Learning Story Exemplars
He tauira Kōrero Ako
On this page you will find Learning Stories from Aotearoa/New Zealand, and from all over the world. Some of these stories come from previous Celebrating Learning Stories conferences, others have been written and shared with ELP as part of teachers’s learning journeys. We hope that you can enjoy these stories, and find inspiration in writing your own!
Please also take a look at our ELP Learning Story Assessment Facebook Group. This group has been created by ELP as a place for teachers to share Learning Stories. Important: please remember to seek parental permission if the learning story has a photo or alternatively take out or blur the photo before uploading.
Browse through the stories below. To find a topic you are intersted in select from the options below on the right.
Willow has tenacity. Shared by Tanya Johnson
Willow uses determination and tenacity to achieve her goal of climbing up a very tricky challenge. Her bravery has grown so much over the short time we have known her!
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Zara cloaks her community in aroha and manaaki. Shared by Molly Northcott
A two-part Learning Story. From the very beginning, Zara has been wrapped in the pōkeka of her whānau embrace and enveloped in a cloak of aroha, and empathy. This pōkeka has been carefully woven to take the shape of her...
Sand, water and mahi tahi are winners. Shared by Tanya Johnson
I wrote this learning story to celebrate the way these boys managed their play, and how a balanced mauri is growing their ability to learn. Mahi tahi is magical to witness for all that it enables. These boys spend hours...
Mauri Tu, Mauri Ora An active soul is a healthy soul. Shared by Catalina Thompson
I often think of learning stories as incredible avenue for weaving together different voices to create an intricate and deeply connected image of the child. Lived experiences that occur across times and spaces are brought to life inside thoughtfully written...
Rainbow mountains sustain Juno’s taha wairua. Shared by Tanya Johnson
One of the things that I love about Te Whāriki, is the recognition of mokopuna as holistic, spiritual beings. It is hard to capture with words just how deeply a moment can make an impression on me, as a kaiako....
He Mauri tangata The child as an energetic life force. Shared by Molly Northcott
"Just like Maui mohoi, who was resourceful, resilient, and determined when he took on the challenge of slowing the sun, Arlo you took on the challenge of riding a bike knowing that this goal could be conquered in the same...
An act of kindness. Shared by Catalina Thompson
I invite you all to read Eloise's narrative assessment and highlight the learning dispositions celebrated here. Who is Eloise as a learner in our space? What Te Whāriki strands are evidenced here? How can we strengthen this assessment further? Let's...
Piper’s perseverance. Shared by Molly Northcott
Piper's perseverance and learning grit empowers her to test and refine her working theories.
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Te Wairua o te tamaiti. Shared by Tanya Johnson
Te wairua o te tamaiti. The emotional, spiritual being of the child. As kaiako, we have the privilege of being part of moments with mokopuna that leave me truly humbled by their wisdom. This story about Daniel is one of...
Rangatiratanga. Shared by Melissa Osmond
When Kyro spotted Teal making a very cool construction he instantly wanted one exactly the same. As I approached to help him figure out how he might make one, Teal started to fossick around looking for grey pieces for Kyro....
I’m making it! Shared by Catalina Thompson
From the bottom of the hill, the Ohauiti Reserve bank looks imposing, gigantic and a bit intimidating. It hasn’t rained in a long time, so the leaves are crunchy and the ground hard as rock.
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It’s a ‘stink’. Shared by Lorraine Sands
Amelie, you have so many ideas, theories about how the world works and added to this, a thirst to explore! Facts and figures don’t matter really in all of this exploration because it is your imaginative brain that is tirelessly...