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eviewed <strong>early</strong> childhood professional development literature and discovered “the<br />

problematic nature of the l<strong>in</strong>ear perspectives and deficit models of staff<br />

development [was] prevalent <strong>in</strong> the <strong>early</strong> childhood field (para 1). Bishop (2008, p.<br />

53) stresses the importance of the need for teachers to “be offered an opportunity to<br />

draw explanations and subsequent practices from alternative discourses that offer<br />

them solutions <strong>in</strong>stead of re<strong>in</strong>forc<strong>in</strong>g problems and barriers” dur<strong>in</strong>g professional<br />

development. These ideas fit with the stance of this thesis that appreciative<br />

approaches work best. For Case Study Two, support for professional development<br />

was available from their K<strong>in</strong>dergarten Association:<br />

We had a one day bicultural development workshop <strong>in</strong> the holidays (Tr:<br />

A, 7/5/04).<br />

In addition, to undertak<strong>in</strong>g professional development provided by their<br />

association, Case Study Two teachers <strong>in</strong>itiated other strategies to ga<strong>in</strong> Tiriti-<strong>based</strong><br />

skills:<br />

Alison, myself and the teachers from R K<strong>in</strong>dergarten had enrolled <strong>in</strong> a<br />

Māori language course Te Hit<strong>in</strong>ga o Te Reo at Whitireia Polytec. I<br />

received the learn<strong>in</strong>g pack which had an excellent booklet and CDs to<br />

enhance our understand<strong>in</strong>g of Māori language (Jl: B, 5/6/04).<br />

This demonstrates the importance of explor<strong>in</strong>g a variety of cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g<br />

professional development options. It also demonstrates the importance of work<strong>in</strong>g<br />

together and shar<strong>in</strong>g learn<strong>in</strong>g experiences and associated resources. As Fenech,<br />

Sumsion and Shepherd (2010, p. 95) state “professional development for these<br />

teachers necessitates plann<strong>in</strong>g and utilis<strong>in</strong>g opportunities that challenge and stretch<br />

their th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and beliefs”.<br />

Case Study Three teachers viewed be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> this research as a<br />

launch-pad to ongo<strong>in</strong>g professional development:<br />

It is a good opportunity now. Time has arrived for us. That will become<br />

one of my goals for professional development. Maybe <strong>in</strong> 2009 if there is<br />

any professional development programme com<strong>in</strong>g up I can do that and<br />

expla<strong>in</strong> to my colleagues my area (Tr: P, 22/10/08).<br />

Respondents also acknowledged that professional development was<br />

essential to achiev<strong>in</strong>g their goals, as the follow<strong>in</strong>g two teachers report:<br />

Professional Development has helped us to enhance our centre and to<br />

make it more bicultural (R.115).<br />

Staff have attended cultural awareness professional development<br />

workshops (R.101).<br />

214

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