title: Ngā Akoranga pai o te Tuhinga Pūrākau. Lessons from the heart of learning stories

authors: Fabian, Katalin

subjects: learning stories

abstract: This study investigated how New Zealand teachers in Early Childhood Education (ECE) gathered, documented and utilised assessment information about children’s learning. It utilised phenomenological inquiry, with data being gathered through semi-structured interviews with ﬁve experienced ECE teachers. Theﬁndings highlight the complexity of the predominant narrative assessment format used by the teachers: Learning Stories. The strong reliance on teachers’ fundamental competencies and understanding of the writing process was central to narrative assessment. On the other hand, ﬁndings emphasised the beneﬁtsof well-written Learning Stories and highlighted interesting ways they can be utilised. This article focuses on two important aspects of ECE assessment. Firstly, the teacher who is the heart of the Learning Story-writing process, and who possesses a complex skillset to connect with people, collect information and articulate an important message about the child as a learner. Secondly, on the Learning Story itself, its beneﬁts and the ways that assessment information can be utilised from them.

text: Ngā Akoranga pai o te Tuhinga Pūrākau. Lessons from the heart of learning stories This study investigated how New Zealand teachers in Early Childhood Education (ECE) gathered, documented and utilised assessment information about children’s learning. It utilised phenomenological inquiry, with data being gathered through semi-structured interviews with ﬁve experienced ECE teachers. Theﬁndings highlight the complexity of the predominant narrative assessment format used by the teachers: Learning Stories. The strong reliance on teachers’ fundamental competencies and understanding of the writing process was central to narrative assessment. On the other hand, ﬁndings emphasised the beneﬁtsof well-written Learning Stories and highlighted interesting ways they can be utilised. This article focuses on two important aspects of ECE assessment. Firstly, the teacher who is the heart of the Learning Story-writing process, and who possesses a complex skillset to connect with people, collect information and articulate an important message about the child as a learner. Secondly, on the Learning Story itself, its beneﬁts and the ways that assessment information can be utilised from them.

year: 2023

title: The use of a multidimensional support model to examine policies and practices for immigrant students across Canada.

authors: Volante, Louis

subjects: immigrant children

abstract: In the larger context of migration, the education and integration of immigrant children within Canadian school systems has become a pressing concern for education policy makers. Through a systematic content analysis, this study developed a Multidimensional Support Model to examine education policies and support measures that have been articulated by Ministries and Departments of Education across Canada to facilitate the integration and success of immigrant students in K–12 public education systems. The discussion underscores the timeliness and rationale for Ministries and Departments of Education to develop a stand-alone policy document to address all of the unique needs of immigrant students comprehensively and devote greater attention to the socio-economic challenges immigrant students disproportionately face. Developing this document would also address the importance of greater policy coherence and collaboration among ministry sectors. The utility of the proposed support model, which drew on the existing literature, is also discussed in relation to future research studies.

text: The use of a multidimensional support model to examine policies and practices for immigrant students across Canada. In the larger context of migration, the education and integration of immigrant children within Canadian school systems has become a pressing concern for education policy makers. Through a systematic content analysis, this study developed a Multidimensional Support Model to examine education policies and support measures that have been articulated by Ministries and Departments of Education across Canada to facilitate the integration and success of immigrant students in K–12 public education systems. The discussion underscores the timeliness and rationale for Ministries and Departments of Education to develop a stand-alone policy document to address all of the unique needs of immigrant students comprehensively and devote greater attention to the socio-economic challenges immigrant students disproportionately face. Developing this document would also address the importance of greater policy coherence and collaboration among ministry sectors. The utility of the proposed support model, which drew on the existing literature, is also discussed in relation to future research studies.

year: 2020

title: The biology and general ecology of the Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in some tributary streams of Lake Taupo

authors: Kusabs, Ian Andrew

abstract: The ecology and general biology of Galaxias brevipinnis were studied in three tributary streams of Lake Taupo between May 1988 and April 1989. Adult koaro were found in relatively high densities in the Waipehi and Omori streams but in low densities in the larger Waiotaka stream. The results of population estimation studies suggest that the distribution and abundance of koaro is negatively correlated with that of trout. There was a general decline in the population density of stream-resident koaro in the winter months. Juvenile koaro were found to migrate into the tributaries from August to December, with migrations being at a peak in October and November.

Population length-frequency distributions and otoliths used to age koaro indicated that there were up to 5 age classes. Growth was allometric and was adequately described by the von Bertalanffy equation after the first year of life. Koaro were found to be in best condition in the Spring and lowest in Winter.

Spawning appeared to occur from December through to April peaking in late Summer to early in the Waipehi Stream was Autumn. The mean fecundity of koaro approximately 5500. A sex-ratio of approximately 1:1 (males: females) were found in the koaro populations in the Omori and Waipehi streams, but during spawning there were always more ripe males than gravid females.

There was considerable overlap in the diets of both koaro and juvenile rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams, with invertebrates being consumed according to their relative abundance in the benthos. Ephemeroptera larvae were numerically the most important food item in the diet of both species. However, by weight, fish (juvenile koaro) were the most important food · item in the diet of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi stream. In the Omori stream in Winter, trout eggs were the most important food item in terms of weight. Terrestrial prey was found to be of relatively minor importance in the diets of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams.

text: The biology and general ecology of the Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in some tributary streams of Lake Taupo The ecology and general biology of Galaxias brevipinnis were studied in three tributary streams of Lake Taupo between May 1988 and April 1989. Adult koaro were found in relatively high densities in the Waipehi and Omori streams but in low densities in the larger Waiotaka stream. The results of population estimation studies suggest that the distribution and abundance of koaro is negatively correlated with that of trout. There was a general decline in the population density of stream-resident koaro in the winter months. Juvenile koaro were found to migrate into the tributaries from August to December, with migrations being at a peak in October and November.

Population length-frequency distributions and otoliths used to age koaro indicated that there were up to 5 age classes. Growth was allometric and was adequately described by the von Bertalanffy equation after the first year of life. Koaro were found to be in best condition in the Spring and lowest in Winter.

Spawning appeared to occur from December through to April peaking in late Summer to early in the Waipehi Stream was Autumn. The mean fecundity of koaro approximately 5500. A sex-ratio of approximately 1:1 (males: females) were found in the koaro populations in the Omori and Waipehi streams, but during spawning there were always more ripe males than gravid females.

There was considerable overlap in the diets of both koaro and juvenile rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams, with invertebrates being consumed according to their relative abundance in the benthos. Ephemeroptera larvae were numerically the most important food item in the diet of both species. However, by weight, fish (juvenile koaro) were the most important food · item in the diet of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi stream. In the Omori stream in Winter, trout eggs were the most important food item in terms of weight. Terrestrial prey was found to be of relatively minor importance in the diets of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams.

year: 1989