Professional Inquiry 2017

Here I'm going to post updates that are particularly related to my personal professional inquiry....

9.11.17

I'm reading so much at the moment...anything that has anything to do with teaching te reo māōri in mainstream NZ schools. I've put together a proposal for 'Te Ara Ako'....a Māori Academy at Summerland. It seems that there's not enough money (or value) of it so it's going to be a push to get what I see as a need and opportunity for our school and our tamariki. Watch this space!

22.9.17
So this week I started another te reo maori course, one specifically related to learning maori and effectively using it within a classroom setting. What has stood out to me so far is this reading that we had to do which gave tips and tricks for learning a new language.

https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/10-tips-from-an-expert

These were the takeaway gems that I got...

Tuatahi, I'm inspired by Matthew's korero. These are a few things that stood out to me.

1. Use it! Don't be worried, scared or embarrassed about what other people might think about my efforts.

2. Making mistakes is ok, it means I'm learning.

3. Watch/listen to maori pouaka whakaata. I can only pick up on a few words here and there at the moment, but that will increase.

4. Learn relevant vocab and sentence structure that I can use in my work/home life.

5. Talk to myself in the car even though the kids might hate it!

6. Speak it everyday in someway or other.

The journey continues......

So for the past 2 days I've been speaking te reo during my drive to and from work and last night I watched Te Kaea (the evening news in Te reo). I can't say I understood a whole lot, but if Matthew's right, and I'm sure he is, it all adds up.

This was my pod te reo session from yesterday which solidified the learning that I did in the course on Tuesday night. Not only was it good for my learning, but I think the children enjoyed learning how to put some of their vocab knowledge into sentence form and being able to chop and change between saying different statements referring to 'Ahau, koe and ia.'

The chart isn't finished because unfortunately it's getting harder and harder to teach these sessions to the whole pod. As much as I'd like to keep having everyone because I love them all getting the exposure and learning that they might not get otherwise, it's very hard to cater for 125 kids aged between 5 and 11. I think I need to make the hard call to just do it with Ohana so they get a better session rather than more kids getting an average one. That's where I think it's heading :(

Student initiated activity...

29.9.17 Last night I read a really interesting report regarding a school's journey with learning and teaching te reo māori. 

I can't figure out how to upload the PDF but it's easily found when you type in

'Hayley Read why bother learning and teaching maori'.

I highlighted sections all over the place and these are a few of the standout things to me.

0. New Zealanders understand that te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are essential components of this country’s heritage. While they define Māori identity in particular, they are integral to the identity of all New Zealanders. This vibrant language supports the development and celebration of our national identity, enhances the mana whenua of our indigenous people and contributes to a creative and successful economy. 
   

0. Te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are intertwined, and so learning te reo Māori gives students access to te ao Māori (the Māori world) and to Māori world views.
   
1. 
   
2. 0. Identity, language, and culture count; knowing where students come from and building on what learners and their whanau bring with them. It isn’t one or the other but a concerted effort to incorporate all in order to ensure that all Maori students succeed as Maori. 
      

   
   

   TEACHER REFLECTIONS
   Benefits of Learning Te Reo Maori are as follows:
   

   • relating to others as students learn
     simple phrases.
     
   • understanding and participating in
     cultural activities, which supports an
     understanding of tikanga.
     
   • acquiring second language learning
     strategies (thinking, managing self)
     
   • • being able to acknowledge where our tamariki come from
       
     • politeness and respect when greeting others in Te Reo.
       
     • for me also it is part of our history and where I came from.
     • 
       
     • 0. Student Voice: Why should we learn Te Reo?
          
       • we have to learn about Maori culture and New Zealand is Maori home land.
         
       • might help with getting a job
         
       • helpful to be able to understand simple
         greetings
         
       • Part of NZ’s treasures
         
       • Our second language
         
       • • part of our culture
           
         • to show respect for Maori
           
         • our culture!
           
         • so the reo does not die out
           
         • really nice to greet someone who is
           Maori, in their own language

         
         

         • 
           
         
         
       • Student Voice: How do you learn te reo best?
       • skits and drama
       • writing small plays
       • having conversations
       • drama
       • flashcards
       • make cards and share with a friend
       • I think songs would be a huge part of my student's learning
       1. 0. Benefits of learning Te Reo Maori
             

          • flashcards
            
          • games
            
          • make cards and share with a friend
            Debbie Headley, Whangarei Intermediate School: 2014
            

          Myles Ferris, Principal, Te Kura o Otangarei School: 2014

          Student Voice-How do you learn Te Reo Maori best?

          Learning Te Reo in the mainstream classroom helps to break down barriers by ‘normalising’ Maori language and culture for non Maori New Zealanders. A very positive impact that is has in my classroom is that it allows me to model the behaviour of a life-long learner as I learn along with my students. This demonstrates to students that making mistakes and having the courage to try something new is part of the learning process. Learning with the class has a positive impact on the self esteem of Maori students as they see their language and culture being valued by their teacher. Also, it sometimes allows the Maori students to become the ‘experts’, another boost to their self-esteem.
       2. 
          
       3. The benefits of learning te reo Maori and its impact on my teaching in the classroom. There are many benefits, I believe, in learning and teaching te reo Maori. Participating in weekly te reo Maori classes has increased not only my confidence in delivering te reo Maori; it has also improved the quality of my teaching practice. Learning te reo Maori in a safe environment has also improved my self-efficacy in the language and culture and allowed me to practice and apply my new learning in the classroom. Another reason why learning te reo Maori has impacted my teaching practice is the children’s participation in the learning process. I have noticed the learning culture of my classroom has been influenced significantly in a positive manner. I believe this is due to my students, especially Maori seeing their language and culture being valued and celebrated on a daily basis.
       4. 
          
       5. Learning the native language of a country should be looked at as a partnership. It is for non- Māori to exercise their obligation of such partnership by learning the Māori language and culture, as Māori are expected to learn the language of our treaty partner. If under such partnership and expectation, our mainstream colleagues are expected to teach the language and culture of Māori, then the learning of the language and culture must be paramount. It is like any subject we are expected to teach for the betterment of our students. How can we expect a teacher to teach science if the teacher has no training or educating in the subject. Likewise, the same expectation when teaching maths or any other subject. The reality is, the opportunities in this day, age and country, we are greater if we know Māori and English. The relationship (whakawhanaungatanga) between the student and teacher is also paramount. Having the classroom teacher learning alongside the student creates a learning environment where both can benefit from one another, supporting and enabling. It demonstrates respect for each other’s culture, language and identity; that culture counts.