How your centre implements Tikanga Maori.

Stop

Tikanga Maori (Maori language) is a very important language in my centre.  The teachers always encourage the children to speak Te Reo. Te Reo Maori is use in Kai Time, singing time, play time and most of the times. When ever Tikanga Maori is been spoken in the centre the teachers will also translated it in English. Teachers and student teachers will use songs, number games, wood works and all other things that we can use Maori word on for the children to learn. Some of the children are very good at using their imaginations when telling stories in Maori. Most of them reads our body language and understand what the story is about. When is Kai time the children will do their karakia (prayer) before eating and after eating. Waiata (singing) is are very important, after the children’s  morning tea or lunch they will always have to do their waiata before going out and play again. From singing and dancing they are also learning about the kapahaka and the traditional way of Maori. The teachers were able to use YouTube to show the children the treating of Waitangi and letting them have an idea of their own about how important Maori language is in Aoatearoa (New Zealand).

Think

I know is successful because of the hard work that all teachers putted in for the everyday plan of the centre. The Tikanga Maori is one of the main language in our centre and I think that the teachers are trying their very best to keep the language alive everyday. The children understand the words that we use to talk to them and they know how to respond to us as well. I think Tikanga Maori is well respected in this centre because the teachers encourage the children and the parents to speak it when ever they have the time too. I know this because I’ve seen it and heard it myself.

Change

I would not change anything of this because I know this is good enough for me to follower. Some changes might come later in the future but I know that this centre is doing a very good job at keeping the Maori language alive.

Establishing and maintaining relationships with children

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On the first week that I started my work experience it was very hard to talk to some of the children. I sat with them in areas that they like to play and then I started to introduce myself to them by using the toys to attract their attention to what I was saying. Some of the children that I talked to were shy to talk back. On my second week I was able to sit down with the children in different areas in the centre. These areas are Puzzle area, sandpit, family corner, art area, etc. I gained their trust and was able to keep our relationship by listening to what they have to say and knowing what their interests were. Some of the children like to do things they see at home or do what mum and dad does. I pick up all these and try to come with activities that relate to their interest, e.g. cooking, cleaning, drawing, etc.  I was comfortable with them I stated to do activities every week with them. These activities include teaching Samoan songs, weaving different shapes of mats, drawing, and acting out stories. Playing a game call name guessing was my way of knowing the children’s entire name and they also knew how to pronouns my name. I was confident in myself and believed that I can do anything was my strength in keeping my relationship maintained with the children. 

Think

I personally believe that I was able to maintained and create a successful relationship with the children by gaining their trust. They were comfortable around me and I was comfortable around them too. Being honest with the children and giving them feedback on their good behaviour was what helped me to create a good relationship with them. Felling their love and seeing their welcoming face every morning was what made me feel safe and have a sense of belonging in the centre. I know that I have to be the children’s level to understand their needs. Always be honest with them and ask them open questions to better your understanding in their interest and needs.

Change

In the future I would get to know the children in a better way, make them feel safe around me at all times. Spending more time with them and get them involve in any activities that I do. Putting their ideas together and create an activity of their own.

Establishing and maintaining relationships with staff

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On  my first day i introduce myself to all the staff that works in the centre. The  head teacher staff of the centre was very nice.I notice that the other staff members were not really friendly.On my first and second week I introduce different activities like a song and a poem  both in Samoan for the children.On the third week the other staff memeber starting to see what i was capable of doing with the children. I helped them clean up. I build and maintained our repoar with each one of them.
Giving them time to come around I gained thier respect.I did my work around the centre diligently and to the best of my ability.Weeks went on and my relationship with the staff was more closer and i was able to be trusted by them. They let me do activities with the children and asked for my opinon in what they do. I  asked them open quiestions to help me understand more about early childhood.I always asked them before doing anything in the centre. Having this connection with the workers it also assist the children to keep a warm  bond with me.The staff and I were able to talk together  about what we want to do for the children. I was able to take in culture activities and explain them to the children.I was confident because I had the support of the staff .The staff and I are able to share informations, and they are able to give me feeback about what i do in the centre everyday i work.


Think


My passion are the children.My suceess in achieiving and uphold my relationship with the staff is because I am good at what I do and the children are happy. Im always in the centre with an open mind to learn and be included in any activities  they do. The staff are very friendly and easy to get along with, they support me and answer all the question that i had to help me understand what i needed to know. They were able to asked me what I may need help with to succed in my goal.  My sense of belonging was comfortable around all the staffs and i was able to speak confently in introducing activeties that i was teacing in the centre. I have learned that it takes alot of respect and hard work to establish and maintain a very good relationship with the staff, because earning the trust of the staff they would be able to trust you to do what ever you want to do and they support you as a student in their centre.


Change


On my first day i would introduce myself get familier with the centre setting. Because i would be in the centre for five days a week i would make sure I get to know the staff on my second day that Im in the centre. Know the centre philosophy, be aweare of what you have to do in the centre and how you going to be around different age groups of children in the centre. On the third day I would  ask questions and set up acttivities for the children. Get the staff to trust me in doing activities for the children and getting involved with what they have planed in the centre and  help out with the every day routines. This will help to maintain a good relationship betweem me and the staff. The staff will also believe in me with any work i have or my questions that i need to ask.