Supporting Māori students
Culturally responsive strategies to meet the needs of Māori students who require additional support.
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Go to top of current page: Māori students
Strengthening and affirming the self-identity and self-esteem of Māori students who may need additional support to learn is a central theme.
Strategies for action
Five key strategies to support the inclusive design of learning environments for Māori students.
Know your Māori learners
Demonstrate care by getting to know your learners and what's important to them. Make connections to their experiences and contexts to support learning and strengthen relationships.
The most profound way to create a culturally responsive context is through introducing co-construction, where the student is free to bring their own experiences into that classroom context.
Three suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Ask the student what will help
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Establish reciprocal relationships
Develop positive relationships with the community of people who know the student well.
Manaakitanga, or caring for your students’ wellbeing and learning, provides a common purpose and bond with parents and whānau.
Closed Captions
Four suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Create a welcoming environment
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Discuss students’ learning and wellbeing
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Support whānau to help their children learn at home
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Build community networks
Welcome your community into the classroom and take your class out to the community.
It’s not enough to invite the community to come to you – you have to go into the community.
Two suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Value whānau and community expertise
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Build a culturally responsive environment
Students are more likely to achieve when they see themselves and their culture reflected positively in subject matter and learning contexts.
A high school English teacher describes how she matches her teaching strategies and learning resources to the students’ interests, experiences, and needs.
Four suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Integrate te reo Māori and tikanga Māori
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Provide leadership opportunities
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Explore Māori perspectives on inclusion
Develop an understanding of the different perspectives and values held by Māori parents and whānau.
Mā te kōrero, ka mōhio.
Mā te mōhio, ka mārama.
Mā te mārama, ka mātau.
Through discussion we become aware.
Through awareness we gain understanding.
Through understanding we gain proficiency/expertise.
Whakataukī
Two suggestions for implementing this strategy:
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Explore beliefs, values, and expectations
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Key resources
Tātaiako: Cultural competencies for teachers of Māori learners
Read time: 18 min
Tātaiako is a resource explaining competencies teachers need to develop so they can help Māori learners achieve educationally as Māori. It was developed by the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Council and a reference group of academics, teacher education practitioners, and iwi representatives involved in iwi educational initiatives.
Publisher: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
- Download PDF
Ka Hikitia: Accelerating Success 2013–2017
Read time: 208 min
This is a strategy for action to make a significant difference for Māori students in education for the next five years and beyond.
Publisher: Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga
Working with Māori students with special education needs, He mahi whakahirahira
Explores the key components of culturally responsive, evidence-based, special education practice and describes holistic and inclusive responses to educating all tamariki, especially those with identified special education need.
Publisher: The New Zealand Council for Educational Research
Price: One off charge NZ$44.95
More options
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Māori students
Strategies for action:
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Know your Māori learnersShow suggestions for Know your Māori learners
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Establish reciprocal relationshipsShow suggestions for Establish reciprocal relationships
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Build community networksShow suggestions for Build community networks
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Build a culturally responsive environmentShow suggestions for Build a culturally responsive environment
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Explore Māori perspectives on inclusionShow suggestions for Explore Māori perspectives on inclusion
