Category Archives: Slice of Life

It Started with a Hug.

Family, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

“So this all started with a hug,” the doctor said just a couple of hours ago.

I laughed and said maybe I’d write a story called that: “It started with a hug.”

I had just told him that my 18 year old had lifted me in a bear hug on Sunday, and I had been in excruciating pain since an hour after that.

Before that, I had told the x-ray technicians the story.
Before that, I had told the LPN the story.
Before that, I had told the RN the story.
Before that, I had told my chiropractor the story. He popped my rib back in place, told me to ice it every hour, and to come back on Friday.

Way before that I had told my son, “If I have to go to the doctor because of this and tell them this embarrassing story I’m going to be very upset.”

The respiratory specialist getting my EKG ready actually loved the story. She said her brother still lifts up her mom all the time. We laughed about how teenagers are either ignoring you, or hugging you until you break.

The LPN said, “Well, you’re still young. When you are elderly, that will definitely crack a rib. It’s why we don’t like to perform CPR on the elderly. They say they want all of the things, but…”

Speaking of quotable quotes, the doctor said to me, very seriously, “I’m going to turn my brain off for this one, and just pretend it doesn’t make sense that you chest hurts after that hug. I mean, how strong is your son, do you think you have multiple fractures or something? It’s probably just some discomfort, but we’ll just do the full chest pain protocol.”

I couldn’t let it slide, so I smiled sweetly and said, “Oh good. That’s just what I like my doctors to say about their brains.”

Good news! My ribs aren’t cracked, I don’t have random pneumonia, and my heart was not attacking. It was an annoying 4 hours at the hospital, but at least I know that this is most likely just a muscle strain, taking its time to heal. Oh, and also the hospital has a stronger NSAID than advil, so I think that’s helping too.

Not so good news. . . I’m not sure the doctor will ever turn his brain back on.

What If?

Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

What if instead of writing I just
Checked and edited my progress reports?
Made sure my plans are solid for the rest of the week?
Did the dishes?
Did my laundry?
Watched more Gilmore Girls?
Read my book?
Stared into space for a bit?
Went to bed?
What if?
What.
If.

Spring Break Reset

poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

We went back from spring break today.
It was also a two-hour delay.
As I’m learning, breaks from school make us forget.
Procedures need reviewed,
we need a routine reset.
I get it, I do.
I need a reset too.

But, even though I’m not
surprised
it’s hard not to
roll my eyes.
Like, can I be more blunt?
A line is where someone’s behind you,
and
someone’s in front

I’m sure you will agree
There’s not that many good reasons
to interrupt me
and please, in general
pick a better time
a non direction-giving time
to sharpen your pencil.

I’m glad you are done, or
think you are done
(or are wondering what you are supposed to do)
or need some one on one.
I know waiting is tough,
you’ve had enough.
I get, I do.
I need a reset too.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Alright. Let’s try some Fibonacci Poems – or “Fibs” as they are called here.

I’ve decided to write my Fibs as fibs. For a little extra fun.

Fib Fun! How Fantastic.

Spring
Break
is done
tomorrow
We had long enough
No need for any more resting

****

My
dog’s
barking
brings me peace
In his sudden noise
I find inner quiet so well

***

One
Small
untruth
is just fine
Nobody needs trust
Stop glazing authenticity

Saturday Confessions or something

Family, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Another person asked me today, “How long until you can retire?”
So basically now I have a complex.
I mean, I’m using the under eye cream my daughter gave me for Christmas, so what’s going on, folks?

I drove by my old street today and told my dog, “Hey! That’s where I used to live when I was a kid, right there.”
I pointed and he turned his head to look out of the window.
Totally normal, nothing to see here.

Somehow today I didn’t do any school work. None! This should feel relaxing, but it turns out… not so much.
I guess it doesn’t matter how much you work during Spring Break, you still won’t feel ready for school to start again.

Today my son flew back from Spain, he’s on his way from JFK right now so I am playing a little game called “How much TV can I watch to pass the time?”
In other news, there are never enough Thin Mint cookies, and it doesn’t really matter how many you buy.

More spring break please: Some poems

poetry, Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

More Spring Break, Please: A Limerick

There once was a teacher at home
For spring break she did not roam
She did a few chores instead
watched Gilmore Girls and read
”Just one more week!” she pled.

A Teacher on Break: A Clerihew

A teacher on break
Has so much at stake
There’s only one week to fill
So instead of chores, she chills!

Short Spring Break: A Than-Bauk

I did not know
Break was so short
But, oh! It was

Last day: A Monostich

this day, this Friday, is the last day before the two day weekend, then school.

