My #oneword2018 is ‘READ’. I reflected for over a week on which word would best match my positive leadership and, as Jon Gordon defined it, “a different word that would have a profound impact on people’s lives and, as we called it, a Life Word.” He also mentioned that it would be something that would leave a legacy during your life. After all of these years in education, I have an emotional pull within myself to leave such a legacy and inspire others to continue learning. I believe that reading can be that motivational instrument.

Together with Teresa Gross, (@teresagross625) who co-moderates #BookCampPD with me each Saturday morning, at 9:00 AM EST, on Twitter, we have a goal of sharing with other educators newly released educational books and their content. Hopefully, through this ongoing learning and development of a strong professional learning network (PLN) we all learn together.

I spent 40 years in education. Just imagine for a minute how many meetings I sat in, how many in-service presentations there were, how many conferences I attended, and how many times I presented to others. The following graphic speaks volumes about the method of learning new ideas that worked best for me – books and stellar educators. I ask you to lean back in your chair and honestly reflect about what has formed the educator you have become today.

Many thanks to Bethany Hill (@BethHill2829) #joyfulleaders and her new #oneword2018 ‘incessant’ – for it is her unending, positive energy that continues, year after year, in motivating so many to put pen to paper and create their own word and then live by it, month after month. Thank you, Bethany!