It’s recommendation season and as I write these letters for future teachers and potential graduate students, I wonder if the folks who end up reading them understand that the highest compliment I pay students is to describe them as a “reader.” I love my students who furtively hide books that aren’t for class. I love my students who bring other things they’ve been reading into the class discussion. I love any evidence that students are reading.

I just wish I could describe more students this way.