For the first time, students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Rima in Hamilton were able to compete in the Matific Games, all in te reo Māori. The school of 190 students competed against various other schools from across Aotearoa and Australia.
Last year, the full immersion school took out first place, and although they had to settle for the number two spot this year, teacher Denise Te Wake (Te Rarawa), was happy that the Australian-based programme allowed them to compete in te reo Māori.
“We were really grateful that we were able to compete in Māori this year, because it was quite difficult for our tamariki, last year to understand the questions because they don’t read English as well,” she says.
Matific Math Games is a friendly online maths competition aimed at improving students confidence and math skills. Contestants are given their own username and password and then they complete Matific activities earning stars for themselves, their class and their school.
Matific Education Expert, Brent Hughes, says that one of the main goals of the programme initially was to change the way that children approach mathematics.
“Allowing children to experience mathematics for a week, we can really change the mindset of some kids in what they think about mathematics and how they see themselves as mathematicians”.
This change in mindset has definitely come to fruition for students at TKKM o Te Ara Rima, as Te Wake and other teachers use the programme as a reward for good behaviour.
“That’s a new thing for sure, kids wanting to be good so that they can do maths,” says Te Wake.