Reflecting

I’m preparing to speak to a group of college juniors this week who are being inducted into a reading honor society, so I spent much of the morning reflecting on my journey as an educator and author (the topic I was asked to speak about.) I thought it very fitting since I chose “reflect” as my one little word for 2012 (see blog post from 1/11). I started searching through some old pictures and files and came across something I wrote in 1995 as part of a course I was taking:

            Over the past several years I have experienced a great deal of professional growth. But, there are 
    many more books to read, changes to make, and children to help grow in literacy. Sometimes I feel I 
    have started down a never-ending road where the journey is exciting, sometimes surprising, and always 
    inwardly rewarding. One thing I have learned from the professionals is that becoming an effective teacher 
    takes time. I will continue to read, reflect, and learn from others.

I wrote that seventeen years ago, twenty three years after starting my teaching career, and I feel the same way today. Even though I have been in the field for a long time, in many ways I know I have only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. Working with and sharing ideas with teachers, as well as reading and writing professionally have helped shape who I am as an educator, but there is always more to learn. The electronic world has definitely opened up new avenues of learning for me, and I look forward to expanding my knowledge in that area.

So, to all of you out there who have played or will play a part in my never-ending journey, I thank you. I’ve still got “miles to go before I sleep.”