Anne Meade: I'm Anne Meade and I'm one of the co-founders, with my daughter, we established Daisies 10 years ago. And I'm still actively involved in Daisies, not as a teacher, but in the education leadership team.

Lucy Hayes: I'm Lucy Hayes and I am an education leader and kaiako at Daisies.

That's a good segue into what learning matters here too. We unpack different parts of the curriculum and learning outcomes as a team. And from there we find what's kind of on top for us or what's really important for our community at the moment.

Anne Meade: Yes, so we've thought about what matters here. Just to put in that I was actually linked with a small piece of work that had a video attached to it. Called 5 out of 5 for leadership in early childhood education a few years ago. We landed on that phrase, what matters here, because Te Whāriki is designed as a framework. And you're allowed to work out what matters to your community, your community of kaiako, your community, your whānau community. We know what matters for Daisies now after six to seven years of going into the bush and climbing the local mountain Tarikākā. That is very important. So we've got a whole lot of different ways of looking at Te Whāriki in relation to the curriculum that we run in relation to our nature explore programme. Compared with the way that we use the curriculum for the children being within the Daisies building.

Lucy Hayes: You were just saying then about how we know what's important to us. And I think for kaiako and other services that might be an area that kind of people go, "ohhhh", or worry about. Different centres should look different. What happens and what's important in those centres – it should look different. We shouldn't be the same and that’s the joy of Te Whāriki is that what's important to an individual service and a group of people can be just that. You know what's important for us is not necessarily important for the centre two blocks away.

Anne Meade: We find out, we have quite a few sessions each year with parents. For a number of those times where we join up with parents we actually ask their aspirations. And we put in front of the parents a template that's got the framework of Te Whāriki and that is the basis of the one-on-one conversation. It evolves and I think by saying those meetings are there it means that what matters to the parents actually shifts a bit. Compared with three years ago it's different now. We've got changing demographics within our community around the northern suburbs. And we need to pay attention to that and work and accommodate to the parents’ aspirations and we do.

Lucy Hayes: And it's that strong relationship that we have with all stakeholders, you know what I mean, with families and with children, and within our teaching team. It's the strong relationships that we invest in that allow us to use the curriculum.

Anne Meade: And I think it helps us listen better too. The relationships are there and I think we work at that – being good listeners, that we listen to them.

• Conversations: The key to promoting scientific thinking
• Promoting children's wellbeing
• Enacting “what learning matters here” in a home-based service
• Prioritising working theories
• Investigating thinking rather than facts
• Integrating infants, toddlers, and young children into a mixed-age environment
• Valuing Samoan language, culture, identity, and faith
• Weaving Te Whāriki with Playcentre philosophy
• Prioritising inclusion, with a focus on education for all
• Prioritising and supporting children’s friendship skills development
• Prioritising becoming ecologically sustainable in early childhood education

Conversations: The key to promoting scientific thinking

Key points

• Montessori and kaiako role
• Promoting science learning

BestStart Montessori Kilbirnie undertook an inquiry with an outside facilitator – a specialist in Montessori and science education – to extend their science curriculum. This was a three month engagement that involved a combination of observation, short workshops, and action plans.

Their inquiry initially showed that while children had access to well-stocked shelves of Montessori materials for science, there was more kaiako could do to foster children’s scientific thinking and dispositions.

Questions they asked of themselves were:

• Do we extend understanding following on from presenting materials?
• Do we recognise science happening in other areas of the classroom?
• Do we foster exploring, asking questions, observing, testing ideas, making representations, and sharing findings?

In working with the team, their facilitator drew on Marilyn Fleer’s work – in particular her idea that kaiako conversations with children are the key to building scientific thinking. Kaiako took up the challenge to use scientific concepts in conversations and model a sense of wonder through specific questions such as, “What would happen if … ?”. They also made more use of provocations to spark interest and paid more attention to scientific processes such as data recording and sharing findings.

