These wings have been up in my room from about week 3 of the school year back in August. During the first few days of school, I gave each of my students a feather. They were to write their name and decorate it as they saw fit. When they had finished, I then took them all together and created this pair of wings.
Our school's theme this year was "Better Together." I wanted to represent this visually for my students so I created this pair of wings. It is hard to see in the photo, but above it reads "Alone we fall; together we fly." The idea that feathers, on their own, are rather useless and can do very little. But put them together and we have a set of wings.
As with most lessons I try to impart to my students, this one I also embraced myself this year. I was blessed beyond all measure to be surrounded by helpful, strong teachers who carried me along my first year teaching. I went to them for answers, for laughs for comfort, for understanding, and I never walked away empty.
Teaching is not something one does alone. Those worksheets my students used to learn about character development? Created by a previous teacher. That anchor chart inspiration? From an English meeting discussion about what students are struggling with. That confidence to lead the class through a difficult topic? A teacher friend gave me a pep talk when I went to her with my concerns.
And it isn't just the teachers in my school (although they deserve the most credit). I am on Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers for hours each week discovering new and better ways to explore learning in my classroom.
And now here I am, at the end of the year. Staring at those pair of wings I put up what feels like years ago. Back when I didn't know just how much I would need the amazing teachers around me to carry me through my first year as a teacher. I am a little glad I didn't know at the start how much help I would need. How many afternoons I would put my head down on my desk and cry because of some perceived failure. How it would hurt my soul and drain me.
I might not have agreed to this at all if I had known. But then, I would have missed out on all the growth and learning that came along with the struggle. I would have missed out on the friendships I built with the amazing teachers around me.
As needy as I felt this year, I was pleased to learn from some that I gave a little too. That I didn't always ride on the help of others. That as a teacher, I brought something to my profession even as I struggled to learn just want it means to be a teacher. I am so very grateful for those who came beside me this year. For alone we fall.
But together we fly.
Basah words:
Masuk: Enter
Keluar: Exit
Sini: Here
Apa: What
Pagi: Morning
-Rachael
