What is Talking together, Te kōrerorero?

Talking together, Te kōrerorero is a suite of resources that promote effective teaching practices so that kaiako and teaching teams can strengthen how they support the oral language across children's language pathways. Language is a taonga and nurturing this treasure is too important to be left to chance. 

Talking together, Te kōrerorero is for all children. In Te Whāriki oral language encompasses any method of communication the child uses as a first language (p. 25). This includes New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) and for children who communicate using Communication Assistive Technology or Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) to replace or augment their speech. (TalkLink).

Talking together, Te kōrerorero provides information about English language learning for children experiencing bilingual and multilingual pathways. It also provides support for kaiako to integrate te reo Māori in early learning settings; recognising this is essential for a rich oral language environment. 

The foundation: Te Whāriki

Talking together, Te kōrerorero is underpinned by the principles, strands, and learning outcomes of Te Whāriki. The vision is for all children to become increasingly competent and confident communicators, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society. 

Talking together, Te kōrerorero aims to help children to become increasingly capable of understanding and using oral language within the context of a local curriculum. The approaches described are designed to be implemented through practices that reflect the distinctive character and values of each early learning service’s community. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a commitment to upholding the intent of the Treaty articles. These articles reflect a desire to live together in a spirit of partnership. A commitment is the acceptance of obligations for participation and protection. This commitment has implications for our education system, particularly in terms of achieving equitable outcomes for Māori and ensuring that te reo Māori not only survives but thrives. 

Te reo Māori is a taonga under article two of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Fostering the learning and use of te reo Māori is the responsibility of all kaiako and the education system. 

There are two main sections in Talking together, Te kōrerorero

The different sections of Talking together, Te kōrerorero are divided into two parts:

• Talk tools contains practical approaches and strategies for building on children’s oral language capabilities including through conversations, music, storytelling, asking questions and digital technology.
• Talk information contains key information and understandings about oral language including children’s oral language progression, differences in monolingual, bilingual and multilingual pathways, and underpinning theories.

Click on the links to Talk Tools and Talk information below to read them online.