Kaiako found that these changes did indeed make scientific thinking a stronger, more visible feature of their curriculum. Investigations were deeper and children’s increased interest and understanding of science was reflected in the new words and concepts they used. Children became very familiar with scientific processes such as testing and representing ideas. Using video to record data enabled children to share their investigations with families and make science a more visible curriculum for all.

In a Montessori context, where children’s right to autonomy and independence are highly valued, kaiako have found that by becoming more intentional they have contributed to, and not hindered, children’s discovery learning.

Promoting children's wellbeing

Key points

• Prioritising well-being for learning
• Liaising with external agencies
• Promoting dental health

Toru Fetū (three stars) is a Pacific kindergarten which serves the Cook Island, Niue, and Tuvalu communities in Porirua. Toru Fetū’s priority has always been to support “relational agency” – providing children and their families with experiences that engage and empower.

Recognising the importance of working “with others who support the health and wellbeing of young children and their families in their local communities” (Te Whāriki, page 8), the kindergarten appointed a Teaching and Communities Liaison Teacher. The liaison teacher’s role is to network and liaise with external agencies to enable a comprehensive and coordinated approach to supporting the health and well-being of children and their families.

One example of the important role this position fills is in relation to children’s oral health. In 2013, the liaison teacher was approached to work with the Regional Dental Service to engage children and their families in the Bee Healthy initiative. At that time, only low numbers of Pacific children were enrolled with dental health services.

Following consultation with parents, and with the aim of enhancing children’s physical well-being so they are “ready to learn”, Toru Fetū chose to participate in this initiative as part of a coordinated effort, which also includes a “water only” drinks policy and an emphasis on healthy eating.

Engagement with this initiative has involved:

• dental health technicians working alongside kaiako and whānau to provide “knee to knee” examinations of children up to the age of four in the kindergarten, including the younger siblings of enrolled children (see this Dental Council NZ newsletter for more information and photos showing "knee to knee" examinations)
• kaiako taking older children to appointments at the nearby dental hub using a “walking bus”, joined by the dental technician team who support appropriate ratios
• providing evening workshops for parents on the importance of oral health
• putting up visual displays to ensure parents and children can easily access relevant information.

The “knee to knee” examinations and "walking bus" to the dental hub have made the visits a positive, fun, and social event that children want to engage in again and again. The presence of the kaiako, as trusted adults in the children’s lives, ensures the children are not fearful of this experience.

The children are allowed to watch other children be examined and kaiako take photos of what is happening so children can revisit the experience, often at home with their parents.

Kaiako have also written learning stories of children demonstrating curiosity, perseverance, and other learning dispositions as they develop working theories to make sense of the importance of having strong, healthy teeth.

Since the beginning of this initiative, the kindergarten has experienced significant success in improving the oral health of children in their service. Parents have welcomed this initiative and happily enrol their children. In 2016, the proportion of Pacific children enrolled with dental health services had risen to 87%, including 100% of the children who attend Toru Fetū.

The kindergarten’s influence has also been significant in relation to attendance – in 2016, 100% of all dental appointments were kept. Parents have supported the parent workshops with strong attendance and have changed their practices at home leading to a decline in the number of children being referred for ongoing treatment, with 2018 being the lowest level ever!

In particular, engagement in this initiative is ensuring that children’s Holistic Development is being addressed and that they are experiencing an environment where their health is promoted – meaning they are ready to learn!

Enacting “what learning matters here” in a home-based service

Key points

• Visiting kaiako as intentional coach
• Playgroup, a context for educator learning

Visiting kaiako, Lisa, is exploring ways to introduce the refreshed curriculum during her contact with educators at Barnardos Kowhai in Auckland. Her own professional learning has highlighted the question “what learning matters here” as a provocation for deepening curriculum knowledge. During home visits and at playgroup Lisa shares the importance of children learning through trial and error. She talks about how this is promoted within Te Whāriki.

The service runs a two-hour playgroup once a week for their home-based educators. During playgroup sessions, Lisa provides ideas and learning opportunities that educators can try in their homes to tautoko tamariki learning and development.

For Lisa, playgroup also presents an immediate and practical way to highlight “what learning matters here”. As she observes educators and tamariki in action, she looks for coaching opportunities – times when she can either model or talk an educator through an alternative teaching approach.

