Tap Out Tuesday

Why Tap Out Tuesday?  

I figured we all need a day where we can release ourselves from the day to day of teaching, parenting, adulting, etc.  So, use this space to tap out.  Each week I will share a moment that I need to be released from, a moment that knocked me off my socks and now needs to be sent out into the atmosphere.  I chose to "tap out" because of an experience I had when my daughter was in 10th grade.  It still haunts me to this day and even though we laugh about it now, we couldn't tap out back then.  I will finally release it here and take a deep breath.  A breath that once and for all cleanses me from that moment.

The call came in to my principal and then I was called to her office, where she handed me the phone.  We were also friends, so it wasn't odd for me to be called to her office, but when I had to go behind her desk and she motioned for me to sit in her chair while handing me the phone, I knew it was bad.  We have all made the phone call to parents where we say "everything is ok, but", well today I was being told that "everything was ok, but the paramedics are on their way just to be safe".  I could barely move.  My principal already knew so she was next to me, just in case I fainted.  I didn't, but I couldn't breathe.  My daughter had been caught in a choke hold in a game of "tap out" (she didn't know what tap out meant, so she didn't tap out) and she lost her breath

and fainted.  This happened in her high school classroom with a good friend of hers, who didn't mean to hurt her, but it happened and now it was bad.  She was fine, they let me talk to her and I cried.  I think her older sister was worse off because she was called out of class and rushed to the office to help her sister. 

When I got to the school, a resource officer asked me if I wanted to press charges (I did not) and we went home.  My husband had a different reaction, but that is a story for another day.  I tell all of you this because these games are games until someone gets hurt.  Fortunately, my daughter only fainted and she was fine within minutes.  This is not always the case.  

I taught first grade at the time and I went back to school the next day and told them the story.  My little ones couldn't believe that she didn't tap out!  I had never watched MMA fighting and have never watched it since then.  Not everyone is well versed in the lingo of such things.  There are families who don't know what that stuff entails. It was a lesson for me at that moment.  We live in a time where some children watch content that is not appropriate for them and where adults like me need to be educated on what is going on in the world, just in case.  

My little miss ended up going to prom with the boy who taught us about tapping out.  His promposal was "Don't tap out, go to prom with me".  They have been friends since third grade and are still friends today.  I am friends with the teacher who was in the class when it happened and I do not place blame on anyone.  We laugh about it and we even make "tap out" jokes within our family.  We can do this because the outcome was one where things ended up in our favor.  

Little Miss at Prom (2013)

Thinking about all that is going on in the world today, teachers and students may not be able to tap out if we are caught in a classroom with a shooter or someone who is there to harm us.  Be informed.  Be aware.  Teach your kids to say something.

What would you like to release into the atmosphere today?  Choose to "tap out" and let it go.

Whoo’s Been to Michaels, Lately? ME and I am OWLFIED!

A teacher friend of mine sent me a picture of these adorable owl chalkboards at Michaels and you know that I had to run drive safely to the store and get me some!  I bought 6, yes 6… 1 for my cute little guest room/home office that I am creating and 5 for next year’s classroom.  I have decided that I will use them as my center boards for the Daily Five rotations in my classroom for both reading and math. My center instruction signs are already owlfied and I think these will be great because I can erase them everyday and write the new info for the next day, lickety split! What do you think of them?  Have you seen them at your Michaels?  They are $7, but if you have your trusty coupon, they are almost next to nothing.  I picked up some other stuff too…well, because, you know you can’t go into a store like that and just get what you came for.  I am making some cute end of the year gifts for my team and as soon as I am finished, I will show you what I created.  Here is a pic of the chalkboards, sorry for the glare…

Have a safe and special Memorial Day Weekend .

Discouraged

So, I was all gung ho this morning as I drove to school with some new stuff, ready to at least get started.  I had to borrow the principal's key because they won't release our keys until the official start date, then I had to get the custodian to open the door to my building.  My oldest daughter was with me, not willingly, but she was there.  We were walking on the outside of the building because they were waxing the first building and guess what, IT STARTED TO POUR!!!! I then fell flat on my tush, my daughter stood in the rain laughing at me, the custodian turned around and laughed too!!!! I graciously got up and continued walking, pretty much laughing at myself!  
When I walked into my room, I took one look and didn't even feel like doing a thing.  My brand new construction paper holder was smooshed and broken, so that was it for me.  I couldn't even concentrate after I saw that.  I emptied a few things, took my extra printer home so my daughter could take it to college and we left.
I will try again on Monday......