| Pathways
of hope: The next steps
In
the months that followed, the Koori Classroom came to be used
for regular classes each weekday morning. As well, Indigenous
leaders were invited to take weekly workshops and some of
these leaders were parents of students at the school. Other
special visitors were also invited and the school community
was involved through a newsletter and through telephone contact.
Indigenous
parents were coming to the school to run activities such as
painting, dancing and cooking. Koori story-telling was going
on in the Koori Classroom. Students were excited and keen
to take part and the school was building partnerships with
the Indigenous community.
By
Term 3, 2000, a series of staff development workshops was
held, to explore ways of making the curriculum more inclusive
of all groups in the school. Some focus questions were devised.
These may be of help to you.
Read the focus questions…
One
of the identified needs in the school was for a Social Skills
program, and a program called Yerrabi Pathways was devised,
based on the work of a group of consultants in Queensland
(M&M Pathways). Yerrabi Pathways is based on a growth diary
concept. Every Monday morning there is a Yerrabi Pathways
assembly, in which teachers take a concept from the growth
diary, such as 'friendship', and role play a related incident.
This is hugely popular with students and the concept then
becomes the basis of other classwork.
In
fact, the whole of Yerrabi Pathways is closely linked to literacy
and numeracy activities. Students write in their growth diaries
daily and even those who were previously reluctant to write
at all are participating. In fact, writing has become established
as a valid task, with a direction, purpose and a focus on
the concepts of the week. Teachers are encouraged to have
high expectations and this is proving positive for student
achievement.
Read
the school's notes about Yerrabi Pathways…
The
school's Aboriginal Education Worker, Rosemaree Whitehead,
sees the Koori Classroom as a starting point for numeracy
and literacy: 'Because kids need to feel first and foremost
that their identity is valued in the school. They're proud
of who they are. I know from my own personal experiences if
your culture is not being accepted and valued in the school
there is no hope for the rest of learning…'
Read
on…
Local
Indigenous artist Duncan Smith has painted (with students)
a large mural called 'Yerrabi', which hangs in the school
foyer. Duncan explains that 'the meaning of the painting is
life's journey down the right pathways through teaching, learning
and support'.
Read
on…
'Yerrabi', by Duncan Smith
Duncan
has also been employed for half a day each week to work with
teachers and students on a program called Guyunggu, which
was developed in the NSW Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay. As
Duncan says, 'It involves nine steps to education, looking
at it from an Aboriginal perspective. It's also about learning
respect for land, for people, for cultures and respect for
self. It takes them down a pathway which makes connections
between home life, school life and the rest of the world.
So it's all about connection, and a sense of well being.'
Duncan and students |
