Build whanaungatanga
Partner with the students and their whānau so you can understand and respond to their learning needs.
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Ask what helps
Ask what helps
Connect with culturally sustaining frameworks
Connect with culturally sustaining frameworks
For example, use dimensions from the Māori health model, Te Whare Tapa Whā
Taha Whānau – family, people and relationships
- whānau, friends, iwi and hapū
- cultural, religious, social and recreational connections
- professionals working with the family.
Taha Wairua – spiritual wellbeing or life force
- spiritually strengthening aspects, for example faith, being in nature, creative activities and meditation
- interests
- hopes and priorities for ākonga and whānau.
Taha Tinana – physical wellbeing
- physical activity and recreation preferences
- fine and gross motor challenges
- medications and allergies.
Taha Hinengaro – mental and emotional wellbeing
- strengths and talents
- dislikes and things they find difficult
- signs that the student is beginning to feel upset or anxious
- strategies used to calm students.
Whenua – connection to the land and environment
- important places
- iwi and hapū maunga awa - mountains and rivers
- interests in the environment, plants and animals
- connections to people and ancestors.
Support self-advocacy with learner profiles
Support self-advocacy with learner profiles
Having students create a learner profile for themselves is a great way to have them develop a better and fuller understanding of who they are as learners ...
This develops their independence and places them in a better position to self-advocate for the tools, learning materials, and presentation options that can optimise their learning experiences.
Naryn Searcy
Build the learner profile over time
Build the learner profile over time
Considerations for learner profiles.
- Provide multiple opportunities and methods to develop the profile.
- Prioritise information from students by using effective communication techniques, for example, point to select, or communication boards.
- Revisit the profile on a regular basis to add depth and new insights.
- Use a range of input methods such as conversations, observations, formal reviews and regular surveys.
- Encourage students to understand their needs and preferences as a learner.
- Act on information that is shared so students can see how their voice helps you design learning experiences that work for them.
Find approaches that work at school and at home
Find approaches that work at school and at home
Approaches or items that could be shared or aligned across home and school include:
- student interests, such as favourite topics, colours, sports and music.
- visuals that support tasks and multi-step processes.
- phrases, visual cues, signs and other communication and reminder techniques.
- furniture options and physical supports, for example, chairs and table heights that support balance
- approaches and activities to build skills such as balance.
- calming or energising strategies, for example, objects, cushions, swing seats and break out spaces.
- objects and items that are meaningful and offer support for their children.
- strategies and solutions to address specific needs.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Developing learner profiles
Read time: 3 min
This document provides general support and guidance when developing a learner profile. It includes prompts and questions, alongside purpose and benefits for students.
Publisher:
Download PDF (211 KB)
About me
This learner profile template is a companion to "Developing learner profiles". It is an interactive PDF with questions for students to answer.
Download PDF (596 KB)
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Identify needs and how to provide support”:
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Current page Build whanaungatanga
Return to the guide “Dyspraxia and learning”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: Dyspraxia and learning
Understand:
Strategies for action:
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Identify needs and how to provide supportShow suggestions for Identify needs and how to provide support
- Build whanaungatanga
- Gather information to inform practice
- Organisations, programmes and resources
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Key areas to supportShow suggestions for Key areas to support
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Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies years 1-8
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Helpful classroom strategies year 9-13Show suggestions for Helpful classroom strategies year 9-13