YuuMii

9am school is starting! Whirly-tennis on the beach!

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:09:31 +1000

9am school is starting! Whirly-tennis on the beach!

Never boring...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:11:00 +1100

Never boring...

SXSWEd 2013 Finalists

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:09:53 +1100

SXSWEd 2013 Finalists:

…Some great stuff came out of the SXSWEd Conference a few weeks ago…

End of Term 1, YuuMii Home Ed

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:20:50 +1100

It’s incredible how quickly this term has gone by. We have only 2 days left this week to catch up and complete the last few pages of the NSW curriculum, and then head straight into the Holidays. Into the mix of all the things we already had going on, we started Drum lessons, and Ceramics. Soccer is now ramping up! Surprisingly, we were ahead just because the children were keen to do the work.

The way we broke our semesters up is as follows (Note: we are located in the Southern Hemisphere):

Term 1

February and March plus 1 week in April

Break for 2 weeks

Term 2

April 22 to end of June

Term 3

July

Break for Summer in Canada August to September

Term 4

October to end of November

Break for 2nd Summer in Australia December to end of January

Total “work” days: 170

Knowing this, we break down each work book, to find out how many pages per day we need to complete to meet NSW curriculum standards.

During our “breaks” we continue to work on individual Project based work. Building, painting, coding, etc. There are no rules during this time and NO NSW Curriculum.

Just to be clear, we are not fans of the curriculum - however, we are instilling structure and discipline into the first few years of home education by following this routine. We are hoping that when they are into the rhythm, they will go at their own pace, learning through life, and practicing other things because they enjoy it. It has been a difficult decision to make. No school to Home school to Home Ed, to Learner Lead, or Project Based…. Parent Lead interaction, or staying back, observing and assisting when needed… I think that ramping them all into a daily routine, with expectations of some sort of education - what ever that may be for them individually - is the way to go for us, and our family.

Now it’s time to seriously PLAY!

"If the world belongs to our children then why don’t we just give it to them."

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:34:20 +1100

““If the world belongs to our children then why don’t we just give it to them.””

- Sugata Mitra (Via Imagining Learning Facebook Page)

"I strive for a day when the very act of putting down on paper your ideals of education is normal. I..."

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:13:49 +1100

“I strive for a day when the very act of putting down on paper your ideals of education is normal. I strive for a day when all teachers approach teaching as an art, as a reflective practice of growth. Crafting your own ideals and philosophies of education can be the first step in creating real and meaningful transformation in the world. I strive for a day when teachers see themselves as philosophers and look within to find truth. I strive for a day when learning how to teach is not learned from textbooks and college courses, but is an active practice of reflection and sharing of one’s life.”

- Personal Creeds and Philosophies of the Right Kind of Education. (via adventuresinlearning)

YuuMii! Week 4 of Home Ed!

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:13:00 +1100

Wow! Well, this is moving along very quickly.

I have spent time working out what we need to do to get through the Australia curriculum. It’s not much! It works out to be about a page a day in each subject, IF the children focus it takes about 2.5 hours (including breaks!). This leaves our WHOLE afternoon free for play, classes like drumming and karate, and of course swimming, skateboarding and surfing.

4 terms, 2 months each. Seasons as general themes, as we have done in the past with NinthCloud and YuuMii before. This gives us over 4 months of free-play travel and open plan learning. Projects based on location, or desires.

The first week was easy.

The second week was impossible. They did NOT want to do any worksheets or anything, really. We had a day or 2 of free play.

The third week was all about negotiations, balance and happiness. I also tried out several methods of compiling the children’s projects. EVERNOTE won.

This week, we are finding our way… and you know what? These kids are now eagerly doing most things on their own. I am always there to help, with their projects, play, or experiments… there has been little conflict.

Having a 3.5 year old in the mix has made it challenging. Having their uncle in town will help for sure.

We have watched our children grow more loving, caring, thoughtful, energetic, enthusiastic, helpful, and generous. They still squabble over silly things but watching them work it out has also been interesting. They are spending more time to be sure they fix their wrongs.

All this in just 4 weeks!

Science after ceramics in Narabeen

Skateboarding break

Making boats that float… sometimes!

It’s OFFICIAL!

Drum lessons!

