tuhituhi mo te panui
“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.”
—Walt Disney
te ao Māori principles
There are five key principals that we, as an English Department, consider important as part of a holistic study at school.
- Mana – The prestige and authority of the writer. Writers can build mana through impactful stories that uplift readers.
- Whanaungatanga – The connections and relationships between characters, writers, and readers. Literature brings people together.
- Kaitiakitanga – Guardianship and protection of stories, language, and knowledge. Writers have a duty to share stories responsibly.
- Wairuatanga – The spirituality and deeper meanings conveyed through literature. Stories can be profound and moving.
- Mauri – The essential life force or vitality of the writer coming through in their work. Writing with purpose and energy.
- Aroha – The empathy, compassion, and love writers show through their words. Literature builds understanding between people.
- Tikanga – The customs, protocols and values upheld through storytelling. Writers adhere to cultural principles.
Exercises
Spelling
| movement | jumper | laziness | discussion | treasure |
| laughter | sweetness | completion | permission | exposure |
| walker | softness | politician | admission | character |
| dancer | loudness | musician | measure | neighbourhood |
Summary Builder
Below is a piece of writing that you should attempt to summarise into around 100 words.
The Power of Perspective: Seeing the World Through New Eyes
As teenagers navigating high school and approaching adulthood, it’s important to start broadening your perspective and seeing the world in new ways. Developing a more open, flexible mindset allows you to understand unfamiliar people, cultures, and ideas. It also helps you solve problems more creatively.
Perspective-taking starts with empathy. To understand someone else’s viewpoint, you have to temporarily let go of your own assumptions and imagine what it’s like to walk in their shoes. Talk to people different from yourself. Learn about different countries, religions, or time periods. Immerse yourself in new environments through books, films, or travel.
Expanding your perspective also means carefully examining your own beliefs. Are your opinions well-informed or just based on assumptions? Be willing to question your views and change them when presented with new evidence. Consider opposing angles on issues. Avoid thinking in extremes of black-and-white, right versus wrong. The world is complex.
Practicing perspective-taking makes you intellectually flexible. You become more open to ideas outside your comfort zone. Your thinking nimbly adapts to new situations instead of getting stuck in rigid mindsets. Cognitive psychologists believe this mental agility is key to creative problem-solving and innovation.
As you mature into thoughtful adults, keep exploring unknown territory. Immerse yourself in diversity. Continually challenge your own assumptions. Seek out new vantage points. You gain wisdom and resilience by embracing the complexity of life. Broad perspective allows you to connect ideas in original ways. Stay curious. The wider the lens, the more clearly you see.
Writing About Reading
tuhituhi mo te panui
All information in this section will be completed through the Unfamiliar text book.
Ko te reo te tuakiri | Language is my identity.
Ko te reo tōku ahurei | Language is my uniqueness.
Ko te reo te ora. | Language is life.