I was reflecting with a group of educators from Shakerag Elementary in Johns Creek, Georgia when Linda Ockwell, one of the teachers, said, "Teaching is my passion. Getting better is my job." The words stopped me in my tracks. When I asked her to repeat them, she said again, "Teaching is my passion. Getting better is my job." The quote is now recorded in my journal, where it stares me down, daring me to make it my own.

Most of us are passionate about being teachers. We care deeply about helping all students achieve high levels of success as well as helping them become kind and productive citizens. It is this passion that leads us to increase our knowledge and hone our skills, becoming the best teachers we can be. In the article Teachers' Mindsets: Every Student Has Something to Teach Me, Carol Dweck agrees, saying, "You recognize that the growth of your skills is in your hands, and you choose to make that happen."

How do we get better at our jobs? How do we take the growth of our own skills into our hands?

• By gaining ideas and techniques from professional literature
• By observing outstanding teachers in action in their rooms and in professional development settings.
• By participating in candid conversations with colleagues
• By setting professional goals, and then taking action in incremental steps that will enable us to achieve them
• By taking advantage of technology: watching teaching videos, following teaching blogs, interacting on teacher Twitter chats, and more

Having passion is just part of the equation of being a good teacher. Getting better at what we do is what will make the greatest difference for the students we serve.

We've already got the passion. Let's continue to refine our skills and bring greatness to our craft.

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