Helping extraordinary teachers

Grow extraordinary people

Nau Mai, Haere Mai

Kia ora koutou!

Kagan Professional Development transforms classrooms through high quality teacher and leadership training. Our proven cooperative learning approach creates equitable, inclusive environments where all students actively engage and participate, improving achievement and well-being for all.

Kagan provides practical strategies for:

  • Relational, dialogic learning through structured student interactions

  • Oral language and vocabulary development

  • Social and communication skill building

  • Developing equitable, safe, and inclusive learning spaces

  • Strong classroom and behaviour management

What makes Kagan Structures so powerful? They take all the valuable educational research and theory and transform it into clear, practical teaching strategies that actually work in real classrooms.

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You shared your needs and we listened:

equity, engagement & inclusion; classroom & behaviour management; oral language & vocabulary development

Check out our PLD solutions below….

Kagan Structures for Active Engagement: Ako Mahi Tahi (Cooperative Learning)

    • Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures transform classrooms into inclusive learning environments where all students actively engage and participate, particularly benefiting those who traditionally hesitate to contribute or have diverse learning needs.

    • These research-supported structures align with the New Zealand Curriculum and create predictable routines that foster participation from all students, not just the typically engaged ones, while naturally reducing behavioral challenges through increased engagement.

    • The practical, hands-on workshop provides educators with immediately applicable strategies and tools, moving beyond theory to demonstrate how effective teamwork and collaboration can be achieved in real classroom settings.

    • 5 Days in total but can be taken day by day over a period of time.

    • Designed for NZ primary and secondary teachers to develop inclusive teaching strategies that combine cultural responsiveness with support for neuro-diverse learners in their classrooms.

    • Provides practical classroom management techniques for creating safe learning environments that honour both cultural perspectives and individual learning needs across Aotearoa.

    • Suitable for both new and experienced kaiako looking to strengthen their cultural competency while supporting relational, dialogic learning approaches that help every ākonga succeed.

Win-Win Discipline: A Blueprint to Positive Behaviour Solutions

  • Understanding Student Positions: The framework identifies seven key behavioural positions including attention-seeking, avoiding failure, expressing anger, hopelessness, defying authority, seeking power, and aggressive retaliation - each providing insight into underlying student needs.

    Three-Tiered Response System: The approach utilises preventive community-building strategies, in-the-moment solutions that preserve dignity, and follow-up methods that convert behavioural challenges into growth opportunities.

    Focus on Core Needs: By recognising students' fundamental needs for connection, competence, and control, educators can develop targeted solutions that benefit the entire learning community while aligning with hauora principles.

    Inclusive Environment Creation: When teachers implement position-specific strategies, they foster an atmosphere where both educators and students can thrive together, transforming behavioural challenges into opportunities for mutual growth and understanding.

  • Experienced Teachers: Perfect for those who have tried various behaviour management approaches but seek to move beyond reactive strategies to create sustainable positive change through evidence-based practices and refreshed classroom management techniques.

    Beginning Teachers: Ideal for educators starting their careers who need a proven framework with practical, day-one implementation tools and strategies that evolve alongside their professional growth and student development.

    School Leaders: Designed for those seeking to implement a cohesive, school-wide behaviour management approach that enhances learning environments, reduces teacher stress, and improves student outcomes across all classrooms.

    Universal Benefits: Valuable for any educator wanting to create more harmonious classrooms through win-win solutions that ensure both teachers and students experience success and satisfaction in their learning journey.

  • Active Word Learning: Master unforgettable vocabulary strategies through Kagan Structures that transform traditional practice into engaging, interactive learning experiences.

    Cross-Language Benefits: Develop vocabulary acquisition techniques that work effectively for both English and te reo Māori, supporting New Zealand's unique bilingual learning environment.

    Comprehensive Skill Development: Build word knowledge through integrated reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities that get students actively using age-appropriate vocabulary.

    Inclusive Practice: Learn structures for team conversations and diverse learning activities that support all students while meeting achievement objectives across learning areas.

    Practical Implementation: Discover how to seamlessly integrate vocabulary instruction into existing lesson plans using research-based methods that align with local curriculum requirements.

    Student Expression: Help learners develop precise communication skills through thoughtful word choice and structured practice opportunities.

    Universal Application: Access strategies that impact achievement across all academic subjects while supporting the development of essential academic language skills.

  • Classroom Teachers: Perfect for Y1-13 educators seeking to revitalise vocabulary instruction across all subject areas, including English/Literacy specialists and ESOL teachers.

    Support Teachers: Ideal for learning support educators needing inclusive strategies that accommodate diverse learners and accelerate word acquisition.

    Leadership Roles: Designed for literacy leaders and team leaders looking to champion effective vocabulary instruction and support team-wide development.

Dynamic Vocabulary: Basic to Brilliant

Where to start…

Take the first step by reaching out via email or phone (0274944600) to schedule a consultation. During our meeting, we'll explore your specific needs and educational objectives. The best part? We'll demonstrate our methods right in your classrooms, allowing you to see first hand how your students engage and respond. After all, their success is what drives everything we do!

Once you're confident in moving forward, we'll collaborate to develop a comprehensive training plan and provide ongoing support to ensure smooth implementation. Think of us as your educational partners, here to help every step of the way.

Ready to get started? We're excited to work with you!

The Hidden Paradox of Optional Participation

Isn't it fascinating how something designed to empower students can actually create imbalances and inequity? When we make participation optional, we witness something remarkable: our confident students dive right in while others hang back, often battling invisible barriers like self-doubt or language challenges.

Our quieter students, English language learners, or those who process information differently fall into patterns of non-participation. Over time, this compounds dramatically. The confident students develop even stronger communication skills and academic self-efficacy while others fall further behind in these crucial areas.

The real magic happens when we find ways to engage all students and ensure equal participation, where everyone feels safe and supported to share—not just our naturally confident learners.

And that's where Kagan structures come into the picture...

Classroom harmony with Win-Win Discpiline

Kagan Cooperative Learning and Win-Win Discipline provide teachers with practical classroom management solutions. Kagan Cooperative Learning helps teachers meet most students’ social and behavioural needs, seamlessly blending brain-friendly teaching with social skills development.

Meanwhile, Win-Win Discipline tackles other behaviour challenges with a refreshingly positive approach. Instead of the traditional "you misbehave, you get punished" model, Win-Win recognises student misbehaviour as attempts to meet legitimate needs — whether for attention, power, competence, or fun. Teachers learn to identify these underlying needs and guide students toward meeting them in constructive ways.

The result? Classroom conflicts become opportunities for growth rather than disruptions, and students develop self-discipline that lasts far beyond the classroom walls.

Powerful yet simple

You know what makes Kagan Structures so powerful? They take all the valuable educational research and theory and transform it into clear, practical teaching strategies that actually work in real classrooms. It's like having a trusted mentor who's already figured out how to bridge that tricky gap between theory and practice.