Set 2022: no. 2

Despite the Ministry of Education Statement of Intent 2021–2026 to focus on improving equity for Māori and Pacific learners and ensure education opportunities and outcomes are within reach for every learner, these groups remain a concern in the New Zealand education system. Inequity still exists for Māori and Pacific learners. This article explores one school’s journey towards a culturally sustaining pedagogy, the de-siloing of the lives of their Pasifika students, and a re-indigenisation of… Read more

A wide research base in general Pacific education literature supports active learning activities that encourage students to work collaboratively. Many schools engage Pacific students in group-based learning together with other pedagogies to increase their achievement. Despite this, the education of Pacific origin students in Aotearoa New Zealand is not delivering equitable results and requires revision. Fijian Indian students are a relatively unexplored population within the Pacific… Read more

Twice-exceptional (2e) students face many barriers to learning opportunities due to their combinations of giftedness and learning disabilities. If 2e students are referred to special education teachers such as resource teachers of learning and behaviour (RTLB), challenges may be encountered when RTLB lack
knowledge of twice-exceptionality. This article provides insight into the barriers RTLB face when identifying 2e students, and how RTLB provide learning programmes that promote and… Read more

Teachers who read for pleasure can enable their students to become readers as they consciously and unconsciously model the knowledge, practices, values, beliefs, and language (that is, the discourses) associated with being a reader. Such teachers are in the unique position of being able to talk with students about what they are currently reading, why they like it—or do not, what is puzzling them, and why. Such conversations open the space for students to do the same in relation to stories… Read more

This article explores the power of picturebooks through key ideas supported by research from New Zealand and around the world. A range of picturebooks are used to exemplify points made, including the power of picturebooks to increase awareness of languages, expand our vocabulary, allow us insight into the lives of others, reflect who we are, and reflect and develop our national identity.

Multiple motivation factors work together to influence how students learn and achieve. Motivation can be enhanced by instruction that supports learning-related expectancies of success and strengthens perceptions that learning is useful. It also helps to keep in check students’ beliefs that learning involves unreasonable effort, emotional, or opportunity costs. This article provides a set of strategies that teachers could use in their instruction both to strengthen students’ confidence in… Read more