Learning sounds, letters and communicating in te reo Māori#

By the end of Tau 2 at kura, mokopuna understand how sounds and letters go together. They learn that letters, words, and symbols help share meaning. They can ask and answer simple questions and know that different types of language, like instructions and stories, look different and have different jobs. 

Mokopuna are learning Te Reo Rangatira in 4 different learning strands called ‘whenu’.

Find out more about whenu.

Te Reo Rangatira whenu

Whenu: Kia Tika#

Kia Mataara#

By the end of Tau 2 at kura, mokopuna need to have a clear understanding of the relationship between sounds and letters.

Mokopuna are learning that sounds are represented by letters. They are also learning how letters, words, and symbols work separately and together and that symbols convey meaning.

Ideas for whānau activities#

Help your mokopuna to connect spoken and written kupu Māori with fun listening, writing and reading practise.

Use flashcards with common kupu Māori (ko, te, he, kei, ki, au, koe, ia, noho, kai, moe, wai). Then:

• say a kupu out loud clearly (for example, moe)
• ask your mokopuna to repeat it and listen to each sound – (m - o - e)
• ask, "can you write the sounds you heard?"  and let them sound it out as they write it down – support them by slowly repeating the sounds if needed
• show the matching flashcard and ask, "does it look the same?" "Can you read it out loud?"

Whenu: Kia Mārama#

Kia Mataara#

By the end of Tau 2 at kura, mokopuna need to be able to ask and respond to simple questions.

Mokopuna are learning that instructions, questions, descriptions, and recounts each take different forms (language and presentation) and serve different purposes.

Ideas for whānau activities#

Help your mokopuna to ask and answer simple pātai (questions) using full sentences.

Lay out 3 to 5 pātai cards. For example: 

• "He aha tō kai pai?"
• "Ko wai tō ingoa?"
• "Kei hea tō whare?"

Take turns choosing a pātai and answering using full sentences – for example, "ko te āporo tāku kai pai".

1. Use a pātai token to show whose turn it is to ask or answer.
2. Encourage your mokopuna to return the question to build confidence in kōrero.
3. After answering a question, mokopuna ask the same pātai back to the adult or sibling.
4. Model and praise the use of full sentences in replies.
5. Keep the flow of kōrero going with turn-taking.

Make it fun with a whānau challenge. Set a timer for 3 minutes – how many questions and answers can you do as a whānau? Add your own questions to the card set using familiar vocabulary.