CODE RED

For those of you who don't know my latest (no I'm not pregnant) I am substituting at Kaden and Rie's school for the counselor who is out on maternity leave. I'm having a great time with all of my classes. She actually spends more time teaching than counseling. I've been teaching character education. This week I've been teaching the difference between tattling and something that needs to be told to K and 1st grade. For 2nd and 3rd grade I've been discussing friendship and how to be a good friend. Then the older grades I've been going through how to be prepared for class. It's fun and I'm learning ALOT of new names!

Anywho... today was an interesting day because we had a code red. That means that we had to lock down the school. Apparently there was a robbed armery not far from the school and we wanted to be safe. I had a 3rd grade class at the time and of course they're the age where they first made jokes about it. I told them this was serious and not funny. I continued my lesson and we completed our assignment but I could hear them talking about it. They didn't appear scared or worried much, but a couple made a few comments about the what ifs.

This is when in an instant I thought and felt exactly what all those teachers in the school shootings must have felt. It was this immediate sense of protection for those children. And, although my own children were in the same building I became more worried about the children in my room rather than my own. When I was walking them back to their classroom the last kid was joking about what if someone came from behind them. I told them that no matter what I would be there to protect them and keep them from harm. I would put myself in between those students and anybody that would harm them. It was this rush of emotions although I knew nothing was happening to us.

I just wanted to share this with you because most of you reading this were teachers or have children that are or will be in school soon. Thank you to my teacher friends for being the ones to teach, nurture and protect our children. And, to those of you who are parents or going to be... don't forget to thank your teachers and let them know that you appreciate all they do. They just might save a life one day.