Gifted Aotearoa

Waka Taua

Keeping you connected

Waka Taua

Keeping you connected

Waka Taua was a large waka that could hold many people, just like our network. In the past it often transported parties going into battle - our cohort of learners are often misunderstood and misrepresented, our educators become warriors for our learners and working together strengthens our quest. Waka Taua connects Gifted Aotearoa Network members with each other and with information and opportunities to support you in your work with gifted students.

What’s going on right now

We've had an awesome response to the June 2019 Intake of Waka Kōpapa: TAKING the LEAD. This course is now FULL. If you would like to register your interest for the next intake please contact the Gifted Aotearoa Administrator. Scroll down to Waka Kōpapa to find out more and to register your interest. Waka Kōpapa is a 4-module online course covering practical strategies for educators responsible for learners with additional needs including all Gifted Coordinators, SENCos, RTLBs, future Coordinator’s and related professionals to lead provisions for learners with additional needs, such as gifted learners, in your school or kura.
Registrations are open for the regional network Hui in Auckland Central, Auckland North, Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Waikato, Wakatipu and Wellington. The next round of hui will be taking place in March and April 2020. Waka Tīwai are a series of four regional hui for educators to network and collaborate together as a community of learners, growing regional capability to meet the needs of gifted learners. These hui offer practical support for classroom practice. Scroll down to Waka Tīwai to find out more and to register.
A number of questions have been answered by our Waka Ama Kaiārahi, such as "I have been given the opportunity to comment on the school policy for one of my children, as it is currently being reviewed by the board. Do you have, or could you point me in the right direction to some well-formulated New Zealand school policies in this area, by way of comparison?" and "I am leading Gifted and Talented this year. I am a novice at this and would like to know where I should start with this for our school?". All questions and answers are published on the Gifted Community on TKI.
Our Waka Ama Kaiārahi Brooke Trenwith, Rosemary Cathcart and Sue Barriball offer specialist support in gifted education to all network members. They are available now to personally respond to your queries, challenges or concerns related to gifted education. Scroll down to find out more about Waka Ama.

If you have not done so already, please scroll down to register with the Network and follow the Gifted Aotearoa Facebook page, so we can inform you of up-coming events and opportunities.

Waka Ama

Keeping you afloat

Waka Ama

Keeping you afloat

Waka Ama is a waka that requires an outrigger to keep balanced and afloat. Waka Ama provides access to Kaiārahi (leaders) in gifted education who provide on-the-spot support to educators and co-ordinators with an immediate need or query.

Our gifted education specialists are available to personally respond to your queries, challenges or concerns. Read through their bios and decide who best fits your needs in your current situation. Then email your query, challenge or concern to your chosen expert with "Gifted Aotearoa: Waka Ama" in the subject line. She will respond to you personally. Go on ... Sue, Brooke and Rosemary are ready to help you now!

All questions and answers are edited for anonymity and suitability, then published to the Gifted Community on TKI so that everybody can benefit. Click on over to see the Waka Ama Q and As at date.

Sue Barriball

NZ Centre for Gifted Education

Email: sue.barriball@nzcge.co.nz

Sue is an experienced educator, having taught primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and has specialised in teaching gifted learners for the past 15 years. She is a former director of the George Parkyn National Centre for Gifted Education and REACH Education tutor, and currently oversees all student programmes at NZCGE. Sue has extensive knowledge and experience in gifted education, thinking skills, and the depth and complexity framework. In addition, Sue has delivered PLD online and face-to-face and presented nationally and internationally on gifted education. She is also a parent of gifted children and contributes regularly to both educator and parent groups.

Brooke Trenwith

NZ Association for Gifted Children

Email: president@giftedchildren.org.nz

Brooke is a New Zealand Representative on the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children and a MOE Accredited consultant. She has taught early childhood through to university level, been a Gifted Coordinator and was assistant director of an English Language School in Taiwan. Brooke was project leader of the Te Toi Tupu contract, helping schools develop robust, transparent and cohesive approaches to gifted education. Brooke’s specialisations include giftedness, inclusive education, relationship-based learning/cultural responsiveness, coaching/change management, thinking skills, digital fluency, innovative learning and collaborative practice. Brooke is on the Reference Group for the Ministerial Review of Curriculum, Progress and Achievement.

Rosemary Cathcart

REACH Education

Email: reacheducation@xtra.co.nz

Dr Rosemary Cathcart is director of REACH Education, Ministry-accredited providers of the award-winning Certificate of Effective Practice in Gifted Education, and was formerly founding director of the George Parkyn Centre for Gifted Education. Rosemary has been proactively involved in almost every aspect of gifted education for over 30 years, working intensively with children, teachers, parents, education groups and organisations and as a political advocate. She is deeply committed to supporting teachers and schools in improving their knowledge in this field, both through her published materials and through workshops, courses, conferences and individual advisory work.

Waka Tīwai

Learning together

Waka Tīwai

Learning together

Waka Tīwai were every-day waka. They were used often and were ideal for moving small groups of people – like our regional network hui. They were also used for recreation, which reflects our desire to enjoy what we are participating in.

Waka Tīwai supports the growth of regional networks for educators enabling them to network and collaborate together as a community of learners, growing regional capability to meet the needs of gifted learners. The regional network consists of face to face hui and online collaboration and are focused on practical support for classroom practice.

Download the Waka Tīwai Information Sheet

Hui detail and registration links can be found below. Invitations to the Gifted Aotearoa online workspace are sent upon hui registration.

Waka Tīwai regional networks are in operation in the following regions: Auckland North, Auckland Central, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, Canterbury, Wakatipu.

