I teach a reading warrior.
She is fierce. She is determined. She is ruthless.
I admire her tenacity. This child reads all day. She reads during Reading Workshop. When she should. She reads when she is supposed to be doing other things. Because she must. During play time, she brings books that are currently beyond her to any available adult. “Can you read this to me?” “Now?”
She swims in words. She spins around in them. She is a reader. She will stop at nothing.
My eye is drawn to her all morning. She sits at her table reading, books spread all around her. She reads aloud to herself. With expression. With enthusiasm. When she is unsure of a word, she walks over to me. “Does this say ___?” she will ask. When I nod, she swings her eyes back to the text, a proud smile erupting on her face and walks back to her area. To read. More. And more. And more. At recess, we need to shoo her out. Gather the books she has surrounded herself with. Break her reading spell.
“Tell me about this reading. How do you feel?” I ask her.
” I am getting good at reading. It’s so fun,” she tells me.
“Why is it so important to you?”
“I could be a teacher,” she says.
“You already are,” I tell her.
She smiles. Beautifully. Hugely. Wonderfully.
I have a reading warrior.
I am participating in the Slice of Life challenge to write and publish a post every day in March.
Slice of Life is hosted by Two Writing Teachers. I thank them for the community they provide.
There's a Book for That 
Wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. And your writing, Carrie, i am so glad that you participate in this challenge. Your way of thinking and writing is inspirational.
Terje, many thanks!
I love those reading warriors. We need them in our world walking around among humans.
Oh yes, we do!
Bravo for your reading warrior! What a lucky girl to be in your nurturing classroom where she can “swim in words” to her heart’s content!
🙂 I feel so lucky to watch it happen.
I love Reading Warriors! Truly enjoying each and every post you write. 🙂
Kathleen, thank you for all of your support!
So heartwarming! I love how you told her she is already a teacher. She will probably remember that for life!
I hope so!
I love this! She’s so lucky to have a teacher who is willing to let her grow into a reading warrior!
Oh she is fierce! She is doing it with or without us!
I enjoy every post I read by you! I love, love, love how you are telling your students’ stories. Thank you.
That’s a lot of loves! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Your title of this post caught my eye!! I love that you are promoting, guiding, loving this reading warrior of yours!! Mind she always have such support around her! Thank you for sharing such a sweet post!!
Oh, I hope so too. I want her reading journey to be long and rewarding.
So exciting! Heart-warming!
It really is Loralee!
I can identify with this reading warrior, I was one too. What a gift you have for sharing your stories! Always a treat!
I bet you were Elsie! Readers and writers . . .
I love the way you wrote the piece in such staccato–it went with the warrior theme! I also love that you inspire the people in your world to value reading. You give us all a great gift of book love.
This means a lot – thank you Melanie
Carrie Wow I love watching reading warriors! It’s because of you that the children love to read!
I feel blessed to be part of it. It is the draw of amazing stories and the power of words that makes it so enticing – being a reader.
I love this tribute to your Reading Warrior. You should frame it and give it to her family. I think there is no greater thing than seeing a kid turned on to the power of reading and books.
Now that is a grand idea.
A reading warrior – we all need just one of those in our classrooms. Love the way you structured this, Carrie!
Thank you Tara. I adore this little warrior!
Yea to reading warriors and reading warrior teachers!! Such a HUGE celebration! So exciting to read! Yet another powerful slice!
Thank you Michelle! I love my reading warrior!
I love every one of your posts. They are beautifully written and heartwarming, inspirational moments. So thankful this reading warrior has a teacher like you to nurture her efforts and joy.
I am the one who is blessed to watch this happen!