Words shape Worlds


https://www.ted.com/talks/trent_hohaia_making_connections_the_power_of_oral_storytelling

Sometimes it only takes a few carefully construct words to have a huge impact on our thinking.  The words of Trent Hohaia who said, words shape worlds, were words that have resonated so deeply with me that I know they have changed my thinking for every.


Gayle Croft and I have started to unpack Te Kōrerorero with centres in the Taupō/Turangi area,  it was during the delving into the resource that I came across Trent's TEDx Talk - Making Connections the Power of Oral Story Telling.  What made these words so powerful was Trent telling his personal story of how the words that society have used shaped his view of himself.  There is so much to consider in this TEDx Talk that will, I think, shake your world if you listen carefully enough.

We have always known that words are important when building the learner identity of the mokopuna.  Learning stories are one of the ways that story telling shapes worlds.  The thoughtfully constructed learning story shines a light on the strengths of the tamaiti, giving them insight and knowledge of who they are as a learner and thinker.

Trent's TEDX Talk focused on the use of pūrākau as a way of connecting us  to past, present and future.  Each of us comes with our own story that has been passed down from generation to generation.  It is inside these carefully crafted stories that we find ourselves, our identity, our connection.  Yet in ECE we often ask whānau to fill in an 'about me sheet' that does not acknowledge the richness of the story or connection to the tīpuna that have gone before the tamaiti that is standing in front of us.

Often in ECE we continue to do the things we have always been doing, such as the 'about me sheet'.  Does this give us the rich information that we need to see the child and the 'invisible rōpū' that they bring with them?  The stories of the whānau are important as they will help us to understand the tamaiti inside the context of their whānau.  Instead of the 'about me' sheet we could be asking about the story of the whānau.   For example what are their interests, strengths and enthusiasm?  What are their values and beliefs?  We would not do this during the enrolment process though, because this is just about paper filling in.  Wait until there is a connection, a relationship and then think about delving deeper into the rich story that comes with each mokopuna.  A story that cannot be answered with 'ko wai au' as this question does not go deep enough to create a connection to past, present and future.

I will finish with a story which has a powerful message, it is from the book The Little Prince (see below).  The message behind this chapter in the book is that we cannot continue to keep doing the same things without considering if it is still the best way possible. 
After you listen to Trent's TEDX Talk then you might want to think how you respond and start asking yourselves the question, is what we are doing working?  Are we confident that we are building deep connections with whānau so we can understand the worlds of our tamariki?  
What worlds are your words building?









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