Okay, so Edu-blog Awards are with us AGAIN!  Goodness me, where did this year go?  It certainly flashed quickly by me in my desperate attempts to harness as much as I could from it!  At this time last year I was just new to the blogging world, having been introduced to it by the wonderful duo of Donna and Sherry over at Irresistible Play-based Learning.  It has been just the ‘networking’ opportunity I had been craving.  I love, love, love my work with children, and have gained so much fresh insight and been introduced to so many imaginative and creative ideas through communicating within the blogging world.  They are truly a dedicated and hard working bunch of people!

Hence, this is REALLY tough!  I follow so many wonderful blogs that have inspired me over this year, and I feel a little saddened that I cannot possibly give credit to all of them through these awards.  Sigh!  But as Ayn has said, one of my lovely friends over at Little Illuminations , there will always be more awards in the future and ample opportunity to share the love!

So here goes!  I guess I have largely selected those blogs who have some longevity in the blogging world and who have done the ‘hard yards’ so to speak.  Whilst blogging is a wonderful and rewarding experience, it is time consuming and demanding, so these guys really need to be acknowledge for their dedication and commitment to the early childhood sector.

BEST TEACHER BLOG: Jennifer @ Let the Children Play

Jennifer is a wonderful educator and dedicated blogger who has found her own niche within the early childhood blogging world.  All things ‘outdoorsy’ would be Jennifer’s passion!  She consistently reminds us of the overwhelming and ever increasing bundle of research that supports the need for children to commune with nature.  Anybody who has ever fallen in to the trap of thinking learning only happens indoors, needs to check out Jennifer’s blog for a quick jolt into reality! Jennifer is also a wonderful support to new blogs as they find their feet in the blogging world and particularly loves to hunt down and flag new Australian early childhood blogs.

MOST INFLUENTIAL BLOG POST: Teacher Tom (TT!) @ Teacher Tom’s Blog 

Oh gosh, where do I start here!  The problem is, EVERY blog post that TT writes is influential!  TT has a remarkable gift for reflective practice accompanied with literary genius!  Nobody ‘say’s it’ like TT!

So, if I must choose just one post, mmm…,  let me see…,  so hard…,  okay, this one…  Spoilt Brats !

BEST ED TECH/RESOURCE SHARING BLOG: Donna and Sherry @ Irresistible Play-based Learning 

Sharing is what this lovely duo do the best!  I know Sherry and Donna personally following attending  a couple of their wonderful workshops, and you can rest assured, they ARE gorgeous ladies and inspirational educators!  Un-be-known to them at the time, they were inspirational in giving me the confidence to step into the blogging world.  Donna is universally recognized within the early childhood sector as someone who tirelessly supports and promotes other blogs and is the ‘go to’ person for all tech support!  She has talked me through many, often late at night, IT concerns that I have had with incredible patience.  I think I rate as the least IT saavy person she knows! 🙂

BEST INDIVIDUAL BLOG: Maria @ Casa Maria’s Creative Learning Zone

Oh how I love this blog!  If ever I need a bit of inspiration in all things art and crafty, this is where I head!  This blog is just a kaleidoscope of colour and creativity!  I am forever poaching her wonderful ideas!

BEST NEW BLOG: Lesley @ Child Art Retrospective 

Lovely Lesley is a relative ‘newby’ in the early childhood blogging world.  Not unlike Maria, I find Lesley’s blog a great place to go for inspiration in all things art and crafty.  Lesley is wonderfully skilled at displaying children’s artwork with incredible respect and reverence.  I have been watching and learning!

So there you go!  Sorry to all my special blogging friends who I have not been able to include!  You know who you are!  I won’t forget you next year, promise!

Good luck to all nominated blogs!