Tuakana Teina - 2015

This year I teach a class of kids who are keen to learn, but lack some of the skills necessary to access the curriculum as a seven year old. In trying to lift their sight word knowledge we're trying to see what the influence of 'big kids" might have in this.

Fly Swatting those words

In return, the year 8s coming to work with our young ones are themselves the students who often don't experience situations where they are leading the learning. So for Nga Tuakana the benefits of this relationship exist as strongly as for Nga Teina.

I have set up a small number of word activity stations that all students are quickly getting their heads around.

• Painting with water on the concrete
• Playdough
• Magnetic Letters
• Fly Swat
• Explain Everything
• Reading with and reading to
• Alphabet game

Magnetic Letter fun.

For 45 minutes once a week, the students gather together and work through essential word lists at, and above their reading level.  Also, Nga Teina read their reading book for that day and Nga Tuakana read to from a more complex picture book.

Nga Tuakana have an individualised booklet with essential word lists targeted to their learner and they refer to it to check which words to tackle next. 

Ben and Finau make words with Playdough

The relationship building has been significant in just a handful of visits. Nga Teina anticipate the arrival of Nga Tuakana and are desperate to work hard and show that they are learning. Nga Tuakana are learning skills of patience, perseverance and empathy, as they guide the young learners through their sight words.

Trinity and Trinity

I am utterly grateful to these giant sized children who give of their time and work with these keen youngsters. I am extraordinarily grateful to their teacher who releases them and allows them this opportunity to give back, grow and nurture the culture of our learning community.