Creating a positive learning environment
When planning for learning experiences in te ao kori, it is particularly important to consider students' emotional, spiritual, social, and physical well-being and cultural needs. Students need to feel that they are in a positive and supportive learning environment.
The following principles and advice foster a positive learning environment for te ao kori:
- School policies, procedures, and programmes should reflect biculturalism and the current needs of the students in the school – te ao kori activities should be part of every school programme.
- The activities that are planned need to consider the home and community environment to ensure they are inclusive.
- Learning environments inside and outside the classroom need to encourage exploration and care of natural resources and the environment, maximising use of the school grounds and planning to gradually introduce students to more challenging and unfamiliar environments.
- Parents, caregivers, and people from the community who are knowledgeable in aspects of te ao kori, such as, natural resource collection, kapa haka (performance groups), and constructing te ao kori equipment, should be involved. Knowing who is in your community and what skills they have will serve to strengthen and broaden your programmes, both as a kaiako (teacher/facilitator) and as a learner.
- Teaching strategies and classroom environments should encourage individual/group exploration and expression of dance, drama, music, and the visual arts in the contexts of te ao kori.