Fostering communication, including communication about learner achievement

Te Mana Kōrero 3

• Why do you think is it important to communicate warmly, positively, clearly, and honestly with families/whānau and iwi? What appear to be the most effective ways of communicating with families/whānau and iwi? How important is it to be honest as a communicator, especially on matters of student achievement? What appear to be the consequences of this?

[Note comments all the way through the clips that communication is frequent and includes all who have an interest in the learners’ education, e.g., teacher at Tologa Bay Area School: “Parents and whānau must know how their children are doing honestly. We should not mislead parents … We should tell parents how they can support and help their children in moving forward on the learning process.”

Opunake School: note use of weekly panui to inform families/whānau and iwi about topics being studied and how they can help their tamariki learn better.

Note alternative ways of reporting on student progress/achievement to families/whānau and iwi, e.g., Huriharama School: use of digital portfolios which enable students to report directly to their families/whānau and iwi; Opunake School – use of open days/evenings for families/whānau and iwi, to identify the progress and achievement of their tamariki directly (note parent comment that, “Open days tell me more than a report card. Report cards are a lot of writing on a piece of paper – they don’t explain what children have learnt.”)

Note also story, from Hiruharama School, of a boy who was shamed when his father noted slow progress through an open day, which motivated the boy to improve his work. Open days not only enable families/whānau and iwi to learn about the progress of their tamariki, they can also motivate students, who want to impress their families/whānau and iwi.]

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