Enriching the curriculum Incorporating some aspects of tikanga Māori along with specific words and phrases of te reo Māori into my teaching Tēnei te mihi ki a Koutou e te manuhiri tūārangi. Nau mai, piki mai, kake mai. Ko tūmanako ka whai hua tēnei huihuinga o tātou I greet all of our distinguished guests. Welcome, welcome, welcome. The hope is that our gathering together is a fruitful one. Tena koutou katoa Ka mihi ki a kotou e nga Amorangi Ki a koutou hoki e kui E koro ma Ko Ngongotaha te maunga Ko Rotorua te moana Ko Rangitata te waka Ko Amir taku tama Nō Tauranga ahau Ko Katie Bain-Calvert tōku ingoa Nō rēira Tena koutou kato I thought I would open with a greeting and a mihi as that is Māori custom or Tikanga (no waiota today though) which is partly of what my learning contract is about….incorporating some aspects of Tikanga Māori along with specific words and phrases of Te Reo Māori into my teaching. By starting with a greeting and mihi shows that I have learnt at least this part of Tikanga Māori – there is more to come.

How did I enrich my knowledge? Practicum four Kohanga Reo Readings Internet Practicum Four: From the beginning of Practicum Four I observed the teaching staff using words and phrases in Te Reo Māori. They incorporated Tikinga and Te Reo Māori into their teachings through their language, the dispositions they value from Te Whatu Pōkeka (Kaupapa Māori assessment for learning) and Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mō nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early Childhood Curriculum (Ministry of Education, 1996). I used the teacher’s knowledge of words and phrases to compile a list to use in my teachings throughout my practicum. Kohanga Reo: During my immersion experience I continued my enquiries with the teachers / kaiako to add more words and phrases to my list together will learning about some aspects of Tikanga Māori. Readings and Internet: Through numerous readings of books and internet sites.

What have I learned Words and phrases Tikanga Weaving Respect curriculum Words and phrases: During my studies I have learned a number of words and phrases to use within an early childhood setting. Including how to make a mihi very simple so that the children are able to learn it themselves. These words and phrases go beyond basic commands but include praise that will enable me to build up the children’s mana / strength and courage within themselves as valuable, capable and competent beings. Tikanga: With Tikanga, I learned that I am already using a number of aspects of it without realising as it is part of my New Zealand culture. Some examples of this include: bending down to the children’s level while speaking with them – displaying that I value them and what they have to say. By encouraging the children to do things for themselves – showed them that I believed that they were capable learners. Praising the children and building up their mana / strength and self assurance. Weaving: By using Te Reo and Tikanga Māori I have become more aware, not only of Māori culture, but also my own culture and how it I can weave both cultures with every day practices. Respect: Acknowledging and understanding of both cultures has aided my acceptance and respect of the Māori pedagogy and shows that I value Māori culture. Curriculum: Through a variety of readings, I have further learned the value of Tikanga Māori and that providing a bicultural curriculum is imperative to the implementation of Te Whāriki.

How will my increased knowledge be used to enrich children’s learning? enrichment How will my increased knowledge be used to enrich children’s learning? Bi-cultural heritage Connected and valued– sense of belonging and well-being Improve listening skills, confidence and language acquisition “Ko te reo te tai kura o te whakaao mārama – language is the key to understanding” (Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, 2009, p. 86). Bi-cultural heritage: By incorporating Te Reo and Tikanga Māori within my teaching practices I will enrich children’s learning by giving them the opportunity learn about both cultures of the Treaty of Waitangi (Ministry of Education, 1996). Basically their heritage of being New Zealanders will be woven into their lives through the teaching of Te Reo and Tikanga Māori. Connected and Valued: In doing this, not only will all children feel connected to their culture of being raised in New Zealand, but also importantly, the children and families of Māori decent will feel that their culture is honoured and valued. This will significantly give all children a sense of belonging and wellbeing (Ritchie & Rau, 2008). Improve listening skills….: By using Te Reo Māori in an early childhood setting, children will begin to understand not only the culture but that the language is relevant and valued. Together with this it will improve listening skills, confidence and language acquisition (Ministry of Education, 2015).

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