Teacher-led innovation fund (TLIF)

Lead school:  Hornby Primary School

Focus:  This inquiry investigates how the Hornby community of schools and ECE can collaborate with language experts to improve the communication skills of learners aged 4–6 years so that all learners will become confident and competent learners, contributors, communicators, and citizens of the Hornby community.

Lead kura:  Ngā Taiātea Wharekura

Focus:  This project is for ākonga, their whānau, the Waikato-Tainui tribal region, and all families that send their children to Ngā Taiātea from different parts of New Zealand. The project will develop innovative practice to blend ancestrally-driven and future-focussed learning principles.

Lead kura:  Tai Wānanga

Focus:  Tai Wānanga are curious about the potential of project based learning (PBL) to improve taiohi (students) learning, and kaitiaki (teacher) practice. This project aims to develop a kura-wide pedagogical PBL model.

Lead school:  Waiouru School

Focus:  This project explores the influence of strong relationship based practice between students and teachers; and strong 21st century teaching pedagogy using specialist teaching in core subject areas. It includes an emphasis on key competencies as integral to learning in all areas to benefit year 1–4 students, and children transitioning from ECE to school.

Lead school:  Karanga Mai Young Parent College

Focus:  The project involves the design and implementation of culturally responsive, home-based, individualised pedagogy to increase participation, engagement, achievement and transitions through engaging and connecting the young parent and by enhancing the educational prospects of the child.

Lead school:  Flanshaw Road School

Focus:  This innovative project looks to support teachers across the West Auckland Principals Association 2020 network of schools to develop knowledge and capacity to lead creative and innovative STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), projects in their schools using Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Lead school:  Maketu School

Focus:  This project aims to enhance teacher practice to ensure that all young learners aged 3–6 and their whānau, living in the small rural community of Maketu, receive quality mathematical education. Primary and ECE teachers will collaborate on mathematics teaching and learning across both contexts to improve teaching practices and lift achievement.

Lead Kāhui Ako:  Christchurch’s Catholic Kāhui Ako - Te Mara Akoranga Katorika - schools: Marian College, St Thomas of Canterbury College, St Teresa’s School and St Joseph’s School (Papanui)

Focus:  This project explored the relationship between student agency, wellbeing, and learning. It was a response to evidence that when learners are listened to, and when their interests are made central to teachers’ shared praxis, they become more engaged in their learning and their wellbeing is enhanced.