PD with Te Waka Reo

This term I was fortunate to go with @newmarketschool to PD with Te Waka Reo. The kaupapa of these 3 hui was about Building a Quality te reo Māori Programme in your School. Michele Coxhead (Te Waka Reo) facilitated these sessions with passion and knowledge and upon entering the room you could feel her wairua and enthusiasm for the language, people and culture. We began by looking at our responsibility under the Tiriti o Waitangi - these concepts were broken down into 3Ps; partnership, participation and protection. 

The next sessions we looked at developing a streamlined, scaffolded and cohesive te reo plan for our whole kura. We have decided to base our plan around a 2 year cycle. We will have a topic each term that will coincide with the time of the year and/or our focus, with three different levels scaffolded to ensure the students can build on their knowledge. These plans are detailed and stepped out to allow all to understand and participate fully. They are still a work in progress and my hope is they will continue to be, as we work with them to add, change and tweak. 

Out of the course I was able to connect with several other like-minded teachers and we have met to continue building our resources- multiple minds is definitely better than one in this case! I have thoroughly enjoyed coming together and collaborating with a common goal in mind. 

There is still a lot more to do but I am excited and passionate about all that can be achieved and I am blessed to be working at a school where I am able to use, follow and extend my learning and passion.  

Mā te kōrero I te reo e ora ai,
mā te ora o te reo ka rangatira. 

In order for our language to be remembered it must be spoken.