If you subscribe to the UK Mantle of the Expert website, you will have received information about an online training event coming up on 21st November 2020.
Looks like an exciting opportunity. Of course the time difference means it will run in the middle-of-the-night NZ time, but given how many NZ teachers attended the recent ‘Commission model’ talk at 5am, that may not be too much of an issue!
For further information including cost, check out the link below
After months of being unable to meet face to face due to Covid restrictions, it’s exciting to be able to invite teachers in the Waikato region to this face to face gathering in Hamilton. The word ‘cluster’ has a whole new meaning these days, but in this context it’s a positive thing to be part of! Come and meet with like minded colleagues, share some afternoon tea, hear stories from the classroom, share resources, and receive some low-key PLD at the same time.
What? Cluster meeting
Where? Knighton Normal School, Knighton Road, Hamilton. Please sign in at front desk.
When? Wednesday 4th November 2020, after school (4pm – or whenever you can get there). We will finish no later than 6pm
Who? Anyone interested in dramatic inquiry, including dramatic play, process drama and Mantle of the Expert. Beginner to experienced practitioners – all welcome!
What to bring? Yourself, a friend, stories from your classroom, questions, problems of practice.
Please send your RSVPs to Whakarongo Tauranga so we know how many to expect for afternoon tea.
Our next cluster meeting will be held over zoom to allow anyone from around NZ to participate. All welcome – very informal – BYO cuppa and afternoon tea! The focus will be on preplanning in Mantle of the Expert with teachers from Kawaha Point school sharing a recent example.
If you’d like to attend, please email mantleoftheexpertnz@gmail.com and ask for the zoom link.
If attending in a group, please use a separate device per 2-3 people so we can see individual faces – THANKS!
In term 2 and 3 2020, the Dramatic Inquiry team at Knighton Normal School in Hamilton collaborated to create these lovely teaching resources based on the book Wooden Arms by Sarah Johnson.
The team rose to the challenge of using the same source material (the quality picture book) to create a collaborative play-based experience for New Entrants / year ones AND a full-blown Mantle of the Expert experience for more senior students. The results are something to be very proud of – exploring themes of identity and belonging in the context of New Zealand history.
Those new to dramatic inquiry will enjoy the detail in the planning, which include step by step instructions and questions etc. Those more experienced in the approach will appreciate the use of various finessing tools including the three teacher voices, the dimensions of dramatic imagination, the teacher compass and a range of drama conventions.
Many thanks to the teachers Jacki Paea, Chrissy Cottingham, Katie McLean, Nicole Antoniadis, David Hannah, Diane Cooper & Whakarongo Tauranga for generously making these resources available. Thanks also to Sarah Johnson who gave her enthusiastic support for this planning.
He waka eke noa
In early March, a group of teachers with a passion for Dramatic Inquiry travelled from all over Aotearoa to attend a two-day hui in Wellington. Our purpose was to begin the process of establishing a not-for-profit Charitable Trust. The Trust will produce resources, provide courses and provide support so that more teachers in Aotearoa can learn about Dramatic Inquiry (which includes Mantle of the Expert, process drama, drama for learning and dramatic play).
The hui began with an opening session on cultural responsiveness facilitated by the wonderful Rawiri Hindle. For the rest of the weekend, we established some goals and agreed first steps to achieving them. While covid-19 has intervened and put things on hold for a while, the passion is there – the waka is launched – and there’s no doubt this work will continue when the time is right.
The Trust is committed to working from a culturally responsive foundation and already this is leading to some significant and exciting ways of organising ourselves and conceptualising what we do. It’s very exciting!
More details about the goals of the Trust, and future offerings including courses, resources and workshops, will be shared in due course. If you are interested in contributing in some way to the work of the Trust, please get in touch.
Many thanks to all those who committed their time, energy and resources to make this hui possible – you’re incredible. There are so many individuals around Aotearoa who contribute so generously to leading Dramatic Inquiry in their schools and regions; supporting colleagues and sharing their passion. It’s fabulous to know that there will be a sustainable network to support this mahi in future.