He Huarahi Aromatawai— Assessment Journeys

This article discusses aspects of the journeys and emergent thinking of teachers/kaiako in the three Māori immersion/bilingual early childhood services that participated in the Whatu Kākahu—Assessment in Kaupapa (Philosophy) Māori Early Childhood Practice study. Through the exploration of kaupapa Māori assessment approaches, the services worked to reclaim and reframe Māori ways of knowing and being within early childhood and assessment theory and practice. The services focused on developing understandings of Māori ways of knowing and being within their particular early childhood and community context, and ways these understandings could be reflected in assessment thinking and practice. Each service’s context was unique, as were their journeys, emergent understandings, practices, and assessment framings.