Bright Spots Awards to drive in-school innovation
While we have struggled to achieve system-wide innovation and transformation, there are pockets of innovation and educational success dotted around the country. Much of this innovation is taking place in individual schools, driven by school leaders and teachers who are creating new approaches, constructing new learning environments and providing novel opportunities for their learners in response to the challenges and new demands facing our school system. While effecting positive change in individual classrooms or schools, too often these innovative practices remain unknown and untested outside the school in which they were developed.
Jacinda Ardern: It’s all about the kids
Photo: Jacinda Ardern (right front, in red and blue) with sister Louise and cousins Demelza and Aaron, Christmas 1987 (supplied) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern first learned about the realities of poverty as a child in Murupara – a forestry town in the Waikato. “It was the 1980s, and I saw the effects of child poverty…
Changes will attract te reo speakers to teaching
The new government wants more te reo in schools and centres. The work is now beginning to make that possible, writes Heeni Collins.
New hope for kids with change in leadership
The new government has a lot to do in the first 100 days, and education was an area in which it strongly campaigned. Chris Hipkins is up for the challenge writes Melissa Schwalger.
Moving Educators: Aimee’s story
Meet Aimee Lynch – mum, partner, teacher and powerlifter. She started her journey to “attempt to get healthy” and ended up on the platform at a powerlifting meet. Find out how Aimee’s success at the squat rack supports success in the classroom.
Pay equity stories: Mel’s story
“I think people see us as just performing our natural womanly instinct to care and nurture. There is a common perception that ECE is not ‘proper teaching’; that it’s just glorified child minding. I get that reaction all the time to my job and it drives me crazy. I worked my butt off to educate myself on all that theory and pedagogy. But after four years and two degrees in a BA/BTeach I graduated into a marketplace that deemed me worth the same as a data entry operator or a mail room clerk.”
Pay equity stories: Maryann’s story
“I love my job. I love seeing the children I work with achieve their goals and develop and grow. My goal is to see Support Staff and particularly TAs paid a fair wage for the work they do.”
Pay equity changes with new government
Pay equity claims for NZEI support staff in schools and staff in early childhood have new hope with the change in Government. An early childhood teacher and a teacher aide share their stories about how pay equity would make a difference to their lives.
National Standards’ dumping makes world news
NZEI Te Riu Roa has made headlines across the world for dumping National Standards.
Breathing new life into the curriculum
When the new Labour-led government announced the end of National Standards this month, there were cheers around the country from teachers, principals and parents.
The cost of “free” education
A parent looks at the true cost of education in our state-funded primary schools.
Were new charter schools rushed ahead of election?
The opening of four new charter schools was announced just before the September election. Education Aotearoa questions the timing.
New major sees physical education return to University of Canterbury
Next year, 2018, will see Physical Education return to the University of Canterbury as one of a series of new majors within the popular Bachelor of Sport Coaching degree. UC has a long and proud history of developing highly respected PE teachers and this new major is an exciting initiative towards continuing that tradition.
A day in the life of a TPLT in-school support facilitator
Janelle Wood takes us through a typical day in her role as a TPLT facilitator. TPLT supports existing and new teachers of languages apply pedagogy that has a real and positive impact on student learning.