The Manaiakalani Network Update - March 2023

Reading Practice Intensive

The Manaiakalani Programme's Reading Practice Intensive (RPI) has been launched this year. Following a pilot in 2022, the programme led by the Manaiakalani Research Team is ready for teachers. 

This is an online programme to build capability for teachers to do the 5 elements  of Reading really well with integrity and fidelity to the programme. The RPI has been informed by years of research by The Manaiakalani Network and goal setting by Principals at their annual Principal's Wānanga. 

"Designing Learning with the End in Mind" is a framework the Research Teams that has been delivered at our cluster's Research Reflections. These valued reading outcomes will be covered in the 9 weeks.

The Manaiakalani Network Update - February 2023

Orientation 2023: Connecting with Manaiakalani

 Orientation 2023 took place on 24th January 2023. The Orientation day is an opportunity for teachers new to our cluster schools to connect with the kaupapa and pedagogy of The Manaiakalani Programme.

Schools are invited to send teachers for this PLD opportunity so they can experience the Learn Create Share pedagogy as they learn about the Manaiakalani Programme. This is a collegial space where they can access support and develop a deeper understanding of The Manaiakalani Programme and what it offers them as a teacher in a school in our Tairāwhiti cluster and especially as a teacher in a 1:1 digital environment.

Details of your Orientation Day can be found on our cluster site here.

The participants created an online profile which brings together learning about being Cybersmart, learning about digital tools and then sharing their creations. 

Their online profiles are included in this presentation. 

Term 4 Staff Hui: Being Cybersmart in a Learn Create Share World

This term the theme is Being Cybersmart in a Learn Create Share World | Ko te tū atamai i te ipurangi ki te ao ako, hanga, tohatoha.

Staff are led to explore CyberSmart Week resources and linked to the recent visit to our area by Netsafe. We are emphasising teachers being cybersmart as well as learners.

Staff will explore AI sites and look at how real AI generated web material is.

Staff create using websites that use Artificial Intelligence (AI). They can choose to programme a machine or create art from a phrase or words.

View staff creations below and leave a comment.

Connected Learners Share - Term 3 Online Staff Hui

Term 3 staff hui are based around the kaupapa of Share | Hanga. The Manaiakalani Programme harnesses the affordances of digital technologies to connect teachers so they can share. This extends the idea that as educators we are also learners.

The online staff hui in term 3 are an opportunity for teachers across all clusters in Aotearoa to connect and share their Teaching as Inquiry with others teaching the same curriculum level.

Small groups are formed where teachers can share strategies and talk about academic outcomes for their students.

The hui is designed to be conversational and whilst Google Meet is used to connect, the session is not recorded nor is there any presentation required. 

I had the pleasure of facilitating 2 hui. One was focused on Well Being for years 1-3 and the other on reading for years 4-6.

In both session we were able to share strategies and resources. There were many takeaways for participants as well as affirmation that their Inquiry was benefitting their students. Perhaps it is in this time where we can sit and reflect that we can take stock and see what is happening for our students. In the busy and complex school environment reflection time may be very scant.

One school had a collective inquiry into forming a common practice method for the teaching of reading. I will be following their progress as I take part in the Manaiakalani pilot Reading Practice Intensive (RPI). The RPI starts at the end of August and I will be blogging each week of the 9 week intensive.

Introducing Janine Bava - Tairāwhiti's New Facilitator

 Welcome to Janine Bava - our new facilitator for our Tairāwhiti Cluster. She started as a facilitator in term 2, 2022 bringing a wealth of knowledge, effective practice and skills with her. 

Janine has been teaching at Awapuni School here in Gisborne for 10 years. She has been part of the Manaiakalani programme in several ways. 

Janine had in-class support for a year. She and her team quickly took on the Manaiakalani kaupapa of Learn Create Share. Her team developed a learning site for their year 5 & 6 students that was visible and contained rewindable learning. 

Janine was also a Manaiakalani Innovate Teacher in 2021. Her inquiry was around inclusive practice in the classroom. Her site is here for you to explore.

We wish Janine every success in her new role and we know that she has so much to offer teachers in our cluster.