Hikina a tātou ākonga kia haere kōtui tātou ki tua
Walk hand-in-hand with us to uplift our learners and safeguard the future
What's on in 2023 with Kōtui Ako for Primary Ākonga?
How it works
Kōtui Ako (Primary), formerly VLN Primary, provides Aotearoa's learners the opportunity to register in one or more of our many programmes. Each week learners dedicate an hour of their time to meet up with their eTeacher and peers on Zoom and complete independent activities.
Most programmes are either 15 or 30 weeks, or 5 week tasters.
Programmes can be run with the whole class and the teacher, or small groups of learners in mixed school classes.
Most programmes are at L3/4 of the curriculum and suitable for Y 6- 8. Younger children are welcome to participate with closer support.
School support for learners, both in Zoom and with independent activities, is important for success.
Note: Programmes that invite registrations of interest will run in future semesters pending student interest and eteacher availability.
Cost for participation
Please refer to our standard costing model for 2023 as previous funding opportunities may not be available.
Interested in being an eTeacher?
Let us know if you would like to teach one of our programmes and gain school reciprocity. Find out more about the kaupapa of reciprocity here.
Aotearoa
All New Zealand programmes are available as whole class.
15 or 30 week programmes available
Kia ora! Beginners learn pronunciation, to introduce yourself and family, communicate feelings and location with basic questions and responses. Next, build on the basics by communicating likes and dislikes, time, weather and seasons, as well as personal characteristics.
Extension opportunities available.
15 or 30 week programmes available
Kia mau! Learn and practice waiata and actions, along with tikanga (protocol) for performance of Aotearoa’s national cultural identity, te ao Māori.
15 or 30 week programmes available
Learn basic the hand shapes, facial expressions and body movements of sign, the natural language of the deaf community and one of New Zealand's official languages!
Please register your interest to participate.
Explore the history of Aotearoa through a critical lens. Draw on important events, unpack the stories that surround them, and the authors who wrote them. Begin to see how the narratives of our past have shaped our present.
Digital Technologies
15 or 30 weeks
whole class available
Understand the basics of how the internet and coding work. Learn to think step-by-step to code your own games. Extension students will explore advanced Scratch, Javascript, Python and more. Think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively.
30 weeks
Understand the influence and effectiveness of website design elements. Develop and evaluate wireframes (plans) for websites based on user feedback. Create websites using Google Sites and Wix.
Please register your interest to participate.
Develop digital literacy and cyber safety skills based on the NZC values and key competencies. Learn about your digital footprint and how to be safe online digital citizens.
Gifted Learners
Kura are asked to go through an identification process for students wanting to apply for our gifted and talented programmes. Spaces in these programmes are limited and allocated based on suitability.
Register students as per usual and we will contact schools in 2023 regarding identification.
25 weeks (term 2 start)
Critically think about the universal theme of change. How have we changed in our short lives? What about the world around us? Questions guide students to better understand the way they see and engage in the world around them.
25 weeks (term 2 start)
Learners meet other motivated and independent peers, share ideas and advice and access teacher and professional guidance to develop a burning passion into a project.
(Not running 2023)
25 weeks (term 2 start)
Years 8, 9, 10
Deepen understanding of environmental challenges and solutions and undertake an environmental action project.
Maths & Science
15 or 30 weeks
Investigate number systems - the familiar and unfamiliar, design your own! Delve into negative numbers and exponents - how big and small can numbers get? Explore numbers and patterns in nature and get creative.
15 or 30 weeks
Improve your maths skills through learning techniques to solve word problems that require comprehension skills and several steps to be worked out to get an answer.
30 weeks
Gain appreciation for life after school and budgeting your finances by choosing a career, building a resume and ‘landing a job’. Deduct taxes & loans, save for retirement, then use everyday online tools for groceries, clothes and a flat!
15 or 30 weeks
Explore the fascinating subject of space and the relationship between the major players in our solar system.
15 or 30 weeks
Who is, or what is Mrs Gren? Learn, discuss and carry out simple experiments to investigate our living world, how it adapts and interacts.
15 or 30 weeks
Explore the intricate world of material and matter. From chemical structures through to physical forces and natural phenomena.
Literacy
15 or 30 weeks
Read and respond to poems, prose and short stories to improve your own personal creative writing.
10 weeks (term 2 start)
Please register your interest to participate.
Research, organise and orally present information in a logical and persuasive manner. 45min Zoom sessions with 30min independent study needs to be available.
15 or 30 weeks
Use a book you love to make connections with characters, explore journey, and unpick their point of view. This is followed by a semester of writing your own fictional narrative.
Creative Arts
15 or 30 weeks
Explore some famous works and gain techniques for illustration and creating mixed media art works from what is available in your environment.
15 or 30 weeks
Explore design basics, then get a taste for several of the following: product design, logo creation, architecture & interior design, clothing, animations, and websites.
15 or 30 weeks
Explore songwriting as a form of creative and emotive expression. Gain an understanding of song structure and techniques to write your own lyrics.
Language & Culture
All languages have 15 or 30 week programmes and whole class available. Extension opportunities available.
Hallo! Learn about the cultures of South Africa and the basics of speaking Afrikaans, a Germanic language spoken mainly in South Africa.
Kamusta! Learn about the culture of the Phillipines and basics of speaking Tagalog or Filipino with high school students from Rosmini College.
Bonjour! Learn about the culture of France and the basics of speaking French, an official language in over 29 countries!
Hallo! Learn about the German culture and the basics of speaking German, a popular language spoken throughout Central Europe.
Kon’nichiwa! Learn about the culture of Japan and the basics of speaking Japanese, the national language of Japan and over 128 million people.
Annyeonghaseyo! Learn about the culture of Korea and the basics of speaking Korean, an East Asian language spoken by more than 77 million people.
Ni hao! Learn about the Chinese culture and the basics of speaking Mandarin, the only official language of China and the most spoken language in the world.
Hola! Learn about the Spanish and South American cultures and the basics of speaking Spanish, the second most popular language in the world.
Pasifika Languages
Kia orana. Fakaalofa lahi atu. Mālō e lelei. Tālofa lava. Talofa ni. VLN Primary are really keen to offer more Pasifika language programmes.
Please register your interest in the specific Pasifika language.