Poetry form ideas from here.

A Gaggle Perhaps?

poetry, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

Today I happened upon a large group of leaf blowers
like actual men, with leaf blowers on their backs
It was a huge pack
I don’t know if that’s what you call a large group of leaf blowers
a pack
so I look up different
collective nouns for animals
and I wonder what this group would be called

to help decide you must picture this
large group of men, with leaf blowers on their backs
clouds of decomposed leaf dust surrounding them
leaking into the street even
with the leaves not yet wrangled there in the street too
they barely slowed when I drove by
and I wondered if they would just blow the brown dust all over my car
or in it
or perhaps blow my van away
it was a very large group of leaf blowing men, so I don’t now how much power that many leaf blowers have!

I’m not sure if pack is the right term for this group
maybe
a parade, like elephants or
a flight, like insects
a school, like dolphins
Let’s remember they were singularly focused, and on my brief driving by encounter,
I did not encounter
much consideration

so maybe
a band, like gorillas
a conspiracy, like lemurs or
an army, like ants makes the most sense
certainly not
a parliament, like owls or
a charm, like finches

They startled my landscape so
I wanted to snap a picture of the gang, like elk, of these
leaf blowers
but by the time I drove by again
they had disappeared, as if never there
as if I had imagined them
like a leap of leopards
a skulk of foxes
a murder of crows
a scurry of squirrels
a deceit of lapwings
and all they left was a large pile of dead leaves and twigs
in their wake

Through the Van’s Window

Pets, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

I was turning left when I saw an older man walking his golden retriever at the corner. The dog had stopped so the man stopped too. He turned around and they stared at each other for a moment.

The man said something. I don’t know what he said because it wasn’t as spring-like today as it was yesterday. My windows were up. My heat (and my heated seat) was on!

But, I’m pretty sure he said what I have to say to my dog on so many walks.

“Let’s go. We are going this way. I’m in charge.”

And I’m pretty sure the golden retriever just laughed. I mean his mouth was open in that amazing golden retriever smile. You know the one.

I drove away laughing, so I’ll never know who got their way.

When this exchange happens on my walks I usually feel all sorts of feelings. I’m frustrated because I want to keep walking. I’m empathetic and feel bad for my dog who just wants to make an autonomous decision about where to walk. I don’t usually laugh.

But watching it through the van window? Seeing the dog smiling? I laughed, and honestly their exchange brought me so much joy. Some might say this makes me evil. I think it just gave me a little perspective.

Later I took my dog for a walk, and we got to the place where he always wants to go towards the park. He stopped and I sighed.

I told him, “Finn, I know you know I laughed and cheered for that golden retriever earlier. But right now we need to go this way on a short walk. Then, we will snuggle. Then you can have another walk. I’m in charge.”

And you know what? He walked with me, and I laughed.

Until we got to the next corner where he wanted to go to the other park, of course.

Spring Break Progress Report

Reflections on teaching, Slice of Life

This slice is part of 
of the March Slice of Life Challenge on  Two Writing Teachers! #sol25. I’m slicing every day in March. Thanks for stopping by!

After spending a chunk of this beautiful Spring Break day working on my progress reports, I thought it might be a good idea to give Spring Break its own.

Spring Break Progress Report

Rests Fluently: Approaching grade level standard
Pleasure Reads: Approaching grade level standard
Applies skills and strategies to comprehend what a Break is: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Spends time with Family: Approaching grade level standard
Evidence of Chore To Do List being completed: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Writes to share an opinion, tell a narrative or give information: Meeting grade level standard
Communicates Mathematical Thinking by getting Taxes Done: Not yet meeting grade level standard
Demonstrates Signs of Spring: Consistently
Gather and apply information from maps to travel: Not Currently Emphasized

Comments: Spring Break has consistently been working hard to show signs of spring. The warm weather is appreciated by everyone! Spring Break is working on knowing how to rest fluently but it’s hard for it to totally detach from work, or truly know what a break is. Continuing to practice its pleasure reading skills will go far in making it more confident to put off the pressures of the upcoming school week, and relax with a book. Although Spring Break has spent some time with its family, it would need all children home in order for it to meet the standard. I am impressed by how Spring Break keeps writing even when it’s tricky, or it is tired! I will continue to encourage Spring Break to check things off of the to do list including the tax mathematics. Getting these things done will go far in helping Spring Break have the confidence it needs to continue growing. Maybe next year Spring Break will be ready for a new unit of study: Using Maps for Travel.