Te Hāpai Ō – unique mentoring for teachers of Māori learners

8 March 2012

Te Hāpai Ō – unique mentoring for teachers of Māori learners

A unique induction and mentoring approach launched today will help build the confidence and expertise of beginning teachers employed in Māori-medium settings.

“Te Hāpai Ō equips Pou Tautoko (mentor teachers) with the resources to mentor Pia (provisionally registered teachers), anchored by a Māori world-view,” said Teachers Council Director Dr Peter Lind.

“Teaching involves meeting the needs of your learners – culturally, emotionally, and intellectually.

“Quality mentoring, using a model that helps new teachers in Maōri-medium settings develop the knowledge and skills required to teach learners of Māori heritage, is invaluable in their first two years,” said Dr Lind.

The model has particular relevance for kura kaupapa, wharekura, kura auraki, kura ā iwi, kohanga reo, puna reo and other Māori-medium settings.

Te Hāpai Ō was developed under contract by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi as part of the Teachers Council's Induction and Mentoring Pilot Programme.

“The resource provides practical tools that Māori-medium settings can use to implement an induction and mentoring programme, and includes guidance on gathering evidence and providing feedback on teacher practice.

“It also includes useful templates to support the collection of evidence towards the Registered Teacher Criteria, which Māori-medium settings can adapt to suit their teaching and learning models,” said Dr Lind.

Te Hāpai Ō contributes to Ka Hikitia – the Government’s Māori Education Strategy which focuses on meeting the needs, aspirations and expectations of Māori.

It is also a companion resource to the Guidelines for Induction and Mentoring and Mentor Teachers, which outlines the key components of an induction and mentoring programme that all beginning teachers must complete to gain full registration.

“The Teachers Council is pleased to launch this important resource for Māori-medium education, which we intend to complement and support through a series of wānanga/workshops to begin in term three,” said Dr Lind.

For more information visit http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/prt/TeHapaiOindex.stm

ENDS

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