Maori+in+the+Classroom

1. Labelling Objects You may want to begin by labelling some of the items around the classroom with their Māori names, and by using these Māori words from time to time. This will serve to teach our children that one object can have two names; an English one and a Māori one. You may find a Māori-English picture dictionary useful in this regard. 2. Māori Vocabulary in the Classroom: Support Bruce’s programme once he is gone. In addition to using Māori labels, you may also wish to use some other Māori vocabulary in the classroom from time to time, for classroom management and activities. A short list of appropriate vocabulary has been included in appendix one. 3. Encouraging the correct pronunciation of Māori names and words Encourage your students to always use the correct Māori pronunciation when they are using Māori names and words in the classroom and elsewhere. In this regard, you are of course the most important role model! The correct use of our names is an important part of our self-esteem, and by encouraging our students to use correct Māori pronunciation we can help them to become more aware of, and sensitive towards, the issues involved and to respect other students and their cultures. 4. Māori posters There are a number of contemporary and attractive posters promoting the Māori language that are readily available from the Māori Language Commission that will brighten your classroom and provide positive information and encouragement. In addition, you may wish to incorporate a Māori alphabet and number frieze into your classroom structure. 5. Māori role models You may wish to invite some Māori role models into the classroom to (a) talk to the children about what the Māori language means to them, and (b) show the children that "real people" use the Māori language and value it as part of their social make-up. These role models may be members of the local community, or more well-known personalities (DJs from the local Iwi radio station, for example). 6. Māori festivals and galas: Matariki You may be able to take your children to Māori language concerts, galas and festivals that are held from time to time in your area. Participation in these events will expose the children to the use of the Māori language as an ordinary medium of communication. It will also help them to appreciate that some people use Māori regularly, about a wide range of topics, and that speaking Māori is fun. 7. Māori radio and television/ICT You can incorporate some Māori language radio and television (or video) programmes into your classroom activities from time to time. Your local iwi station should have programming details for radio programmes with appropriate content for your needs, and television listings should give some idea of what programmes might contain appropriate content. 8. Waiata and mihi Children enjoy singing and dancing in any language, and using waiata may be one way of introducing some Māori language into the classroom environment. You may also wish to introduce the children to mihi, or ritual and formulaic greetings. A number of books and tapes containing children's songs in Māori have been produced and are generally available from bookshops and libraries. 9. Māori language games It may be possible to incorporate some Māori language games into classroom activities, including simple crosswords and word-finds, a Māori trivial pursuits type game, Simon Says (using the simple directional language included in appendix 1), Bottles and Caps and other language oriented games. See our resources pages for more information. 10. Reading to your children You may wish to read to your pupils, as a classroom activity, some New Zealand children's literature that contains Māori vocabulary and phrases.