Week 10 Term 1 - Teacher PLD: Talanoa Ako: Maori Success + Maori Engagement in our curriculum (April 1 - April 5)

Maori success and Maori engagement in our curriculum has been an important discussion over the last few years. Now even more so with the curriculum refresh with Te Mataiaho, how we as kaiako engage with our Maori learners can have an influence on their success in their learning. We are currently working through our workshops for the Talanoa Ako PLD program. The program is centered around supporting and building knowledge and confidence for both parents, whanau and kaiako and enabling them to champion their children's education and learning journeys. 

One of the ideas raised in our earlier discussions in February was the success of our Maori learners and what we are doing and what we need to do to support them as kaiako. We have prioritized the last two sessions in our Talanoa Ako PLD looking at Maori achievement and what it looks like for our learners in our classrooms and what we can do to support it and nurture it. 

In Week 7 in Session 5 we looked at 'The 5 themes of Pacific Culturally Safe Learning Spaces' and in particular looking at Maori success and Maori Engagement in our curriculum area. We discussed what this looked like and from the discussion we grouped our ideas onto themes or a set of values linked to Maori Success/Engagement. This was an interesting discussion to see what our spaces look like for our Maori and Pacific learners. 

English Department Feedback: Session 5: Talanoa Ako PLD

Theme One: Mana Enhancing Learning Experiences

Feedback: 'Mana expressing yourself  in your work and in your language', 'Engaging with texts in a meaningful way', 'Mana - seeing yourself in the learning and curriculum'. 

Next Steps: We have redesigned our NCEA Level 1 English Program to align with Te Mataiaho (curriculum refresh). The kaupapa behind the refresh is to use texts that are culturally and socially responsive to our learners and we want our learners to feel motivated and to see themselves in the texts that we study. This will have a positive impact in their learning and in how they achieve in NCEA Level 1 English. We are hoping to continue the 'Mana Enhancing Learning Experience' across our Junior English and Senior English program. We are currently revamping our Year 9 and Year 10 English program. 

Theme Two: Whakawhanaungatanga: Relationship Building and Power Sharing in the classroom

Feedback: 'Whakawhanaungatanga - student teaching teacher', 'Whakawhanaungatanga - students sharing their learning', 'Kaitiakitangi - mutually navigating the whakaaro and whakahua of Te Reo Maori'. 

Next Steps: With the new curriculum design, specifically with NCEA Level 1 - we are hoping that the new program will encourage our students and especially our Maori students to share in their learning, to use their strength in Te Reo Maori and Te Ao Maori to teach both our kaiako and akonga. How we manage that space is important and we would like to see more professional development to help us support this space for our learners.

Theme Three: Digging Deeper: Learning

Feedback: 'We enjoyed the PLD on Powhiri and Karakia with Hone Naunui Rapana - we want more of that' and 'Understanding each part of tikanaga behind Powhiri and other elements of Maori culture that we are exposed to in school'. 

Next Steps: This is clear for me as a HoLA that my team are open and willing to learn more about Te Reo and Te Ao Maori. I too am interested in learning about this so that I can be more in tune with the needs and strengths that my Maori learners bring to the classroom. 

I am looking forward to sharing and reflecting more on my take away from the Talanoa Ako PLD sessions.