Tui Bennett

Ko Te Arawa te waka, Ngongotaha te maunga, Rotorua a nui a kahumatemomoe te moana, Utuhina te awa, Ngati Whakaue te iwi, Ngati Pukaki te hapu, Tama Te Kapua oku tipuna.

I have a Bachelor of Education and Teaching.   My background in early childhood education, as a kaiako, highlighted the need for developing authentic relationships with children and those surrounding them; because each child is an active participant in learning language/s.    I am passionate about language acquisition and communication with our tamariki through social contexts and having fun with sounds, waiata, rhythms and rhymes.  I love that Talking Matters touches on brain development and reflects on underlying theories and valued knowledge on language acquisition.  I have started on my own te reo journey as a second language learner and understand the challenges of not being culturally immersed.