we're here to support you and actually getting the support. All these people tell you we're here for you and if you need help come to them. When you do need help, they're not there. That's definitely something we all relate to because unfortunately it happens more than once. I think it's a sad thing. When you have a strong faculty and administration relationship, things are run much better. You can tell which schools have that strong relationship and what schools don't by their overall performance and the appearance of the school itself.

What's the best thing that has happened to you while teaching?

- The best thing has been when I start a lesson and ask a question, and they don't know the answer. I end the lesson and they can summarize what they have just learned. Basically, give me the answer they didn't know before. That's the best thing. When I see the kids learn and get it. Go from confusion to knowledge is the greatest feeling in the world.

If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself about teaching, what would it be?

- I would say to really know what it is to be a teacher inside out. Know that it's not only presenting a lesson an that's it. There's so many other facets to it. Your not just a teacher, you're a counselor, a mediator, a ear, a listening ear, a psychologist. You're a business man because you have to keep tabs of supplies. It's so many things. Not just teaching. To go into teaching you need to understand that. It's not only one title, you have so many. Also, know what level you want to teach. The level you're best suited for. Some people enjoy high school, some people want to work with kids when young. Some people want to teach Science, English, or Math. Know what you want to get into and not so much what you're best at, but know what you're going to enjoy teaching. If you enjoy it you're going to do it well and you're going to reap the rewards of it. The kids will pick up on that and they'll see your motivation and you're going to be motivated as well. Not all of them. Remember you have twenty-five to thirty individuals. You need to learn how to work with each individual to get them motivated.

Public or Private school? Why?

- I believe you should add charter school. If I had my choice I would say private school because there's more structure. There's more control over what you can and can't do. Meaning, it's less politics. You're not dealing with government anymore. You're dealing with education. Where as in public schools and charter schools you have to deal with these government entities that are in charge of these institutions. Sometimes, what happens is that because of that you're not necessarily allowed to have control of the situation. That's not a good thing. If somebody else is controlling you from a distance then they're telling you what to do without them actually knowing what's going on here. That's not a good thing. So, my choice would be private school. Maybe it can change later. Maybe there will be public schools that will run on a private school structure.

Do you think that education in America is improving? Why or why not?

- I think it's improving in some places but it's also failing in others. To say in a broad spectrum I think that if we compare ourselves to other countries we're doing bad. We're not keeping up. You go to countries in Europe, you go to countries in Asia, South America, they value education because they know what it's like first hand to not have education and not have any form of support. In contrast, people who have education are well off. Many countries don't have public services. They don't have these agencies there to help you. It's either you sink or swim. Even with me going to other countries and see what's going on, kids look at school as a privilege not a right. I'm glad it's a right here, but kids should come in here thinking it's a privilege to be here. It could be way worse.

Teaching is................. learning and then teaching, and then learning. It's a cycle that never stops and that's the great thing about it.

Featured Interview with Educator Ansonwood

Can you tell us a bit about your history as an educator? I received my teaching degree from SUNY Oswego. I have been teaching for two years now in a 9-12 high school setting at Hudson Falls Central School District. I teach high school technology grades 9-12. I teach many different classes including power mechanics, manufacturing systems, pre-engineering, computer graphics, design and drawing and my newest course Alternative Energy Systems.
If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself about teaching, what would it be?
I often just have to remind myself to slow down and be thorough with my lessons. Remembering that I know the information but the students may need more time to catch on and grasp an understanding for the material. Patience is a must in education.
Public, Private or Charter schools? Why?
I attended a public school and now I teach in one. I enjoyed the integration with all different kinds of students, no dress codes and the academic freedom.
A common notion that society has on teachers is that they have a lot of vacation time. How do you spend your vacation time and is all the time off as good as people portray it to be?
My vacation time is typically spent with family and friends in the outdoors, hiking, hunting, fishing and just being in the fresh air. But while I am out there I am constantly looking around and thinking about possible projects for my classroom. My Pre-Engineering class is currently building 10' kayaks out of PVC tubing, zip ties and shrink wrap for a structural engineering unit. This unit is something I thought of while on vacation kayaking with some friends. People think teachers get a log of time off but we use it to re-work lessons, write and align curriculum and prep for future projects to come. There is more to teaching than people think. I remember spending a lot of my Christmas break last year getting ready for my upcoming spring courses. I teach five courses in the fall and 6 courses in the spring. There isn't a lot of time to make this transition and if you don't use your vacation time to prep you may find yourself unprepared.
How do you feel technology has impacted education today? (Cyber-bullying, Social Networks)
Technology has had a significant impact on education today. I currently have a Smart Board and twelve classroom computers. I can't imagine what I would do without them. My district has done an amazing job keeping up with the technological advances. As far as cyber bullying and social networks are concerned, I am a huge fan of social networks outside of the classroom. It helps friends and families stay in contact and up to date on family life. Where I teacher cyber bullying has not been much of a problem, but I know it happens. Our district has great filtering software to keep the social networks out of the school. Students can only contact one another via e-mail. There is no chat software which I think is a very positive thing. It still forces the students to have the face to face contact to learn interpersonal skills like body language and eye contact.
What are your main interests in the field of education? What educational topics do you focus on?
As a technology teacher my main interest is technology and engineering. My goal is to introduce students to all kinds of different learning opportunities. I want them to get a feel of different career options. I introduce the newest technology to keep the students up to date. I recently added an alternative energy course so that the students know what is available to them alternatively. The students are our future. They are going to become electricians, contractors, and engineers. I want them to learn how to build the best way to also help our environment. If they learn alternative ways now they are more likely to use it in their future. I also focus on brain storming, critical thinking and teamwork. I use the "Ideal" problem solving system. It helps the student centered groups brainstorm and think of possible solutions before jumping the gun on building. It cuts down on the waste of materials and building time. Pre-Planning is always key.
What influenced you to want to become a teacher?
I always use to spend time with my great grandfather in his work shop "Tinkering" as he called it. I learned a lot from him about building. I enjoyed taking the technology courses while in high school but it never hit me that I wanted to teach until after two years of college. I enjoyed drawing house plans but didn't like sitting behind the computer doing it all day. So I decided looking into teaching CAD/Drafting and technology. I wouldn't change a thing!
Do you have a recommended teacher link you would like to share with our community?
http://www.hfcsd.org/webpages/awood/
Teaching is...creatively expanding the minds of the students; our future.