Here is an example:

When Eva was puzzling over why a set of scales would not balance with all the stones on one side, Lisa observed the educator was about to step in and fix the problem. Lisa gestured to the educator to pause and watch while she modelled an approach aimed at encouraging Eva to find her own solution. Together they looked at the scales from all angles, and Lisa made a point of using comments and questions such as, “I wonder what would happen ...”, “Maybe we could try ....”

Lisa followed up her modelling in a conversation with the educator. She explained her reasons for encouraging Eva to work out a solution for herself. She talked about this in terms of valued learning – experimenting and problem solving – and the missed learning opportunities that result from too quickly showing tamariki the answer.

The following week, Lisa noticed that the educator was more intentional about following Eva’s interests rather than directing activities for her, and Eva was able to experiment more.

Prioritising working theories

Key points

• Explanation of working theories
• Ideas for kaiako responses to working theories

At Ngā Tamariki Early Childhood Centre in Wellington, kaiako use children’s working theories as a lens for noticing and valuing children’s learning. This began some years ago when some of the teachers attended a workshop on working theories. There, they were challenged to see beyond “children’s interests” – to observe and try to understand the thinking and problem solving children were doing while they were engaged.

Michelle, a teacher at Ngā Tamariki, was struck by the workshop facilitator’s explanation of the relationship between observing children’s interests and working theories. She likened interests to a car and working theories to the road the car travels. While the car is instrumental, it is actually the road, with its twists and turns and uncertainties, that gets you to your planned destination. Similarly, working theories guide children’s interests towards a more rational, complex, or mature understanding (learning).

At Ngā Tamariki, kaiako see working theories as expressions of children’s identities. However, because working theories are held in the mind and often unspoken, they are also cautious about over-interpreting the theories children are using. This is seen in Learning Stories where kaiako often “wonder” about the thinking going on behind the action they have observed.

Kaiako encourage children to explore and refine their working theories by:

• providing resources that enable children to further explore and test ideas (these may include exploring within another area of the curriculum)
• choosing language and questions that encourage tamariki to explain or think about their theory
• inviting other children to express their ideas, which may be different.

Kaiako say that noticing and responding meaningfully to working theories involves:

• standing back and observing – looking for clues to the thinking in the action
• taking time and weighing up what is important
• talking with families
• talking amongst kaiako about “what learning matters here”.

Investigating thinking rather than facts

Key points

• Research – using working theories in Playcentre
• A parent’s response to a working theory
• Encouraging children to explain their thinking

Alice Shafer (2002) suggests that “resisting the temptation to correct a child’s misconception, to not teach, may be one of the most difficult tendencies we struggle to overcome and one of the most valuable gifts we give children.”

This story illustrates an adult creating an opportunity for Felix to share his ideas, and then setting up a scenario to help him test and explore his ideas further.

Fendalton Playcentre was at the local park. Felix was looking at a seesaw and asked Kristina “Why is it called a seesaw?”

“Why do you think”? Kristina asked him. “Well, it looks like a saw and it looks like the sea”. “Does it”? Pointing at the bar that supported the seats, Felix said, “This bit here looks like a saw because it’s long and skinny and this bit here (while pointing to the curved legs) looks like a wave so it’s like the sea.”

Kristina was taken by Felix’s idea and recognised this as an example of Felix expressing a working theory about the reason for the name.

A short time later, Kristina saw a sculpture of a seesaw that looked quite different from the one in the park. With Felix’s theory in mind, she took a photo and later showed him the photo. To Kristina’s surprise, Felix found a way for this new type of seesaw to fit into his existing theory.

I reminded him of the seesaw at Spencer Park and his explanation of why it was called a seesaw. I said to Felix, “I had noticed that the leg on this seesaw was shaped differently to the one at the park and how it did not look like a wave or the sea and yet it is still called a seesaw.”

“Perhaps it is this bit here (he points to the handle). It looks like a submarine. This bit (the stem) is the bit that comes out of the water and these bits (points to the ends of the handle) are the bits that you can see out."

