The day was headlined by our 2 keynote speakers

Dr. Rae Si‘ilata. Lecturer in Biliteracy, University of Auckland, in Biliteracy-Pasifika at the Faculty of Education and Social Work.

Who spoke about – Utilising bilingual learners’ linguistic resources through translanguaging and biliteracy pedagogies.

Rae shared highlights of her PLD projects focused on the use of bilingual and additional language acquisition pedagogies. She showed how using dual language books can facilitate Pacific children’s biliteracy development and discussed implications for Māori and bilingual learners in Tai Tokerau schools.

Donovan Bixley – Author and Illustrator

Donovan has worked on many junior fiction books for reluctant readers, including his international award-winning “Monkey Boy”, as well as co-creating the international hit “Dinosaur Rescue” series. Donovan talked about how he uses words and pictures in different ways to get young readers into books.

Both keynotes also presented a workshop which was well received.

Six workshops were offered as well covering Year 0-8

• Linking Language and Literacy – Elizabeth Crutcher, Onerahi Primary School (Language Lead Teacher)
• Embracing Cultural Connections In Reading Recovery and Junior Classroom Contexts – Joan Whareaitu and Heather Hardy (Reading Recovery Tutors)
• Counting on Literature – Dianne Ogle (Mathematics Consultant)
• Literacy in Learning Through Play – Nicki White and Sharon Hall (New Entrant Teachers, Kamo Primary School)
• Dusting Off The Shared Book – Karen Clearwater and Judy Jarman (Resource Teachers of Literacy)
• ‘Because it actually means something to me!’ – Using Dramatic Inquiry to Transform Narrative Writing – Renee Downey (Curriculum Leader and Teacher, Otaika Valley School)

The TTLA has had a long association with Traders visiting our event. Six Publishers were on display.

An excellent day all round with a great lunch as well. As a committee, we acknowledge the teachers who give up most of their Saturday to enrich their knowledge in Literacy and the staff of Kamo Primary where we hold our workshops.