We come together in our lamp lit rooms,

Groups of three of four with heads bent low

Poring over texts we’ve learnt to heart,

To which we’ve cried and lol’d, identified

With headstrong girls that gallop through

Those yellowed pages from a hundred years ago.

And as the words bounce around our circle in

A hum of thoughts sitting on the tips of tongues –

‘Miss! I know the answer, I think –

I just can’t say the words quite yet.

But as we weave together all those broken pieces,

Like women at the clacking loom, singing songs

To aid the fingers in their work, we see

The outline of the greatness held within;

All it took was gentle prising from the brain

With help from friends in little study groups.

I ran my first little lunchtime study group today – and it was such a positive experience. I had some of my difficult students – who have made me cry – come along, and that understandably made me a bit nervous.

However, I’m determined to build bridges and make sure those students have confidence in me. After all, I hate the idea that they might be sitting in my class thinking I’m crap at my job and that they would rather have one of my colleagues teaching them.

I know from going to small bible study groups that studying in a smaller group can be really powerful. Something happens when minds come together and everyone has a chance to engage and listen to each other. And I find that pretty amazing.

Today made my heart feel full of gratitude (and a little bit of pride in myself, sorry). I’ll definitely be running these groups regularly and it has reminded me how much I have actually missed meeting with people and having a meaningful dialogue.

Do make sure that you take every opportunity to bounce ideas around with people; you never quite know what will come out of it.

Much Love,

Rachel xx