By creatively linking the handle of the seesaw to the periscope of a submarine Felix managed to keep the connection to the sea and to his theory about the word seesaw.

Reflecting on these events, Kristina remarks,

... In the past I may have chosen to investigate the internet or books with children to find out why it is called a seesaw to show them the answer, now I want to investigate what they think rather than providing them with "cheap facts", as Shafer says. It’s about the journey not the answer.

Reference:

This story of practice is adapted from: Davis, K. & Peters, S. (2010). Moments of wonder, everyday events. How are young children theorising and making sense of their world? Playcentre Journal, 137, 25-29.

Shafer, A. (2002). Ordinary Moments, Extraordinary Possibilities. In Fu, V.R., A.J. Stremmel, & L.T. Hill. 2002. Teaching and learning: Collaborative exploration of the Reggio Emilia approach (p. 191). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice Hall.

Integrating infants, toddlers, and young children into a mixed-age environment

Key points

• Responding to cultural ways of being
• Prioritising sharing, caring, and social obligation

A puna kōhungahunga in Auckland made a decision to review their arrangement of separating infants from older children for much of the day. Their motivation to do so came from reflecting on a reading about better strengthening educational outcomes for Māori children and sharing their understandings of Māori views on quality teaching and learning.

Recognising that children interact daily in collective groups such as whānau, iwi, and hapū made it easy to decide to provide a group learning environment at the puna. This change has helped tuakana-teina relationships to flourish and has fostered a range of social competencies, such as manaaki and caring for others.

Reference

Fremaux, M., & Liley, K. (2014). Mā te tuakana te teina e tōtika ai, mā te teina anō te tuakana e tōtika ai: Tuakana and teina learn from one another. The First Years: Ngā Tau Tuatahi. New Zealand Journal of Infant and Toddler Education, 16(1), 14–17.

Valuing Samoan language, culture, identity, and faith

Key point

• Promoting partnership – a full immersion context

Fetu Taʻiala Ā‘oga ‘Āmata is located in Mangere, Auckland and is a full immersion Samoan language setting that caters for 36 children aged from under two years to school age.

Their key priorities for children’s learning are to maintain the Samoan language, culture, and values (fa’a Sāmoa). These priorities were developed through discussions with parents and aiga who share their goals, aspirations, and expectations with teachers.

Teaching practice supports children to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes linked to the setting’s priorities. Conversations are rich in Samoan language, helping children to become confident and capable in the language. Children are active and confident participants in activities that foster Samoan language, culture, and values.

Teachers work together to ensure clear links are made between planning, assessment, and evaluation processes for individuals and groups of children. Assessment portfolios are a record of children’s learning and development and have a strong focus on next steps to improve outcomes for children.

The curriculum is designed to promote a feeling of partnership and provide an environment that fosters the holistic development of all children. An emergent curriculum integrates children’s interests and play with the centre’s identified priorities for the children’s learning.

Teachers plan weekly to extend children’s learning and follow a self-review process that includes planning the focus, gathering and documenting evidence, reflecting and evaluating, and revisiting to acknowledge improvements.

Adapted from:

Education Review Office. (2013). Priorities for children's learning in early childhood services: Good practice. Wellington, New Zealand.

Weaving Te Whāriki with Playcentre philosophy

Key point

• Enacting localised learning priorities

Kaniere Playcentre is located on the outskirts of Hokitika and caters for children aged from under two years to school age. The Playcentre philosophy, strongly influences their curriculum alongside the strands of Te Whāriki and the children’s development of dispositions.

Parents worked together to identify the following priorities for children’s learning:

• to grow and develop positive and useful skills, knowledge, and attitudes
• to be affirmed as individuals
• to develop generosity of spirit, respect, endeavour, aroha, and integrity.

Teaching practices at the Playcentre reflect these priorities.

Assessment of children’s learning shows children’s involvement in the curriculum and highlights next steps. Links to the principles and strands of Te Whāriki and dispositions are included, along with notes about how these are being supported.