We found a shark egg in Manly Lagoon! (It was empty)

YuuMii Says: YES! Invest in Children's wonder!

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:22:42 +1100

YuuMii Says: YES! Invest in Children's wonder!:

YuuMii Likes: That it's not just for scary religious people any more

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 08:16:19 +1100

YuuMii Likes: That it's not just for scary religious people any more

YuuMii Says: It's all good...

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 07:21:00 +1100

Today is our super social day. Starting off with some outdoor running around, on the beach, then getting through the paperwork, and onto Ceramics, and then Karate.

We’ve lined up some playdates around town this week.

My fear, as with most parents (so I have heard) is that the children will be too isolated, and feel alone. I am going to be sure that they do not feel this way, right from the start.

Coming from 6 weeks in Canada - with nothing but family around then will make this process seem easy.

If you are in the Sydney region, as a home educated family, please contact me! We would love to meet up!

In high gear, so that we can get to the bigger, better business...

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:55:38 +1100

In high gear, so that we can get to the bigger, better business of PLAY!!!

First day of YuuMii Home Education!

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:52:18 +1100

This is it. We are on our way.

Approval from the NSW board of studies, and certificate in hand (so to speak) we shall now embark upon this journey.

We have started the day with Physical Education, outdoor sprints with warm up. Now, the intro to our grand plan. Everyone is excited, and I am a bit nervous.

Wish us luck, and if you have any tips or tricks, please share!!

Un-Life-Home-Project-Based Schooling?!

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:03:31 +1100

We are actually doing it!

The last few months (Well, really it’s been years!) we have been planning for this moment… To keep the children home, and out of the system. Technically, they are in the system, but we hope that this way they have a fighting chance at retaining their humour, creativity, curiosities and very unique sense of self.

I am madly prepping for the “interview” on Wednesday. Yes, I am nervous. Yes, I am overly prepared. I have a gorgeous proposal, all of the curriculum guidlines met, and now organizing the childrens workspaces.

The best part about this trip so far has been this morning, when my children announced their excitement and eagerness for our adventure to begin when they begged us to start “Right away!” and not in January, the new school year. Of course, this will happen. Learning should not have a start and end date!

We will have all our news posted here, the process and the time required to get things done.

Break it down:

Application: 1 hour, emailed

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/parents/home-schooling.html

Reply by phone: 3 days later

Phone call to arrange interview: 30 mins (while food shopping)

Proposal Document: 2-5 days

Curriculum Purchasing: $100 and an hour of digging to find “fun” books

So, What do we call this? I really don’t like any of the conventional names for home schooling. I guess we will call it… The YuuMii School!

failureplanet: “Give the child an armour against doctrine.” A...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:46:56 +1000

failureplanet:

“Give the child an armour against doctrine.” A good video about how technology is part of our learning process and keeps evolving.

YuuMii asks: what will you do to help your children to be ready for 2031?

Photo

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:24:46 +1000

YuuMii knows: Make-Believe is magic!

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:07:44 +1000

YuuMii knows: Make-Believe is magic!:

“…children can be “primed” for creativity by how they are persuaded to think about and see the world around them.”

It’s been a long time, and we are extraordinarily sorry....

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 19:26:57 +1000

It’s been a long time, and we are extraordinarily sorry. Once you hear our story, I think you will give us your forgiveness.

We have had a bit of a set back in the marketing, promotion and development of our 9thCloud app and curriculum. A certain Media and entertainment giant, here in Australia has decided YuuMii is not to use the number 9 in any or all reference to our product, logo or sites.

Months of negotiation and reworking our vision, we are now left with the knowledge that we will have to suck it up and start over.

Please don’t give up on us. We will be back bigger, better, and stronger.

In the meantime, here are some of our first pass’s at logos, and product name ideas. Let us know your thoughts!

Team YuuMii XO

YuuMii

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:11:02 +1000

YuuMii :

Whimsical childhood memories are made with us. Get all the info on what we have to offer, here!

Follow us for unforgettable adventures!

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:03:15 +1000

YuuMii Does: acknowledge the senses, ignite imagination...

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 15:16:25 +1000

YuuMii Does: acknowledge the senses, ignite imagination and… enjoy the silence!