Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Responsiveness in my Practice

In Teaching Tolerance (2010) culture is defined as a human beings world views, beliefs and values - the filters that help us to make sense of the world.

When considering our cultural responsibility Bishop (2012) refers to Article Three of the Treaty of Waitangi - that Maori were guaranteed the opportunity to benefit from being citizens of the new society. He believes, without a doubt, that they have not been able to do so. He examines the achievement gap between Maori and non-Maori comparing it to a fiscal deficit (large scale debt) which has accumulated over a period of time. New Zealand society has a large scale debt to those who have not been able to achieve in our education system to the level they should have been able to. He cites the deficit or "non-agentic" theory - there is something wrong with the Maori people themselves - as being somewhat responsible for this. 

I am of the opinion that this theory is generational and historical, that the deficit was created in the past and we are now tasked with closing the achievement gap. Bishop believes "agendic" teachers are the key to making a difference for Maori students. Teachers who possess agency are able to:

• create a learning context where Maori can bring themselves to the learning conversation and draw upon their own funds of knowledge.
• promote interactions with Maori, feedback/feedforward and co-construct learning.
• use a range of teaching strategies effectively.
• have high-performance expectation of Maori.
• are learners among learners.
• create relationship centred education (caring for people, caring that they learn and are able to learn through positive relationships).

Teaching Tolerance (2010) also prioritises making appropriate linkages to what students know, do and understand by making connections through "lived cultural experiences", or building on prior cultural knowledge. 

At the heart of culturally responsive pedagogies in New Zealand sits the Ministry of Education document "Ka Hikitia - Accelerating Success 2013 - 2017". This document sets out a framework for what is needed to ensure Maori students are enjoying and achieving educational success as Maori.

My Practice Focus - Learning Activities/Communication

Activities and lessons that support diverse cultural backgrounds and languages, and meaningful instruction that links to the students' prior experience/backgrounds:

• Developing and communicating cultural identity through learning about, creating and sharing mihis. I have introduced mihis into our school-wide Celebrations of Learning. This has created a sense of belonging, pride and achievement for those involved.
• Wero o te Wiki is an initiative where students film short video clips demonstrating the Maori phrase of the week. This is a positive way of bringing language into the classroom context.  
• Teaching growth mindset to develop student self-efficacy. The Maori Education Strategy – “Kahikitia Accelerating Success 2013-2017” recognises and supports the growth mindset theory in raising achievement for its students. It speaks specifically about developing mindset characteristics by prioritising the need to support Maori students’ to believe in themselves and their potential. (Ministry of Education, 2013 p. 38) 
• Problem Based Maths programme draws on learners' prior experiences and encourages learner agency through collaboration, mixed ability grouping and differentiated approach.

Where to next:

In reflecting on my practice I have identified the following for further development:

• Introduce whakatauki (proverbs) and karakia as part of our daily programme and have learners involved in choosing whakatauki.
• Recognise opportunities to provide more learning contexts where learners can bring themselves to the learning conversation and draw upon their own funds of knowledge.
• I am intrigued by the term 'lived cultural experiences' and would like to learn more about this.

References

Edtalks.(2012, September 23). A culturally responsive pedagogy of relations. [video file].Retrieved from https://vimeo.com/49992994

Ministry of Education. (2013). Kahikitia Accelerating Success 2013 – 2017. Retrieved from https://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Ministry/Strategies-and- policies/Ka-Hikitia/KaHikitiaAcceleratingSuccessEnglish.pdf 

Teaching Tolerance.( 2010, Jun 17).Introduction to Culturally Relevant Pedagogy.[video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGTVjJuRaZ8