Content area
Full text
Introduction
As a teacher and educator I see that there is a need to support teachers to confidently teach Te Ao Kori (the world of Maori movement) in health and physical education. The range of Maori movement skills, activities, games and effective Maori pedagogy (Ako Maori) is not new. In today's society there are numerous resources available and knowledgeable people to source. However, teachers still find barriers to teaching TeAo Kori in their programmes. I have a passion for the world of Maori, a love of my own Maori culture that I am continuing to learn about, and empathy and understanding for teachers who lack confidence in this field. Most importantly, I see that there is a need to motivate and encourage all rangatahi (youth, young people) from different cultures and backgrounds to feel comfortable in their learning environment so that they are willing to engage with available learning opportunities. I believe in Health and Physical Education, particular Maori models of teaching and learning and the concept of te ao kori can be used to build the holistic well-being of students, Maori and non-Mäori alike. Consequently, I put together an innovative variety of learning activities linked to the concept of manaakitanga (the ethic of caring). I trialled this with a variety of University of Otago College of Education Curriculum Development and Teaching classes, presented the idea at PENZ conference and successfully used it at St Hilda's Collegiate School (a single sex female school) with year 10 Physical Education classes. It is also being integrated into Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti Health and Physical Education programme.
Rationale
Manaakitanga: to give and receive is a unit of work in Health and Physical Education with the purpose of giving rangatahi the opportunity to have success, learn new Maori movement skills, to enjoy sharing knowledge, learning from others and to celebrate their attributes (whether physical, social, cultural or creative skills). For this mahi (work) the original traditional stories of native birds and köwhaiwhai patterns (Maori rafter patterns) told by my Grandfathers and recorded by my mother are used as a meaningful context to develop an innovative variety of learning activities linked to the concept of manaakitanga. It is a valuable life skill concept for all rangatahi to be...