The cultural diversity curriculum principle 

Rae Si'ilata, lecturer in bi-literacy at Auckland University, answers the question, "What is the cultural diversity principle?" Watch the video and consider her question, “Whose knowledge is being validated through all of the learning areas, and through all of the curriculum that is being presented at school. Is the valued knowledge of the home and of communities being represented in the valued knowledge of school? 

Cultural diversity in the classroom 

Rae Siʻilata, lecturer in biliteracy at Auckland University, describes what the cultural diversity principle might look like in the classroom. She urges educators to create opportunities for all students to bring their valued knowledge into the school. 

Cultural diversity spotlight

View the cultural diversity spotlight to help you affirm your students’ different cultural identities and incorporate their cultural contexts into teaching and learning programmes.  

The slideshow can be downloaded and personalised to suit your context and needs. 

See Materials that come with this resource to download

• the Cultural diversity checklist (.doc). 

Defining diversity activities
This is a selection of activities from the Ministry of Education publication Defining Diversity: A Facilitation Manual to use with New to New Zealand (2008). The activities are designed to assist boards of trustees, senior management, teachers, and parents to deepen their understanding of cultural diversity and encourage the development of culturally appropriate responses.  

Islamic practices observed by Muslim students: Guidelines for New Zealand schools 
This resource is designed to help New Zealand schools with Muslim students, in their understanding of some of the Islamic practices their students may observe during school time.  

See Materials that come with this resource to download 

• Islamic practices observed by Muslim students at school (.pdf). 

Guide to basic Muslim etiquette  
This guide shares information about Muslim values, customs, and festivals. It serves as a guide only so do check with your Muslim families if you are not sure as there may still be some cultural differences. 

See Materials that come with this resource to download 

• A helpful guide to basic Muslim etiquette (.pdf). 

Classroom teaching resources

Ā Mātou Kōrero – Our Stories
A series of illustrated storybooks to support, reflect, and celebrate the Kiwi Muslim community in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are a way for non-Muslim Kiwis to “learn about others, so that they are no longer others.” The books are accompanied by kaiako support material to assist conversations with learners around the topics of grief and loss, and the cycle of life in general. 

The Same Game 
The Same Game, a big book for reading to students, is a set of resources, big book, audio, and teacher notes, intended to help foster the curriculum principles of diversity and inclusion. 

Home: Stories from New New Zealanders
This school reader tells the stories of four Avondale Intermediate students who moved to New Zealand from overseas. Interviewed by their teacher, Kate Paris, the students share memories of what life was like in the countries where they were born (South Africa, Sāmoa, Pakistan, and Kenya), and they discuss what it’s been like adjusting to life in New Zealand.  

School stories

Supporting teachers with community engagement in the classroom  

Teacher Chrissie Rumpler explains how Ōwairaka School has supported staff to understand and engage with diversity in their school community. She also provides inspirational examples of what engaging communities can look like.  

Engaging Pacific families – Ōwairaka School builds a fale 

Staff at Ōwairaka School went on a professional development trip to Samoa to help them to understand the culture of their Samoan students. This story tells how the community subsequently worked together to bring an element of Samoan culture to the school in the construction of a traditional fale. 

Community engagement – A parent's perspective 

Saga Frost is a parent at Ōwairaka School in Auckland. She discusses how the school encourages all parents to be partners in the learning community and describes the benefits of having a culturally diverse school community.  

Readings 

Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020–2030 
The Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020–2030 maps the government’s commitment to transforming outcomes for Pacific learners and families. The vision for this action plan is that "diverse Pacific learners and families are safe, valued, and equipped to achieve their education aspirations". It sets out five key shifts that have been prioritised by Pacific communities, and a series of associated actions as the first step to achieving this vision.

Best Evidence Synthesis cases 
The following cases from Best Evidence Synthesis iterations are user-friendly resources to support focused professional learning related to the cultural diversity principle. 

BES Case 18 – Integrate indigenous knowledge into the curriculum  
This case, situated in Canada, explains how important a culturally responsive teaching approach was to the success of indigenous learners from low socio-economic status communities. 

BES Case 11 – Create educationally powerful connections with learners’ cultures  
This case illustrates how teachers can use practical strategies to encourage their students to draw on family and community knowledge and, in this way, accelerate their achievement. 

Cultural diversity and inclusion  
The New Zealand Curriculum Principles: Foundations for Curriculum Decision-Making (2012) This report from ERO notes a close link between the cultural diversity principle and the inclusion principle. The report states that both of these principles require teachers to value students as individuals and celebrate the diversity that they bring. Inclusive practices include valuing the cultural diversity of all individual students.