All parents contribute to profiles and openly discuss children’s learning with other parents. Programmes for individual children focus on a relevant strand and goal from Te Whāriki and dispositions to be developed. They also make specific suggestions about how to support each child’s further learning.

Curriculum planning sheets bring together individual programmes and information from parents. Parents reflect on each session and discuss assessment information to inform future sessions. Planning meetings each term focus on children’s needs and interests and decisions about resourcing the curriculum.

Adapted from:

Education Review Office. (2013). Priorities for children's learning in early childhood services: Good practice. Wellington, New Zealand. 

Prioritising inclusion, with a focus on education for all

Key points

• Centre of Innovation
• A social justice/rights approach
• Inclusion for all

Building all children’s mana is a key focus in Te Whāriki. Botany Downs Kindergarten has prioritised inclusion of all children, including those requiring additional support for learning.

There are many examples in the report (see the link below) that illustrate this priority, including:

• the preparation of the environment and specific visual communication tools to ensure a child and their family felt welcomed from their very first day
• the teachers’ recognition of the value of these visual communication tools, originally designed to help children on the autistic spectrum, for all children in the kindergarten
• the installation of a sound augmentation system to ensure that a teacher can speak in a quiet voice yet be heard by all children.

Many people assumed that the kindergarten would provide specific help, equipment, and materials only for children with difficulties or impairments. Instead, they focused on the whole environment and aspects of teaching that enhanced the participation and learning for all children. They made changes that were likely to be beneficial for all, while reducing barriers for children with additional needs.

Reference:

Glass, B., Baker. K., Ellis, R., Bernstone, H., & Hagan, B. (2010). COI Botany Downs Kindergarten: Inclusion at Botany Downs Kindergarten Centre of Innovation 2006–2008. 

Prioritising and supporting children’s friendship skills development

Key points

• Using video to document
• Supporting friendship development

At Myers Park KiNZ in Auckland, the transient nature of families in the central city meant that the centre had a high turnover of children attending. This transience sometimes impacted on children’s ability to make friends, therefore "friendship-making" became a learning priority for the kindergarten.

Video footage showed a group of boys making aeroplanes with Lego and helped the teachers to realise that one 4-year-old boy, Caleb, was attempting to use a number of strategies, unsuccessfully, to try to make friends. From analysis of this video, Caleb’s working theories about friendships appeared to include that you need to have something in common to be a friend, take an interest in what peers like to do, play in the same kinds of ways as peers, and talk with peers to become accepted as part of the group. He had an expectation that if he followed the “rules” of friendship activities he could become friends with this group of boys. But it wasn’t that simple. The responses of teachers were critical to his learning about being friends. Further observations and discussion with his parents helped teachers to develop a plan to support him. Strategies were developed to support him to develop independence and make friends. Positive changes were observed as Caleb began to develop confidence that also supported his smoother transition to school later on.

References:

Hedges, H., & Cooper, M. (2016). Collaborative meaning making using video footage: Teachers and researchers analyse children’s working theories about friendship. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal.

Hedges, H., & Cooper, M. (2014). Inquiring minds, meaningful responses: Children’s interests, inquiries and working theories. Final report to Teaching and Learning Research Initiative. Wellington: NZCER.

Prioritising becoming ecologically sustainable in early childhood education

Key point

• Active citizenship for sustainability

Connections with the local community and attending to matters of wider, global concern were emphases in Collectively Kids’ philosophy. They therefore prioritised sustainability in their curriculum and wider centre practices. Teachers identified ways children came to understand about taking responsibility for the centre (“who is going to tidy this mess?”) and the wider community (donating money to support building schools in the Solomon Islands and making election posters that incorporated children’s ideas about what is important to them).

The article below notes that “rather than feel disempowered by the complexity and urgency of addressing climate change, teachers, children, families, and community are engaged in an ongoing process of change, which arises out of a commitment to local and global transformation” (p. 6). 

Reference:

Duhn, I. with Bachmann, M., & Harris, K. (2010). Becoming ecologically sustainable in early childhood education. Early Childhood Folio, 14(1), 2–6.