To prepare our future generations for meaningful participation in the global marketplace, can a ‘back to basics’ approach to education truly suffice? In the ongoing discourse surrounding New Zealand’s education system, a particular contention stands out – the role of mātauranga Māori within the national curriculum. Critics, such as libertarian commentator Damien Grant, argue that… Read more: New Zealand Education: Beyond Basics
Dear Teachers and Educators, In the wake of last weekend’s election results, uncertainty looms over our education system. Proposed policies have raised concerns among those who believe in fostering innovative, developmentally responsive teaching and learning systems. The fear of reverting to standardised, non-creative pedagogy and the spectre of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) should… Read more: Developmentally Responsive Teaching and Learning Systems: Balancing Rigour and Compassion for New Zealand’s Future
Sarah had the chance to speak on the Panel in the afternoon about the petition secondary school students are promoting at the moment related to a 4-day school week.
Yesterday, the Act Party announced a set of education policies that have left many experts, educators, and parents deeply concerned. While the party may be considered the ‘tail wagging the dog’ of the National Party, its influence should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to shaping the future of education in New Zealand—a country… Read more: Opinion: The Act Party’s Education Policies—A Step Backwards for New Zealand’s Future
Last month’s announcement by the Labour Party of proposed compulsory teaching requirements for literacy and numeracy sat me on the floor in disbelief. In fact, I had to read twice to check that this was an announcement from the Labour party and not the opposition. Implementing a policy that reeks of standardisation flies in the face of… Read more: Teachers, don’t let politicians devalue your contribution
For many school students overseas, break times have all but vanished in the pursuit of academic excellence. Do we really want to go down that path here? Read more here
National’s education policy reinforces an old-fashioned and hierarchical curriculum that does lasting harm to many students, writes educational specialist Dr Sarah Aiono. Read more
Two days after Cyclone Gabrielle hit my hometown of Napier, I sat watching my 7-year-old niece erupting her homemade volcano on a very soggy back lawn. She squealed with delight as the baking soda/vinegar/food colouring mix hastily provided for her as entertainment bubbled over the crater. Read More
It was welcome news for teachers when the Prime Minister announced the new Minister of Education, Jan Tinetti. For too long, the education sector has been led by ministers and government officials who have never had the experience of standing in front of 30-plus children in a busy classroom on a daily basis. Read More
Do you have a household with children in it who are dreading the start of the new term? Do you already know that you’ll be dealing with daily reluctance to get to school or, even worse, a child who skips school and becomes a part of this country’s appalling truancy statistics?Read More
A groundbreaking plan to indigenise play to help learning at a Flaxmere primary school is set to be supported by a $200,000 grant. Te Whai Hiringa Peterhead is one of three in New Zealand to get $200,000 to develop te ao Māori activities that will help its pupils learn. Read More
Sarah Aiono is a teacher and in-school consultant on a mission to bringing more play into the primary school classroom. She’s founded Longworth Education, a company which supports teachers to incorporate more play into the school day. She says the value of play as a learning tool can be misunderstood but it’s vital for children… Read more: Listen to Sarah on Radio NZ – Supporting teachers to bring play back into the classroom
Play lies at the heart of quality early childhood education (ECE) with the benefits to children and their learning and development well documented throughout early years literature (Edwards, 2017; Hedges, 2018; Siraj-Blatchford, 2009; White, Ellis, O’Malley, Rockel, Stover & Toso, 2008; Wood, 2010;). Given the power of play to support learning, primary teachers are showing… Read more: He Kupu: While they play, what should I do? Strengthening learning through play and intentional teaching
Play lies at the heart of quality early childhood education (ECE) with the benefits to children and their learning and development well documented throughout early years literature (Edwards, 2017; Hedges, 2018; Siraj-Blatchford, 2009; White, Ellis, O’Malley, Rockel, Stover & Toso, 2008; Wood, 2010;). Given the power of play to support learning, primary teachers are showing… Read more: While they play, what should I do? Strengthening learning through play and intentional teaching
Sarah Aiono couldn’t see her “rambunctious outdoor kid” sitting on a mat and conforming, so from age five he spent three days a week at Longworth Forest – a nature school near Napier. Read More
A family that has shown kids the joy of learning in the environment, and shared the value with thousands of teachers, has made a list of the world’s most innovative educators. Read More
Longworth Forest selected as part of Finnish “HundrED’s 100 Global EducationInnovations Project”Longworth Forest, a private education initiative for 5 – 7 year old children in Napier, New Zealand, has been announced by global education non-profit HundrED, as one of its 100 innovative education projects across the world, all of which have been gathered over the past two years.HundrED aims to share inspiring ideas and projects across borders to help improve the future of education globally.
