Mary's Professional Blog

 When indigenous peoples come to learn from Tautoro School.  Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School  spent 3 amazing days with us to observe, and to learn how we teach te Reo Māori in our school. We shared our educational experiences, resources, and ways forward that we have been exploring for te reo Māori. What a privilege to be able to help and support the first indigenous school in NSW.  They observed our tuakana classrooms engaged in kemu (games), panui and tuhituhi. I also spent some time talking to the group and answering questions like how do we teach the language? What resources do we use and how do we assess their learning?  There was much discussion and explanation of the thinking and understanding of what the planning and preparation might involve, and also the time for kaiako to process the curriculum and assessment information available  before implementing in the classroom.  The advantages and disadvantages of first and second language lear...

 Our PD facilitator has opened up the door for us to look inside Te Tīrewa Marautanga. This has been supported by Ulearn speakers na te whānau Toia o Ngapuhi.  He Tīrewa Ako is a teaching and learning guide that kaiako and ākonga can use to plan and track progress over time in reo ā-waha (oral language), tuhituhi (writing), pānui (reading), and pāngarau (mathematics) within Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. Reo ā-waha, tuhituhi, pānui and pāngarau are each made up of a set of tīrewa (progressions) representing the key components within that area of learning. Each tīrewa describes a set of whāinga (indicators of critical skills, aspects of knowledge and/or attributes) which an ākonga needs to demonstrate, and which cannot be left to chance.  Kaiako and ākonga can use the whāinga to track progress and achievement along the learning pathways Our first Whanau Tuakana Tuhituhi moderation was held...