Change Team

In our Change Team meeting last night our focus was on Cultural Competencies (we are focusing on improving outcomes specifically for our Maori learners and, of course, ourselves).
I found the following video of Anjali's story especially moving - worth checking out! (Next Day EDIT: I have referred to it at least three times today on different occasions!)

http://tekotahitanga.tki.org.nz/Videos/Teacher-stories/Anjali-s-Story-Relationships-Pt1

My particular focus in our small group was whanaungatanga; relationships with high expectations. This is an area that resonates strongly with me as being an integral tool in personalising learning. An important part of improving learning outcomes for all the learners in our classrooms (and I include me in that statement!!).

I can see Anjali doing the following;

• seeking opportunities to develop meaningful relationships with students and their whanau
• displaying knowledge of students' life/interests outside the classroom
• pronouncing names correctly
• power sharing! (one of my favourites!)
• providing a warm, interactive environment
• valuing prior knowledge/students' own real life experiences/cultural knowledge
• making connections between the learning in the classroom and real life situations
• supporting positive student talk (no put downs)

I would like to ask these students if their experiences with this particular teacher will positively impact their future learning with other teachers...(has it been sustainable for their future outcomes, do they think they have strategies from their experiences with this teacher that will support future learning?)

Such an important story to bravely share!

Also from our text, Tätaiako...

‘Whaia te iti kahurangi; ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei’ - roughly, in Shinekorero, it speaks about aiming high (for the sky) so that if you miss and do not meet your expectations you will still hit a lofty mountain!