Featured Interview with educator Nadie Distel

Can you tell us a bit about your history as an educator?

Absolutely! I studied to be a teacher in Brisbane, Australia, and have loved being an international teacher. I taught in Australia, the United States and Hong Kong prior to writing The New Teachers Kit. I've taught everything from Kindergarten, to High School Special Needs, to teaching other teachers how to be more effective in their practice. It's been a wonderful, varied career thus far!


If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself about teaching, what would it be?

Work smart, not hard! In fact, this is now on the logo for the New Teachers Kit, as it is such a passion of mine. I spent way too many hours in my first years of teaching making resources and learning 'new teacher' lessons, the hard way. I really should have learned from the experiences of the thousands of others who went before me, but I could not find any quality resources online for new teachers. So I decided, once I had 'found my feet', to put all my stuff online for other new teachers to use. I feel passionately that Educators who share their expertise create better outcomes for their students, and the New Teachers Kit was borne from this passion.


A common notion that society has on teachers is that they have a lot of vacation time. How do you spend your vacation time and is all the time off as good as people portray it to be?

Absolutely - I love that being a well resourced teacher allows me to invest my time off in the people and activities I love. I love to travel, scuba dive, do yoga, run and cook. I also enjoy web design, and have an interest in photography.

How do you feel technology has impacted education today?

We are so fortunate in this day and age as teachers to have technology available to us, as it enables us to work together so much better. There are some fabulous resources online that make teaching so much easier than it must have been years ago. I love that we are part of one worldwide community, connected by the Web, and that we can work together, as a result of technology.


Teaching is... enjoyable, challenging, interesting, collaborative, dynamic, and most of all, rewarding.

Featured Interview with Diane Dahl – For the Love of Teaching blog

Diane Dahl – For the Love of Teaching blog

Can you tell us a bit about your history as an educator?
I’m going into my 4th year teaching 2nd grade.
- What subjects have you taught?
I teach Language Arts, History, Math, Art and Technology.
- After being in the classroom, what have you learned about kids?
I have learned that kids are so much more capable than we give them credit for. They continue to amaze me every year.
- If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself about teaching, what would it be?
My advice to myself or any new teacher would be to not worry if the students like you or not. As long as you show them love and respect, you will get the same in return.
A common notion that society has on teachers is that they have a lot of vacation time. How do you spend your vacation time and is all the time off as good as people portray it to be?
I spend my vacation time enjoying my family. However, I don’t forget about teaching either. I use the summer months to search out new teaching techniques and lesson plans. Even the best teachers have room for improvement. Therefore, if some people think that a teacher’s vacation time is all play and no work, they are wrong. It’s still wonderful though!
- How do you feel technology has impacted education today?
Technology has made it easier to share information. Therefore, it is not difficult to find new and unique teaching techniques, lesson plans, and other facts for the classroom. I have found by using a Wiki with my 2nd graders that it creates a wonderful home-school connection. I write about that on my blog. Smartboards make for more engaging lessons. Tools like Successmaker help students improve their math and reading skills in a fun way. However, technology creates a whole new subject for educators to teach: Digital Citizenship. I think this needs to be taught much more than it is. That is another subject I cover in my blog. Technology has expanded our Professional Learning Community to include other districts and even other countries!
- What influenced you to want to become a teacher?
Prior to teaching, I was impressed by the level of dedication and love that Edmond teachers showed my two sons. That inspired me to become a teacher.
- Complete this phrase: Teaching is…………….
Teaching is one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs a person can have.