Checkers anyone?

So I have to learn how to play checkers...by tomorrow. I learned once years ago but haven't played much (read: at all) since. As an elementary school counseling intern a lot of my sessions will revolve around doing tasks while talking to students. Many of these will be games. One of my students requested checkers. Now in order to listen to her while we play I need to not be trying to figure out how to play in the first place. I know its not a big deal and the session will be fine but this is one assignment I was not assigned in grad school. I am sure our game tomorrow will be humbling on my part.

Also not an assignment, children's TV shows. I now need to learn about Lego Batman's show and all the cool things he does. I, a. did not grow up with brothers and therefore have a very small knowledge base of action heroes and the like and b. don't really watch any movies like that as an adult. It's not a necessary topic to know much about as young kids will go on and on about it, but it could be great to pull out a cool fact about Lego Batman that shows them I get them, right? Who doesn't want to be the cool adult that can rattle off episodes of Lego Batman (not to be confused with the regular batman show)?

This is what my homework has turned out to be, how do I best connect with the students I am working with? I have to say it's pretty fun. Thanks to the wonders of smart phones, I can now practice checkers on my phone. I have yet to turn on any child's television show but I will once the marathons of NCIS and Criminal Minds have finished (anyone else addicted?).

As an aside, I would like to mention that although I am unaware of anything happening in our school concerning 9/11 it is something I hope I will never have to go through again as an American but especially now as a educator. We were told absolutely nothing about what happened that day, except that it happened. Like everyone else that can remember, I know exactly where I was when I found out and exactly where I was when I realized the enormity of the situation. If something were to happen again would I know what to do at school? I don't know.

I wish we were doing more to remember those we lost and have lost since and I hope in the future I will be able to help mark the anniversary properly.