This paper presents a literature review of theory and briefly presents insight from a case study. The literature review attempts to explain what Pūtaiao is, how it is being taught, and the learning of Pūtaiao. It also investigates the Pūtaiao curriculum and the challenges currently being faced. The literature covers students from early childhood, primary, and secondary school, and in this review, it is mainly limited to Māori immersion classrooms and schools. Further work is needed focusing on teacher education and professional development of Pūtaiao teachers. Pūtaiao as a subject is facing several challenges that may be combated through more specific interventions - rather than studies investigating Kura as a whole. Despite the challenges faced, the literature overall has a positive outlook in which Pūtaiao is enjoyed by students who see it relates to their own knowledge and culture. The case study took place in a Māori medium school that caters for year 9-13 students. Two teachers from a Māori medium school (Kura) who had no background in science and their year 9 and 10 classes voluntarily participated in this research. Through support to teachers in the form of upskilling themselves and learning along with the students, teachers gained confidence and began to teach Pūtaiao. Teachers willingly learn new vocabulary to pass it on to their students. In addition, among mainstream schools, many of the studies had positive impacts by raising awareness among teachers of how to teach Māori students, and how to incorporate some of the values that are fundamental to Pūtaiao.
<p>This qualitative research study, conducted in primary English-medium schools in a mid-sized, central New Zealand city, uses mixed-methods to investigate the factors that teachers, special education needs coordinators (SENCo), and parents identify as influencing Māori student literacy learning. It looks at the prevalence of discourse around specific learning difficulties (SpLD), and whether the different parties consider SpLD as a potential reason behind low literacy achievement among Māori students. The motive for the study is to begin a conversation around the possibility of SpLD being overlooked in favour of socio-cultural understandings of literacy learning. It uses a critical theory lens and touches on the potential influence of unconscious bias amongst participant teachers. Data collection methods included an online survey, sent to all of the schools in the area for teaching staff to complete, interviews conducted with teachers and SENCo, both online and in person, and focus groups with groups of parents, in neutral and welcoming environments. There are three significant findings, and the study concludes that teachers, SENCo, and parents tend to look for social and cultural causes where there is low literacy achievement amongst Māori students. The three main findings are that teachers look ‘outwards’, to influences on literacy learning such as socioeconomic status, transiency, home background, and oral language development. Secondly, both teacher and parent participants generally do not consider specific learning difficulties as one of the main influences on literacy learning. There seems to be a lack of confidence amongst teachers in supporting students who have been identified as having a SpLD. The final major finding was that teachers, SENCo, and parents all agreed on and promoted the importance and value of relationships between teacher and child, and whānau as underpinning the student’s learning.</p>
<p>This qualitative research study, conducted in primary English-medium schools in a mid-sized, central New Zealand city, uses mixed-methods to investigate the factors that teachers, special education needs coordinators (SENCo), and parents identify as influencing Māori student literacy learning. It looks at the prevalence of discourse around specific learning difficulties (SpLD), and whether the different parties consider SpLD as a potential reason behind low literacy achievement among Māori students. The motive for the study is to begin a conversation around the possibility of SpLD being overlooked in favour of socio-cultural understandings of literacy learning. It uses a critical theory lens and touches on the potential influence of unconscious bias amongst participant teachers. Data collection methods included an online survey, sent to all of the schools in the area for teaching staff to complete, interviews conducted with teachers and SENCo, both online and in person, and focus groups with groups of parents, in neutral and welcoming environments. There are three significant findings, and the study concludes that teachers, SENCo, and parents tend to look for social and cultural causes where there is low literacy achievement amongst Māori students. The three main findings are that teachers look ‘outwards’, to influences on literacy learning such as socioeconomic status, transiency, home background, and oral language development. Secondly, both teacher and parent participants generally do not consider specific learning difficulties as one of the main influences on literacy learning. There seems to be a lack of confidence amongst teachers in supporting students who have been identified as having a SpLD. The final major finding was that teachers, SENCo, and parents all agreed on and promoted the importance and value of relationships between teacher and child, and whānau as underpinning the student’s learning.</p>
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