I Could

Slice of Life '25 2 Minutes

I could slice about the tutoring session and decoding fatigue.

I could slice up the process of helping the kindergarten team plan a writing mini-lesson for parents.

I could slice about my improvised visit to the first-grade classroom to ask for poetry moves and getting: I love doing sounds, I like describing things, I’m so good a repetition.

I could slice about my meeting with the 3rd-grade team and how glad I am to have provided nonfiction learning progressions to guide them.

I could slice about the fantastic feedback I hear about a teacher I informally coached (she mostly wanted to see me run lessons.)

I could slice about the incredible lunch and my efforts to save 50% of my plate for veggies and salad.

I could slice about the email I’m glad I didn’t send.

I could slice about the email I’m glad I sent.

I could slice about the moment I heard a teacher say, “…and so I worked backward, like Ana said, to see what needed to be taught in this unit…”

I could slice about the 5th grader who came to interview me about my new position and the face he made when he saw my calendar.

I could also slice about his question: “So teachers don’t have to be experts at everything all the time?”

I could slice about coming in late and chatting with Elena’s teacher for a few seconds.

I could slice about arriving 20 minutes late because of wild, unexpected traffic leaving home.

I could slice about the ‘talk’ I had with Elena in the car about spilling water, and how she repeated, “Entendido” over and over.

I could slice about the ‘talk’ I had with myself about the dumb mistake of letting her keep her water bottle in her car seat when I know she’s in the What if I do this? face.

I could slice about leaving 3 minutes later than expected (not knowing how late I would end up being) because I decided to take the boxes to the recycling bin.

I could slice about not finding the freaking bin when it’s ALWAYS there.

I could slice about taking a few extra minutes after Tim left to load the dishwasher and clean the counters (again, not knowing how late I would end up being).

I could slice about Elena’s request to play her class playlist while eating breakfast.

I could slice about our cuddles in the dark after another 5AM random wake-up.

I could slice about the smell of her neck.

I could, could, could, but I don’t have time.

So, instead, I could just finish this list and press publish.

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Published by Ana Valentina Patton

I aim to be a learner, not a knower. If I forget, please remind me.

Published

9 thoughts on “I Could”

  2. I really enjoyed the format of your post—it felt like I was right there in your head as you reflected on your day. The “could slice” moments made it so fun to read, and I could totally picture the 5th grader’s face when he saw your calendar! I make the same face every time I see it too! LOL

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  3. So many slices – so little time! I love how thinking about writing throughout the day means you notice the moments, and how the moments pile up into their own evocation of the day. Also, “entendido” made me laugh. Kids are funny – sometime after they’ve dumped water everywhere…

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  4. I can hear this list being created in your head throughout the day. I love that you gave it a rhythm and a refrain, because every moment truly was sliceable—how could you pick just one?

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  6. Oh, there truly is slice-after-slice here. I’m loving the fulcrum lines, so evocative:” I could slice about the email I didn’t send. I could slice about the email I’m glad I sent.” All that we learn and that clever finish make this another joy to read!

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  7. I enjoyed reading your list – I could really feel both your frustrations and your joy. I’ve used this strategy with fourth graders. Sometimes they would find a topic as they wrote about not knowing what to write. Other times they would end up with a neat list like yours. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. I find this so precious. I t took me a minute to realize I was going backward in time through your day, and I loved that time-line. I liked how some lines (potential slices) were good, some, bad. How some small decisions lead up to being late. How you got so much satisfaction during your work day. But the best ones are the ones about Elena! Whether the “what if I do this phase’ or the morning snuggles and neck smells. Sometimes its the unconventional post that really works. Love this post.

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