As a teacher, there is no greater thing than to see students so engaged in their learning that they do not even notice visitors filtering their classroom. This has been happening since we arrived and it is so incredible to see. One would think that 3 strangers with weird voices being in classrooms would cause an uproar of gigantic proportions but it simply has not. Sure there are thousands of questions but they have not distracted from the learning. For that, I give huge props to the teachers we have met the last 7 days. This is not an easy task!
Today we had the opportunity to not only be at Mount Maunganui Primary for a second day, but we also got to go to Te Akau Ki Papamoa School to see their radio station, 107.6 TAKPFM in action. TAKPFM broadcasts Maori classes for both sections of the school in the morning and again after lunch. The students tune in from their classrooms to 2 Teacher DJs and a student DJ to learn their Maori Language. It was one of the coolest ways to learn language that engages students that I have ever heard of. Music seems to be a huge part of the Maori culture and the students LOVE learning through this medium. It was a fabulous start to our day!
After Morning Tea, we returned to Mount Primary where we spent time in the Junior end of the school. Again, MUSIC played a huge role in learning the Maori language. More than the music, however, the lessons were engaging and the students brains were growing through NUMEROUS modalities of instruction. Thank you MODERN LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS for the inquiry model that is working!! I am sure that my brain is overflowing with ideas to share with everyone back in Canada. There is much work to be done because we CARE enough to make the change.
Tomorrow (March 2nd) we are off to Otorohanga to visit a High School and see about some Kiwi Birds!
On this first day of Autumn in NZ, I will leave you with some rather useful and often funny teacher and student -isms:
"We must be threads of change. If we aren't willing to be the thread, we must abandon ship."
"Why be average when we can be awesome?"
"Working with others makes your brain grow in different directions. Is this the right direction for your learning?" "We are NOT pirates and therefore we do not need PARROTS!"
"Aloha is not New Zealand Language- in fact, we don't have a language called New Zealand"
"Can you believe that we ALL get an ipad for school- we are just so so lucky."
"Innovative Change is a scary concept- but no change is even scarier"
"Thinking is going to hurt- that's why we must do it"
"Is that the best Learning Choice you can make?"
"SPIDERRRRR!!!!! GET HIM!!!!!"