Successful early or dual-enrolled students demonstrating competence in their university studies have not necessarily demonstrated strong performance in their high school studies. Some students report feeling bored in high school, identifying the importance of curricula meeting perceived academic needs. Following an exploratory study (n=90) which investigated perceptions ...

In this edition of Assessment News we take a close look at the new Supplementary Tests of Achievement in Reading (STAR). In particular, we consider how confident teachers can be in comparing their students’ test scores against the national norms that have been published by the New Zealand Council ...

Printouts of students’ ethnicities can help remind teachers that they are responsible for educating, and responding to the needs of, students with a range of ethnicities. However, such bare-bones information is very unlikely to fully represent students’ identities. This is especially so for students with multiple ethnicities. A simple list ...

Each article in this issue of Early Childhood Folio raises questions about values and aspirations for children, and the power of beliefs, both silent and overt, to influence policy and pedagogy ...

This is one of a series about researchers whose work has made a difference in early years education. Jane Blaikie writes about the work of Marie Bell (19 February 1922–3 November 2012).

How might ways of engaging with families set Pasifika children up for learning success? Early childhood education in New Zealand is commonly play-based and builds on teachers’ understandings about children’s interests and abilities. Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with families in their assessment and planning. However, there is little research ...

How do teachers use their interests to support teaching and learning episodes with children? How is the national early childhood curriculum,  Te Whāriki, implemented by teachers? This article uses the conversation analysis of video and audio recordings of three teachers in their day-to-day interactions with children to further ...

Recent demographic changes create new challenges for teachers in English-medium settings in early years education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Increases in the number of children learning in more than one language demand an urgent review of teachers’ pedagogies. This article draws on findings from a study that examined ways five ...

This article is based on a small-scale qualitative study that explored children’s and teachers’ responses to a selection of picture books about family diversity. The picture books all featured same-gender parented families and are in keeping with Te Whāriki where it is maintained that children and their families should see ...