Mana tairongo: Affirming our learning environments as sensory friendly spaces

This workshop will provide an opportunity for kaiako to develop knowledge and pedagogical strategies to inclusively support the diverse modes of sensory meaning-making that tamariki bring with them, as well as expand their professional conceptions of early childhood learning environments as spaces that are inherently sensory in nature. Our time together will draw on practice-oriented examples from Kate's doctoral research, and involve exploring:

• Concepts of sensorium and a broader spectrum of senses that goes beyond the 'traditional five' of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell,
• How and why the diverse modes of sensory meaning-making that tamariki bring with them are critical to their active participation and learning,
• How our learning environments ‘speak’ to these diverse modes of sensory meaning-making, and can support or constrain active participation and learning,
• Re-evaluating our learning environments through an explicitly sensory lens which acknowledges the importance of places and things as well as people in supporting the active participation and learning of tamariki,
• Why thinking intentionally about the sensory in our early childhood settings is important beyond practice with infants and toddlers, and
• How inclusive teaching practice can better reflect and affirm the diverse sensory needs of our learners.

The workshop will support kaiako to reorient their pedagogy to be more cognisant and inclusive of sensoria, senses, diverse modes of sensory meaning-making, especially as these apply to tamariki as active participants and learners enjoying their right to an inclusive early childhood education.

Facilitator: Kate McAnelly

This workshop will be recorded and all registrants will receive a copy of the presentation slides.