It's my favourite time of the year- MĀORI LANGUAGE WEEK! This is a great week because it shows us what New Zealanders can do with Te Reo- news announcers greeting us, supermarket loudspeaker announcements... I'm sure there's more but I'm just too excited and can't think of more examples.
Here's a link to the OFFICIAL Te Wiki o te Reo Māori page. There are lots of cool posters, phrasebooks, and so on to download. Let us know if you'd like something downloaded or printed or whatever, we'd love to support you.
Here is a summary of Birchwood School's Māori Language Week:
- HAVE A GO.
- We believe nobody can learn anything without making mistakes. Mistakes are part of learning. People who don't make mistakes don't make much of anything. Mistakes are proof you are trying. If your pronunciation is a bit off, kei te pai- you won't get better without making that effort. We would rather hear mistakes than nothing.
I'm not saying you suck, but this is a fantastic quote by Jake.
- LEARN A LITTLE, SAY A LOT.
- We modified this from the official slogan: learn a little, say a little.
- Teachers are committed to introducing, using and celebrating Te Reo in their classrooms. Students will hear, see and say things in Māori. Parents might even read Te Reo saluations in emails.
- An AMAZING COLOURING COMPETITION!
- Open for students, but parents and teachers- you could totally have a go too, if you like. We used the pikitia rawe from the Official Te Wiki o te Reo Māori site (I'm sure they won't mind).
- Download here. But also available through classroom kaiako, or the school office.
- BINGO
- No, sorry, I don't mean Bingo the dog.
- Birchwood Teachers would like to extend this term's Te Reo challenge with you all! BINGO! There are 9 phrases to use in 'genuine' settings.
- Stick to the fridge or some other convenient location.
- Sign your name on each one you use. Race your whānau to use them all!
- Download here. Also available through your child's teacher, or the school office.
- WAIATA.
- This week at assembly, the school will sing the well-known He Honore. Please join us! Here's a link to an amazing blog-site with kupu/ words, tune, etc.
- For what it's worth, we encourage ALL kaiako and akonga to know what we're singing. It is utterly pointless to sing without knowing what you're singing- you could be singing for your love of cats, promising never to eat cake again, or actually singing a chocolate cake recipe.
Ka kite,
Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz
