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Haere Tonu!
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, is a celebration of the Māori language and culture in New Zealand. It encourages communities to engage with Te Reo Māori through activities and an activity we use regularly is reading contemporary literature. Among many of her stories, the kaiako and tamariki enjoy sharing Sharron Holt's series of Te Reo Maori pukapuka (books).
Here in Karamu, I thought it would be a fantastic idea to incorporate the book and song of "Haere Tonu," which provides a relatable context for tamariki learning about routines and responsibilities. As we are a new centre, I thought this approach not only highlights the importance of integrating culturally relevant resources, such as waiata (music), but also supports our new tamariki with our new routine, such as tidy-up time. We play this song every tidy-up time and the tamariki love trying to remember what the words in Maori translate to in English.
The last page of the pukapuka talks about sitting on the whariki (mat) after tidy-up time which has become a part of our routine. By incorporating Maori literature and music into our daily routine, tamariki can develop their language skills while embracing their cultural identity, creating an immersive environment for learning.
By kaiako Jezzie.