REGION

HUI DETAILS

LINK TO REGISTER

Auckland Central

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4-6pm, 30 May 2019

Maungawhau School, 43 Ellerton Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024

Facilitator: Tania Plaisier

Hui 2: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Maths

4-6pm, 29 August 2019

Maungawhau School, 43 Ellerton Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024

Facilitator: Tania Plaisier

Hui 3: Facilitating Integrated Learning

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

Maungawhau School, 43 Ellerton Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024

Facilitator: Tania Plaisier

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, TBC Term 2, 2020

Venue TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Auckland North

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4.15-6.15pm, 30 May 2019

Kristin School, 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland 0632

Facilitator: Charlotte Tweedale

Hui 2: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Social Studies

4.15-6.15pm, 22 August 2019

Kristin School, 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland 0632

Facilitator: Charlotte Tweedale

Regsiter for Auckland North Hui 2 here

Hui 3: Practical Differentiation Strategies for Cross Curricular Use

4.15-6.15pm, 26 March 2020

Kristin School, 360 Albany Highway, Albany, Auckland 0632

Facilitator: Charlotte Tweedale

Hui 4: TBC

4.15-6.15pm, TBC Term 2, 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Canterbury

Hui 2: Assessment Essentials for Gifted Learners

4.30-6.30pm, 27 June 2019

Shirley Boys High School, 209 Travis Road, New Brighton Road, Christchurch 8083

Facilitator: Elizabeth Wilson

Hui 3: Facilitating Integrated Learning

4-6pm, 22 August 2019

Shirley Boys High School, 209 Travis Road, New Brighton Road, Christchurch 8083

Facilitator: Elizabeth Wilson

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Manawatu

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4-6pm, 25 July 2019

Russell Street School, 25 Russell Street, Palmerston North 4414

Facilitator: Suzanne Smith

Hui 2: Facilitating Cross-curricular Differentiation for Gifted Learners

4-6pm, 29 August 2019

Russell Street School, 25 Russell Street, Palmerston North 4414

Facilitator: Suzanne Smith

Hui 3: Assessment Essentials for Gifted Learners

4-6pm, 26 March 2020

Russell Street School, 25 Russell Street, Palmerston North 4414

Facilitator: Anna Meuli

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, TBC Term 2 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Taranaki

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4-6pm, 06 June 2019

St John Bosco School, 21 Clinton Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth 4312

Facilitator: Cushla Young

Hui 2: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Digital Education

4-6pm, 22 August 2019

St John Bosco School, 21 Clinton Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth 4312

Facilitator: Cushla Young

Hui 3: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Science

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

St John Bosco School, 21 Clinton Street, Fitzroy, New Plymouth 4312

Facilitator: Cushla Young

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, TBC Term 2, 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Waikato

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4-6pm, 30 May 2019

University of Waikato, 144 Knighton Road, Hamilton 3240

Facilitator: Ann Easter

Registrations close Monday 27 May, 2019

Hui 2: Facilitating Integrated Learning

4-6pm, 22 August 2019

Hillcrest Normal School, 218 Cambridge Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton 3216

Facilitator: Ann Easter

Hui 3: Assessment Essentials for Gifted Learners

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

University of Waikato, 144 Knighton Road, Hamilton 3240

Facilitator: Ann Easter

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, TBC Term 2, 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Wakatipu

Hui 1: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Literacy

4-6pm, 30 May 2019

Remarkables School, 49 Lake Avew, Frankton, Queenstown

Facilitator: Sue Luus

Registrations close Monday 27 May, 2019

Hui 2: Making Good Choices for Gifted Learners within Written Literacy

4-6pm, 22 August 2019

Remarkables School, 49 Lake Avew, Frankton, Queenstown

Facilitator: Sue Luus

Hui 3: Assessment Essentials for Gifted Learners

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

Remarkables School, 49 Lake Avew, Frankton, Queenstown

Facilitator: Sue Luus

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, TBC Term 2, 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Wellington

Hui 2: Facilitating Integrated Learning

4-6pm, 20 June 2019

Ss Peter and Paul School, Myrtle Street, Lower Hutt

Facilitator: Anna Meuli

Hui 3: Assessment Essentials for Gifted Learners

4-6pm, 22 August 2019

Ss Peter and Paul School, Myrtle Street, Lower Hutt

Facilitator: Anna Meuli

Hui 4: TBC

4-6pm, 02 April 2020

Venue: TBC

Facilitator: TBC

Waka Kōpapa

Leading together

Waka Hourua

Raising new leaders

E raka te mauī, e raka te katau.
A community can use all the skills of its people.

Māori waka are used in this project to depict the journey being undertaken by participants in the gifted education sector.

Register for the Gifted Aotearoa Network here

Register for the PLD on offer via Waka Tiwai and Waka Kopapa through the relevant Waka links below

Waka Taua

Keeping you connected

Waka Taua

Keeping you connected

What’s going on right now

Waka Ama

Keeping you afloat

Waka Ama

Keeping you afloat

Waka Ama is a waka that requires an outrigger to keep balanced and afloat. Waka Ama provides access to Kaiārahi (leaders) in gifted education who provide on-the-spot support to educators and co-ordinators with an immediate need or query.

Sue Barriball

NZ Centre for Gifted Education

Brooke Trenwith

NZ Association for Gifted Children

Rosemary Cathcart

REACH Education

Waka Tīwai

Learning together

Waka Tīwai

Learning together

Waka Kōpapa

Leading together

Waka Kōpapa

Leading together

Waka Hourua

Raising new leaders

Waka Hourua

Raising new leaders

Waka Hourua were waka used for travelling long distances. The intent of this Waka is to journey over time with local emerging leaders in gifted education, to develop their ability to lead gifted education initiatives in their community and to support other educators.

Register for the Gifted Aotearoa Network here

Register for the PLD on offer via Waka Tiwai and Waka Kopapa through the relevant Waka links above