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A word from the authors...
Observations and wonderings from Steve and Rebecca - creators of Engaging Learning Voices.

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Is it time for us to call for an Inquiry into New Zealand's Curriculum Refresh?
by Rebecca Thomas As educators, we pride ourselves on fostering critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making in our students. Is...

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Aug 30, 20243 min read


Te Mātaiaho's Vision: How the New Draft Curriculum Measures Up
by Rebecca Thomas Today marks the release of the New English Draft Curriculum, and it's now open for feedback. As you read over it, it's...

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Aug 26, 20244 min read


Why Do We Follow DisruptEd?
by Rebecca Thomas (Image by Steve Saville) It’s hard to stay in the North-East all of the time. Tēnā te ngaru whati, tēnā te ngaru puku....

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Aug 23, 20242 min read


A Job Well Done
By Rebecca Thomas In light of being reminded of our mortality; in light of the commitment we bring to 'the job' as individuals; in light...

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Aug 20, 20245 min read


Project Skyfall: Responding to the narrow consultation window
by Rebecca Thomas Sticking with Claire Amos' wonderful literary theme in her recent post, Education in Aotearoa - the fairy tale we are...

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Aug 12, 20244 min read


Government vs. Educators: "Unions can complain all they want!"
by Rebecca Thomas I've tried to remain thoughtful and encourage readers to critically assess the data and the pace of new initiatives in...

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Aug 6, 20243 min read


Is New Zealand’s Education System at Risk of Being Shaped by Deficit Thinking?
by Rebecca Thomas In the world of education, the narratives we choose to believe and perpetuate have a profound impact on the lives of...

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Aug 3, 20244 min read


Leaked Curriculum Rewrite Emails: Necessary Whistleblowing, or Breach of Trust?
by Rebecca Thomas Recent leaked emails regarding the English curriculum, disclosed by RNZ, have spotlighted significant lapses in the...

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Jul 10, 20243 min read


Navigating the New Assessment Regime: Balancing Pedagogy and AI in an Era of Standardisation
by Rebecca Thomas As we stand on the precipice of a new assessment regime in New Zealand education, it's crucial to reflect on our past...

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Jul 9, 20245 min read


Treading Water in a Sea of Expectations
by Rebecca Thomas That spark hasn't died - it's still there, buried beneath layers of exhaustion, bureaucracy, and endless demands. But...

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Jul 4, 20242 min read


Whose Knowledge Counts in Shaping Our Children's Minds?
By Rebecca Thomas As we celebrate Matariki, a time of renewal rooted in our connection to nature, I found myself revisiting Yuval Noah...

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Jun 27, 20244 min read


Bridging the Gap: Bringing the Science of Learning to Teacher Professional Learning
by Steve Saville and Rebecca Thomas Nothing About Us Without Us Currently, the future of teacher professional development appears to be...

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Jun 21, 20247 min read


Initial report from the Ministerial Advisory Group: Reasons to be Cheerful, Part. 3…(maybe)
By Steve Saville Well, if nothing else the initial report from the Ministerial Advisory Group, released late last week, has at least...

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Jun 18, 202413 min read


Upholding Te Mātaiaho's Vision
by Rebecca Thomas Of course I had something to say... When Te Mātaiaho was launched, it represented a watershed moment for indigenous...

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Jun 14, 20242 min read


The Science of Learning - A Tangata Tiriti Lens
by Rebecca Thomas The Ministry of Education's recent teacher-only PLD day content focused on the "Science of Learning" - a synthesis of...

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Jun 12, 20244 min read


Trust in Teachers: Balancing Curriculum Structure with Professional Freedom
by Rebecca Thomas To deny our teachers autonomy would be akin to silencing the very muse that inspires their craft. Imagine a painter,...

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Jun 8, 20244 min read


"Teachers can’t be curriculum designers as well as teachers," says New-look English Curriculum Writers
by Rebecca Thomas The proposed changes to the secondary English curriculum have sparked a debate around balancing prescribed content with...

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May 31, 20244 min read


Budget Breakthrough or Bandaid Solution in Budget 24
By Rebecca Thomas The announcement of 'nearly $53 million' invested over four years to support teacher training and recruitment in order...

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May 26, 20243 min read


Structured Literacy PLD: Diving Deep After the $67 Million Splash
by Rebecca Thomas (Image generated by OpenAI) In the realm of education, the pursuit of effective literacy instruction is paramount,...

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May 22, 20245 min read


The Illusion of Inclusion
By Rebecca Thomas First off, a huge thanks to Dr. Nina Hood and her team for continuing to share such vital resources and knowledge...

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May 13, 20243 min read
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