What a wonderful group of colleagues and friends I have! Yesterday I came home to find this book on the kitchen table:

Who’s Doing the Work? by Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris

I tore open the cardboard box in my excitement, and plopped down on the couch with my new book to read. As I focused on the Foreward by my Daily 5 mentor, Joan Moser (“The 2 Sisters”), I nodded my head and giggled to myself more than a few times. I then turned to the acknowledgments, and I found many names of teachers and leaders I have followed and who have inspired me for the last several years, and — what? — really? I read my name in the list. Wow! I can’t believe how lucky I am to be part of the Twitter and Voxer groups that inspire so many people to teach better every day. I am truly honored. Thank you Jan and Kim!

While checking my Voxer messages today, I noticed that another Voxer friend, Erica Pecorale, had attached her guest post from the NCTE blog. (Click here to see that fabulous post.) We met in person last fall at the NCTE Annual Conference in Minneapolis. What an amazing experience! I got to hang out with the literacy rock stars I followed via social media for so long. My dreams came true!

These literacy leaders inspire me to read, write, and teach GREAT things each day. Thank you all, my wonderful friends! I can only hope to one day follow in your footsteps.