Maori Achievement

I have taken on the role of Maori Achievement Coordinator and it is exciting and daunting.

My role is to improve the academic achievement of our Maori students.  One of the main problems is that we have students who enter the school in Year 9 with passion and excitment for education but end up dropping out in Year 11 or 12 with a dead heart as far as learning goes.

The main issue with Maori student engagement is their relationship with their teacher.  Many teachers – especially those with limited interaction with Maori culture in their own lives and histories – are unable to pick up on the subtle markers that Maori students present to them.

For instance – a Maori student may find it difficult to make eye contact with a teacher or someone in authority – I struggle with this and I was not even brought up with a strong Maori cultural relationship.  Many teachers can see this as disrespectful and punish the behaviour and student – consciously or unconsciously. 

I hope to be able to provide voluntary Te Reo lessons for teachers as well – classroom phrases and basic cultural awareness – not in a POLITICALLY CORRECT way – but should be of interest to any teacher who wishes to improve the success rate of Maori students in their classes.

…and we are live…

Things are going ok.  The term has been quite hectic but in a good way.  Trying to get my head around all of the new things to do with 12 ENO have been interesting.

The girls are a mixture of under-achievers and under-performers.  There are lots of intelligent girls who have been left behind – for a variety of reasons.  The biggest challenge seems to be their own self-esteem.  I am hoping that with a few successed under their belt they will see that they are capable of performing in English.

11EAD are a mixed bunch also.  They seem to think they are the bees knees but it is not always the case.  I am enjoying the content that I am teaching – the Romantic Poets unit is going OK.  Not sure I will teach it again – perhaps a little to ‘high brow’.  Maybe something more contemporary would suit 15 year olds better.