SignDNA

Written by Stephanie Mortimore, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle, Programme Manager

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If you have Deaf students in your class who are struggling to find their community, this is a great resource that might help them feel connected and give them a sense of identity:

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https://signdna.org/

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SignDNA is the home of Aotearoa New Zealand’s visual deaf history and contains sections on sports, Deaf youth, media, Turi Māori etc.

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2024 NZSL Awards Winners

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The NZSL Week organisation recently posted their list of winners for a variety of awards across the country. Huge congratulations to Dale Thomas from Fruitvale Primary School who won the award for NZSL in Education, as well as Shannon Morris who won the award for NZSL Teacher of the Year! 

Dale is a dedicated teacher at Fruitvale School in Auckland. He brings to his teaching the experience of being a CODA and a qualified NZSL interpreter. Dale has not only made NZSL a core part of his classroom programme, ensuring deaf and hearing learners can communicate with each other, he has also established a lunch time NZSL club bringing in a Deaf NZSL tutor from Ko Taku Reo, to support akonga in other classes to learn and further develop NZSL.

Shannon is well known leader in the community and a dedicated teacher of NZSL. Shannon works hard to provide quality learning opportunities to her students. She also goes above and beyond to support other teachers of NZSL. Tutors have commented on the time Shannon has given to their further development – both new and provisional tutors have benefited from Shannon’s years of experience. Shannon gives her time each year to support the NZSL4U camps where learners can be in a NZSL rich environment 

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Read more on the NZSL week website at nzslweek.org.nz/2024/05/2024-nzsl-awards-winners.