Image by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash.
<h2><span data-contrast="auto">Last week, Minister for Education Erica Stanford announced new structured literacy packs for Māori medium learners, including phonics checks in te reo Māori, an innovation spearheaded by Cath Rau and Hūrae White with the Ministry of Education. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></h2>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The new packs will be delivered to 310 schools using Te Marautanga o Aotearoa for Years Zero to Eight. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“Packs have a book for each phase of learning that provides yearly guidance, lesson plans and activities. Digital versions of the resources will also be available online to ensure flexibility for schools and parents. Professional learning and development will continue to be available for teachers throughout 2025, ensuring they have the confidence to teach in a structured way,” said Stanford.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><a href="https://www.schoolnews.co.nz/latest-print-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><b>Read the latest print edition of <em>School News</em> online HERE.</b></a></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The new te reo Māori phonics checks, called </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Hihira Wetero</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, will also be available for kaiako to measure ākonga progress in reading and oral te reo Māori. Checks are available for 20, 40 and 55 weeks of schooling to identify children who may need extra support. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The 20-week check assesses a child’s ability to hear and distinguish sounds (phonemic awareness). At 40-weeks the aromatawai checks a child’s ability to identify lower case letters (alphabetic principle), and at 55 weeks a child is assessed for pānui (reading) and tuhituhi (writing) skills. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><i><span data-contrast="auto">Hihira Wetero </span></i><span data-contrast="auto">is part of the new Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā programme, a structured literacy approach designed specifically for te reo Māori. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The aromawatai were trailed in late 2024 and assessed for efficacy. A psychometrician found the checks robust. PLD is now available for Rangaranga Reo ā-Tā for Years Zero to Three. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Kaiako can report results of </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Hihira Wetero</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> through a secure portal provided by the Ministry of Education. The data will be used to show national progress for the 40-week check and allow the ministry to identify kura and schools who may require more resource and support. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“This is the first time children learning through te reo Māori are being taught using structured approaches in a way designed specifically for them,” said Stanford. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“We’re ensuring tamariki and their teachers have access to the tools they need to succeed and learning isn’t left to chance.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

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