The New Zealand Curriculum requires schools to be inclusive of all areas of diversity, highlighting the need for schools to ensure children of all genders feel physically and emotionally safe. Children develop concepts and expectations of gender norms at school which can influence self-esteem. Gender-inclusive classrooms are a safe environment for…

This article seeks to highlight the importance of consciously implementing universal design for learning principles in practice in early childhood intervention. Universal design for learning (UDL) is based on three principles: (1) providing multiple means of engagement; (2) providing multiple means of representation; and (3) providing multiple…

How well classmates communicate support with each other may significantly influence how well they learn and their commitment to learning. This study asked students which aspects of supportive communication they use with each other and which aspects they regard as most important for successful study. One hundred polytechnic students participated in…

Literacy is one of the most important life skills. Being able to read and write effectively enhances our participation in learning, personal development and employment (Clendon & Erickson, 2009; Copeland & Keefe, 2019). Literacy instruction is the cornerstone of teaching in New Zealand primary schools. However, not all students have…

Structured literacy is an evidence-based approach (Brady, 2011; Fletcher et al., 2007; Foorman et al., 2016; IDA, 2018; NRP, 2000; TKI 2020a) informed by the science of reading acquisition instruction and how the brain acquires and processes information (Reyna, 2004; Seidenberg, 2017). The literature examines how this approach could support…

The national increase in schools implementing play-based learning (PBL) has highlighted a need for Resource Teachers: Learning & Behaviour (RTLB) and others to develop a thorough understanding of the pedagogies that align with PBL to ensure they are well placed to fulfil a key element of their role and support teachers to grow their…

In this article Kay-Lee Jones describes the attributes of the Te Pa o Rakaihautu school. Te Pa o Rakaihautu is unique, it is different and designed to be so. It is a 21st century pa wananga (learning village) for the whole whanau (family). Through the hallways of Te Pa o Rakaihautu one feels the mauri (essence) of the different entities that make…

The concept of home-school partnerships is widely accepted as being important for student success. How this concept can be quantified in a more equitable and valid way, specifically through the lens of the Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), is the focus of this inquiry. RTLB and parent surveys, plus a questionnaire answered by the…

This paper provides an autoethnographic view of the influences that have changed my perceptions and helped me to make better sense of the world that I live in, and my place in it. It is a story of personal, ongoing critical reflection. A story of unlearning and conscientisation that changed how I came to understand myself, my teaching practice and…

This paper examines the multi-component use of visual supports, namely visual schedules and video modelling, to achieve the vocational goal of making a sandwich independently for a 16-year old girl with autism. This practice approach was informed by both the three step process from the National Professional Development Centre (The NPDC Model,…

As a facilitator of the Incredible Years for Teachers Programme (IYT), I have found that the classroom management strategies participant teachers learned during the 6-month programme period have not been embedded and sustained in their use through time. This inquiry investigated the benefits and barriers to IYT being spontaneously, consistently…

With a conservative estimate of 1 in 100 children thought to be on the autism spectrum (Ministry of Health, n.d.), this article reports on findings from a preliminary exploratory national study of parents of children aged 0-21 with ASD. Using an e-survey questionnaire and focus groups, the study sought to understand the supports that were…

Studies support the effectiveness of evidence-based practice to improve social communication. Specific interventions must be trialled to determine their efficacy for learners with autism. Successful implementation of such evidence-based interventions relies largely on variables such as teacher expertise and the fidelity by which they adhere to…

Assisting students with learning support needs requires a collaborative approach to educational planning and the development of a multi-dimensional profile of the student. However, developing such a profile can be difficult when information is gathered from multiple sources, culturally-relevant information is not included, and incongruent or…

"The Learning Theories Profile" (LTP) supports professionals to locate various learning theories within four epistemological quadrants of the "Matrix of Perspectives." Professionals can use this tool to identify some of the theories they hold and to reflect on the alignment between their espoused theories and theories-in-use.…