Literacy facilitates the intergenerational transmission of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) through a range of forms and practices. Providing a learning environment in which children experience a wide range of cultural forms and functions of literacy, including those reflecting te ao Māori, is an important way for kaiako to uphold our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to protect Māori language and culture and foster both individual and collective identity for Māori.
Children are empowered when kaiako understand and reflect the wide range of social and cultural literacy forms that children experience in their home and community lives within the early learning setting. The principle of Whakamana | Empowerment is also evident when children have agency to create and express their ideas as they retell and create their own stories using a range of modes.
The Whānau tangata | Family and community principle emphasises the importance of literacy in cultural continuity and well-being. By adopting an inclusive approach to what counts as literacy and how it functions, kaiako increase the likelihood of success for all children.
Kotahitanga | Holistic learning encourages using diverse literacy forms such as storytelling, music, drawing, and movement. It suggests that literacy is not just about acquiring skills but also about using those skills to connect, understand, and engage with different aspects of the world.
Reflecting the Ngā hononga | Relationships principle of Te Whāriki, positive, sincere relationships with children, their families, and communities are more likely to result in literacy experiences that reflect the languages, cultures and identities of children. They also create a supportive environment where children are more likely to feel safe and confident to explore and experiment with different forms of literacy.
An inclusive learning environment values and incorporates home literacy forms and practices into the curriculum, including the use of specific written scripts and literacy activities related to cultural events. It also offers children multiple ways to create and express their ideas.
