week 28

Week 28
Task 4

Interestingly for some reason formatting had a wee meltdown and had to delete this week and start again.
Never mind.

Activities 4 : Indigenous knowledge and cultural responsiveness in my practice

After reading the Class Notes, create a blog post where you first share your own views on the indigenous knowledge and culturally responsive pedagogy.

For me after 16 years of teaching it is about treating every child as a part of a legacy. Knowing and understanding that all students re connected to those that came before them, where they are now, and those that will come after them. Allowing and ensuring that they know and are proud of the funds of knowledge they bring with them.

For Maori students working with to be aware of and proud of the culture they bring with them. Making sure that they are in many cases more expert than I am and valuing their expertise. Understanding and valuing Maori students as Maori and developing strong a robust relationships based on the respect of who students are as people, and the intricate knowledge, values, and belief they bring with them and share with others. In all honesty some of what I have read in the research for this task had me a little baflled as to where the authors were coming. from. I have taught in Rotorua and Murupara where the role is mainly Maori. I ended up having conversations with two of our Maori teachers who have had very different experiences in education than I and they were helpful in explaining what happens in other schools and for some students, for that I am grateful as they have given me a different perspective

 Critically reflect on how you or your school addresses cultural responsiveness in practice
Our school is very culturally responsive. We are fortunate to be closely linked with our local iwi Nga Whakaue . Our whanau houses are named after leaders from this iwi.
Our Manaakitanga programme which is about fostering positive behaviour in our community is an holistic approach to developing strong, independent caring young people.
Out Te Kahui Rangitahi group are students who have been identified as leaders in our kura and are an intricate part of strengthening and supporting Maori activities in our school. They have a strong sense of their Maoritanga and are able to lead and support students and teachers.
A variety of languages are actively taught across the school and a variety of cultures are acknowledged and celebrated through recognition of all our cultures, through ceremonies such as a our flag ceremonies, as well as food and dance.
Cultures are recognised and valued through simple activities such as using Maori myths and  legends, fables and legends from other cultures of students in classes as part of narrative writing etc, through to in depth exploration our local area, with important land marks, such as Pukeroa hill, battle grounds on Rotorua, why these were significant in the past and why they are significant now. Art project that look at the art Maori adn other cultures and the stories, belief and values that art portrays


It is difficult to encompass all that we are currently doing well and areas that we are working on improving on to ensure we are respecting and valuing Maori and other cultures in a short blog. One thing I am very certain of is that every child's culture, values, belief system is held in high regard by our staff. 

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