A summary - Teaching to the North-East by Russell Bishop focuses on the importance of strong, caring relationships between teachers and students. Bishop argues that students, especially Māori and other under-served groups, learn best when they feel respected, valued, and supported. He describes the "North-East" zone as the ideal teaching space—where teachers combine warm, trusting relationships with high expectations and effective teaching. In this approach, teachers build classroom environments like families, listen to students' voices, and work together with them to plan learning. The book highlights that when teachers truly connect with students, they can make a real difference in their success. I always felt having my classroom relationships and environment have a 'family feel' was important. This book and the research of Russel Bishop in the Kotahitanga project and subsequent work has confirmed this for me. I have also seen this with my now Year 13 son wh...
The highlight for me of our 2024 Pasifika Fiafia was making a wee collaboration with South Hornby School work. We had the Fa'ataupati working well with our Pasifika TA teaching our tama. We wanted to share our performance with the tama from Manu Tukutuku- South Hornby, to perform a joint fa'ataupati at Fiafia. Great experience and energy, and a real community effort. I think the practice was even more fun than the performance!
When I say I work at a 'Manaiakalani' School, I am often asked what that means. I have to admit I did not have a very good answer. Link to the Manaiakalani story . Manaiakalani Where did the name come from? The local Ka ū matua was asked to gift a name to the Trust. When the purpose of the Trust was explained to him, after some time he returned with a Hawaiian word Manaiakalani. Manaiakalani is the name of a star line, translated "The Hook from Heaven" and the name of the demi-god Māui Tikiti a Taranga’s fishhook, which he used to pull up a giant fish at the bottom of the ocean – a metaphor for the discovery of new islands at the bottom of the earth. It’s also a perfect metaphor for our journey of discovery using digital learning tools as a hook and a guide to deliver the knowledge our children need to be successful citizens of the 21st century. The Hawaiians used the Manaiakalani Star line to navigate to NZ and back from Hawaii. This idea of supporting our student...
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