Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand

What does Standard 8 look like in practice?

Standard 8 is: Engage in productive professional relationships.

It reflects teaching practice that fosters respectful, collaborative relationships to support positive outcomes for learners and strengthen the wider learning community.

In practice, this can look like:
· Working alongside colleagues to plan, reflect on, and improve teaching practice
· Building respectful partnerships with parents/caregivers and whānau to support learner progress and wellbeing
· Seeking and responding to feedback from colleagues, learners, and whānau to strengthen professional practice
· Contributing to a collaborative and inclusive professional culture by sharing knowledge, ideas, and expertise

This is how the Standards are brought to life in everyday teaching practice. 💛

There’s still time to register for our upcoming Rauhuia Symposium on Element E of the Professional Growth Cycle.

This session will focus on how leaders can make confident, evidence-informed judgements about teacher growth and participation in the cycle.

We’ll explore:
• The role of naturally occurring evidence in demonstrating practice in the Standards
• Expectations on what should be in an annual summary statement
• An example of how Element E operates in a Primary School

📅 Wednesday 19 August
⏰ 4.00pm – 5.30pm
📍 Online
💻 Free to attend

Designed for leaders supporting professional growth and capability across their learning community, including principals, professional leaders, and those involved in annual confirmation and endorsement decisions.

Sign up to learn more how Element E can support confident, growth-focused endorsement conversations and decision-making: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/element-e-leading-with-confidence-confirming-growth-tickets-1775077487549

Element E: Leading with confidence - Confirming growth Understand your role in confirming participation and making informed judgments—without relying on compliance-based evidence.

📚 What book would you recommend to every learner?

It’s New Zealand Children’s Book Week (15-21 August) - the first of its kind here in Aotearoa!

This year’s theme, Reading Around Aotearoa, encourages us to make reading a priority for the children and young people in our lives.

Books can open up new worlds, spark curiosity, and help learners see themselves, their experiences, and their communities reflected in what they read.

Teachers, kaiako and whānau - what’s one book you’d recommend to a learner? Tell us in the comments 👇

Find out more about New Zealand Children’s Book Week and events happening around the motu via Read NZ Te Pou Muramura: https://www.read-nz.org/what-we-do/nz-children-s-book-week

This International Youth Day (12 August), we're reflecting on the 2026 theme: "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations".

While rangatahi in Aotearoa and young people around the world experience different realities, they share many of the same hopes for learning, belonging, and opportunities to build a future where they can thrive. 🌏

We at the Teaching Council know safe, inclusive, and high-quality teaching helps create learning environments where every learner feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their potential. Today, we recognise the resilience, leadership, and aspirations of young people, and the important role educators play in helping them shape the future.

When young people are supported to learn, belong, and succeed, our communities are stronger for it.

Element E of the Professional Growth Cycle focuses on confirming growth with confidence. It supports leaders to make informed professional judgements about whether teachers meet the Standards and have meaningfully participated in the cycle.

Join our next Rauhuia Symposium to explore how this looks in practice.
We’ll look at:
• The role of naturally occurring evidence in demonstrating practice in the Standards
• Expectations on what should be in an annual summary statement
• An example of how Element E operates in a Primary School

📅 Wednesday 19 August
⏰ 4.00pm – 5.30pm
📍 Online
💻 Free to attend

This session is designed for leaders supporting professional growth and capability across their learning community, including principals, professional leaders, and those responsible for annual confirmation and endorsement decisions.

Register now and explore how Element E can confident, growth-focused endorsement conversations and decision-making: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/element-e-leading-with-confidence-confirming-growth-tickets-1775077487549 🔗

What does Standard 7 look like in practice?

Standard 7 is: Engage in professional learning.

This standard is about continually strengthening your professional practice through reflection, learning, and collaboration to improve outcomes for learners.

In practice, this can look like:
· Reflecting on evidence from your own practice to identify strengths and areas for growth
· Setting professional learning goals and engaging in relevant learning opportunities
· Working with colleagues to share ideas, seek feedback, and solve challenges together

This is how the Standards are brought to life in everyday teaching practice. Follow along to learn about Standard 8. 💛

Kia orāna! 🌴

This week, we're celebrating Cook Islands Māori Language Week | Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani. The 2026 theme, "Me kite koe i te tuatua i to’ou reo tupuna, e turanga rangatira tena nō’ou no te uki amuri atu", reminds us that with our language as our foundation, we can embrace the future.

With many schools and early learning services across Aotearoa New Zealand home to Cook Islands learners, families, and educators, the Teaching Council acknowledges the enduring connections between Aotearoa and the Cook Islands. We recognise the important role language plays in maintaining those identities and relationships across generations. Honouring the cultures and traditions of our communities helps strengthen the connections at the heart of teaching and learning. 💛

To learn and practise some te reo Māori Kūki 'Āirani, explore the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' resources: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding/pacific-languages/pacific-language-weeks/cook-islands-maori-language-week/

Welcome to Cook Islands Māori Language Week ✨

Join the ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani celebrations, from Sunday 2 August until Saturday 8 August. There are event listings, downloadable resources, language guides, posters and more on our website: https://bit.ly/45cusxG 🌺

For Sheryll Ofner, Principal at Selwyn College, meaningful leadership is grounded in relationships, trust, and a collective responsibility for student success.

At the heart of the school's culture is 'The Selwyn Way': a shared set of values and expectations that guide how students and staff learn, work, and grow together. It provides a common language that informs decision-making, strengthens relationships, and supports high-quality teaching and learning. “You have to live and breathe these fundamentals,” Sheryll says. “You can’t just put them on a wall.”

Sheryll's leadership journey is a reminder that when educators work together with a shared purpose, they create the conditions for students and school communities to thrive. 💜

Read Sheryll's story: https://www.teachingshapeswhatmattersmost.nz/stories/sheryll-ofner-leadership 🔗

Vanuatu Bislama Language Week is underway, and we're proud to celebrate the Bislama language and the rich cultures, knowledge, and perspectives of Vanuatu communities. 🌺

The 2026 theme, "Tokbaot klaemet jenis – Hemi tru samting mo yumi mas lukaotem gud laef" (Talk about climate change – it is real, and we must look after life), encourages conversations about caring for our people, communities, and environment.

At Matatū Aotearoa, we recognise the important role teachers play in helping learners understand global challenges, build cultural understanding, and become active citizens who can contribute to a sustainable future.

Explore and have a go at using some everyday Bislama phrases. Find out more at: https://www.mpp.govt.nz/programmes-and-funding/pacific-languages/pacific-language-weeks/vanuatu-bislama-language-week/

Happy Vanuatu Bislama Language Week! 💛

It's officially Vanuatu Bislama Language Week! 🌺
Join the celebrations by using these everyday phrases this week. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3IM58XO

What does Standard 6 look like in practice?
Standard 6 is: Assess, provide feedback, and report on learning.

Teachers demonstrate this standard by using assessment to understand learner progress, inform teaching, and communicate learning in ways that supports ongoing achievement.

In practice, this can look like:
· Gathering evidence of learning over time using a range of assessment methods
· Using assessment information to plan next teaching steps and provide targeted support or extension
· Providing feedback that helps learners recognise their progress and identify next steps
· Working with learners and whānau to share progress and support ongoing learning

This is how the Standards are brought to life in everyday teaching practice. Follow along to learn about Standard 7. 💛