To prepare our future generations for meaningful participation in the global marketplace, can a ‘back to basics’ approach to education truly suffice? In the ongoing discourse surrounding New Zealand’s education system, a particular contention stands out – the role of mātauranga Māori within the national curriculum. Critics, such as libertarian commentator Damien Grant, argue that… Read more: New Zealand Education: Beyond Basics
Dear Teachers and Educators, In the wake of last weekend’s election results, uncertainty looms over our education system. Proposed policies have raised concerns among those who believe in fostering innovative, developmentally responsive teaching and learning systems. The fear of reverting to standardised, non-creative pedagogy and the spectre of the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM) should… Read more: Developmentally Responsive Teaching and Learning Systems: Balancing Rigour and Compassion for New Zealand’s Future
Sarah had the chance to speak on the Panel in the afternoon about the petition secondary school students are promoting at the moment related to a 4-day school week.
Yesterday, the Act Party announced a set of education policies that have left many experts, educators, and parents deeply concerned. While the party may be considered the ‘tail wagging the dog’ of the National Party, its influence should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to shaping the future of education in New Zealand—a country… Read more: Opinion: The Act Party’s Education Policies—A Step Backwards for New Zealand’s Future
Sarah is a researcher, educator, and passionate play advocate with a Doctor of Education degree from Massey University in New Zealand.
Last month’s announcement by the Labour Party of proposed compulsory teaching requirements for literacy and numeracy sat me on the floor in disbelief. In fact, I had to read twice to check that this was an announcement from the Labour party and not the opposition. Implementing a policy that reeks of standardisation flies in the face of… Read more: Teachers, don’t let politicians devalue your contribution
For many school students overseas, break times have all but vanished in the pursuit of academic excellence. Do we really want to go down that path here? Read more here
National’s education policy reinforces an old-fashioned and hierarchical curriculum that does lasting harm to many students, writes educational specialist Dr Sarah Aiono. Read more
Two days after Cyclone Gabrielle hit my hometown of Napier, I sat watching my 7-year-old niece erupting her homemade volcano on a very soggy back lawn. She squealed with delight as the baking soda/vinegar/food colouring mix hastily provided for her as entertainment bubbled over the crater. Read More
It was welcome news for teachers when the Prime Minister announced the new Minister of Education, Jan Tinetti. For too long, the education sector has been led by ministers and government officials who have never had the experience of standing in front of 30-plus children in a busy classroom on a daily basis. Read More
Do you have a household with children in it who are dreading the start of the new term? Do you already know that you’ll be dealing with daily reluctance to get to school or, even worse, a child who skips school and becomes a part of this country’s appalling truancy statistics?Read More
A groundbreaking plan to indigenise play to help learning at a Flaxmere primary school is set to be supported by a $200,000 grant. Te Whai Hiringa Peterhead is one of three in New Zealand to get $200,000 to develop te ao Māori activities that will help its pupils learn. Read More
Listen to Sarah on Radio NZ – Supporting teachers to bring play back into the classroom. Read More
Dr Sarah Aiono’s research explored the value of play as a way of learning in the classroom. Read More
Play lies at the heart of quality early childhood education (ECE) with the benefits to children and their learning and development well documented throughout early years literature (Edwards, 2017; Hedges, 2018; Siraj-Blatchford, 2009; White, Ellis, O’Malley, Rockel, Stover & Toso, 2008; Wood, 2010;). Given the power of play to support learning, primary teachers are showing… Read more: He Kupu: While they play, what should I do? Strengthening learning through play and intentional teaching
Play lies at the heart of quality early childhood education (ECE) with the benefits to children and their learning and development well documented throughout early years literature (Edwards, 2017; Hedges, 2018; Siraj-Blatchford, 2009; White, Ellis, O’Malley, Rockel, Stover & Toso, 2008; Wood, 2010;). Given the power of play to support learning, primary teachers are showing… Read more: While they play, what should I do? Strengthening learning through play and intentional teaching
Sarah Aiono couldn’t see her “rambunctious outdoor kid” sitting on a mat and conforming, so from age five he spent three days a week at Longworth Forest – a nature school near Napier. Read More
A family that has shown kids the joy of learning in the environment, and shared the value with thousands of teachers, has made a list of the world’s most innovative educators. Read More
Longworth Forest selected as part of Finnish “HundrED’s 100 Global EducationInnovations Project”Longworth Forest, a private education initiative for 5 – 7 year old children in Napier, New Zealand, has been announced by global education non-profit HundrED, as one of its 100 innovative education projects across the world, all of which have been gathered over the past two years.HundrED aims to share inspiring ideas and projects across borders to help improve the future of education globally.
