TBCS - Craig - Maori Language

I have a lovely new student in my room called Waihou. She started at our school only a few weeks ago. She was not able to swim during our swimming lessons last Monday, so we got to talk while sitting and watching the lessons.

She told me that she had come from Christchurch, where she had attended a Maori school called Haeata Community Campus. She was not allowed to speak any English there. I commented on how good her English was and that I didn't know very much Maori.

She taught me how to say ice cream in Maori 'ihecreamy'

She then asked me what Maori words I knew. As I said them, she would say the meaning in Maori and say, "What other word? ... What other word?" till I had exhausted all the words I could think of on the spot. She then proceeded to tell me Maori words that I should know and I told her the meanings in English. I knew all of them and had not been fast enough to think of them while she quizzed me earlier.

She was very proud of her knowledge and she seemed really keen that I should know more so I made a bargain with her. I would teach her English, Math, Reading, Typing etc. and she would teach me Maori. I asked her to teach me a new word every day and to test me several times over the day so I would remember it. She agreed.

Today's word was

• 1  Regular use of te reo Māori.
• 1  Recognising, valuing and utilising Māori ākonga knowledge within school setting.
• 4  Providing opportunities for ākonga engagement in co-operative learning, and reciprocal teaching. 
• 4  Fostering tuakana/tēina relationships.
• 4  Learning phrases of languages that are familiar to my ākonga who come from different cultures.
• 6  Where appropriate seeking out and validating the prior knowledge that Māori ākonga bring to their learning.

TBCS - Craig - Marae Hosting

On the 8th September 2017 the school was asked to host the Nelson Christian Academy who were visiting the Marae.
Matua Shawn had been teaching Kapa Haka at school and the students had several waiata ready.

Those of us who had not been to the Marae were welcomed when we arrived. We bought some kai with us for a shared time of food and songs.
We were told what was expected from us and then we prepared to welcome the Nelson Christian Academy.
We got to sit on the left side of the Marae and were involved in waiatas and our students were given an opportunity to give their mihis.

As hosts, out students ran stick games and taught the visiting students various games. We also hosted a time of Kai and helped clean up afterwards.

It was a really positive time and included a second visit the following week as N.C,A was too big to come in one visit.

The school's relationship with the Marae was strengthened...

• 1 & 3 Attending cultural events at school and in the local community.
• 1  Developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with whānau, hāpu, iwi and other members of the local Maori community.

TBCS - Craig - Kahui Ako COL Meeting,

On Monday 5th June all the staff went to a combined teachers and leaders Kahui Ako COL meeting.

It involved staff from around the region and included primary and secondary teachers.

We looked specifically at the achievement and buy in of our Maori students through creating a family atmosphere and doing the most we can with what we have. (Not waiting for anything to change outside of the class)

Notes are as follows...

Please click Here.

TBCS - Craig - Art - Koru design

I found a way to incorporate some koru design with the school's Christian Character.
We started with the cross central and used koru design to decorate and then we stapled them up between the windows to give a sort of pillar effect like in a Marae.

The students were enthusiastic and we did lots of research of koru design on the net before starting. In most cases the designs ended up very different.

I made the students work free hand which made them all unique.
I limited the students to using Red, Black, White, and Green.
We then laminated them before fixing them to the wall.

• Providing culturally responsive and engaging contexts for learning for Māori ākonga.