If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants. —Isaac Newton
There is something quite evolutionary about our profession. Workshops, conferences, professional books, collegial conversations and experiences with students are the constant fuels that keep our fires of learning fed.
This past week at the NCTE conference, we had an opportunity to meet Dr. Ken Goodman, a reading research giant whose shoulders we've been standing on since early in our careers. Ken's publications have had a profound effect on our belief system and practice. While chatting, we mentioned that we've been standing on his shoulders for years now. Without missing a beat, he said, "So that's why I'm so stooped over."
We laughed together, and then this sweet, humble man said he was happy to have us stand on his shoulders, but what he really wanted was for us to remember that it is time now to let others stand on ours.
He didn't just mean us. He meant all of us. Learning from one another and supporting each other is what takes us from good to extraordinary. Providing foundational support for new teachers so they can one day carry others on their shoulders will ensure that generations of children will get the educational experience they need and deserve.
Life in our classrooms can be isolating. We have to step outside the confines of those classroom walls, continue learning, and help others rise to their professional potential.