Te reo Māori alphabet magnets fostering communication and respect

NZTC’s te reo Māori alphabet magnets were recently gifted to early childhood centres throughout the country as an educational resource to support our students and teachers to use te reo Māori in everyday, natural ways with the children in their care.

We catch up with Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) student, Konoka Azumi, who shares how she is using this latest learning and teaching resource in the classroom.

What are your initial impressions of the te reo Māori alphabet magnets?

The magnets provide visual cues for children, helping toddlers and young children understand keywords in te reo Māori. I observed tamariki, who speak Māori at home, pointing to a magnet and repeating the word. I have found that visually recognising familiar vocabulary and speaking it is a useful way of learning a language for these young tamariki. It not only creates a learning environment in which their cultural identity is respected but also fosters communication with other peers using te reo Māori.

How have you used this resource in your teaching practice?

I implemented the magnets into my teaching practice in two ways: teacher-led and child-led. For the former, I utilised them during circle time, asking the children to say the things on the magnets in Māori and we enjoyed playing simple games together. Through these activities, the children loved learning new vocabulary in te reo Māori.

In the latter, I observed some children enjoying imaginative play with the magnets. While it may take time for the Māori vocabulary to be naturally included in their conversation, I think it is an effective strategy for teachers to use the magnets continuously during circle time or in their daily practice. In fact, after implementing the magnets during mat time, I observed some children repeatedly enjoying the matching game using magnets in their daily play. It is evident that teacher-led teaching practices have motivated them to learn the language.

Thank you NZTC for sending this fantastic resource to our centre. There are many ways to use the magnets, and children are enjoying using them in their play.

To learn more about our te reo Māori alphabet magnets, click here.