Week 1 Term 4: Teacher Practice: Reviewing School Goal 1: Māori Achievement (October 14 - October 18)

Reflection and review is a major of part of my teacher pedagogy. I wanted to start the term off by reviewing School Goal 1. School Goal 1 is: 

To raise Māori student achievement and cultural visibility. 
85% of Māori students will achieve NCEA Level 2.

In this post I want outline and try my best to answer the following questions in relation to School Goal 1. 

My reflections on School Goal 1: To raise Māori cultural visibility

In our Junior and English programs we have become increasingly intentional about Māori cultural visibility by incorporating Māori Texts into our curriculum. These include stories of Ngati Paoa, texts centered around Māori stories, myths, characters, written by Māori We are also creating units that are specifically Te Ao Māori centered (Korowai unit) and also using our primary text study units as the vehicle to explore study texts about Māori and written and crafted by Māori (both written and visual texts). In our new curriculum refresh for our NCEA Level 1 English Program we are looking at contexts around colonization in Aotearoa in New Zealand and the implications that this has on Māori, Pacific and other ethnic minority communities.

Māori cultural visibility means actively incorporating and celebrating Māori culture, language, and perspectives within our school environment. This involves more than just acknowledging Māori culture; it's about making it an integral part of our curriculum, our teaching practices, and our school culture.

Tamaki College Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Language Week 2024

For students, this visibility fosters a sense of belonging and identity, particularly for our Māori students. It also enriches the educational experience for all students, promoting understanding and respect for different cultures. We can achieve this and we have achieved this in our Department through various initiatives, such as:

1. Curriculum Integration: Incorporating Māori texts, authors, and perspectives into our English curriculum, ensuring that students engage with literature that reflects Māori voices and experiences.

2. Cultural Events: Celebrating Māori events such as Matariki and Waitangi Day, and encouraging participation in cultural performances, which helps to create a vibrant school community.

3. Te Reo Māori: Supporting the teaching and learning of Te Reo Māori across subjects, making it a visible and valued part of daily school life.

4. Collaboration with Whānau: Engaging with Māori families and community members to gain insights and build partnerships that support our students’ learning and cultural understanding.

By making Māori culture visible and valued, we not only honor the heritage of Aotearoa but also create a richer, more inclusive learning environment for all our students.

My reflections on School Goal 1: 85% of Māori students will achieve NCEA Level 2.

As a department we are constantly reviewing our data, unpacking the numbers and understanding the story behind the data. We have 17 students in our NCEA Level 2 English cohort who are identified as Māori. The data from Week 8 Term 3 (September 9 - September 13) states that:

• 6 out 17 Māori students in NCEA Level 2 English have 0 credits
• 3 out of 17 Māori students in NCEA Level 2 English have 3 credits (they passed the assessment in Term 1)
• 1 out of 17 Māori students in NCEA Level 2 English have 4 credits (they passed the assessment in Term 2)
• 5 out of 17 Māori students in NCEA Level 2 English have 7 credits (they passed the internal assessment in Term 1 and Term 2)
• 1 out of 17 Māori students in NCEA Level 2 English have 11 credits (they passed the internal assessment in Term 1, 2 and 3).

Totara House Kapa Haka 2024

Our plan going forward:

• Work with Māori students to complete internal assessments (due on Friday October 18 - end of Week 1 Term 4).
• Students with 0 credits - get them to work on ONE internal assessment this term and get them to finish it so that they can have at least 3 credits for NCEA Level 2 English. Prepare them for External Assessments in Term 4.

Totara House Kapa Haka Group 2024

I believe that there is so much room for improvement. I am grateful for this reflection because it is inspiring me to think about how I can better support Māori in a way that is meaningful and empowering. I do not want to just tick off a box. The intervention and wrap around our Māori learners needs to be authentic, genuine and mana enhancing. I look forward to documenting this journey.