Testimonials

Hedgehope School

Hedgehope is a school far south surrounded by farms and coached by outstanding visionaries who are passionate about giving children ownership of their learning.  We have the privilege of learning beside them as they awaken the potential of every child that comes through their doors.  Recently they featured in the New Zealand Gazette, you will find it to be a refreshing and inspiring read.

Education Gazette story from Hedgehope School using YPI - https://issuu.com/edgazette/docs/100.15_ed_gazette_issuu 
Look up pages 40 to 43 - Heading - Sky's the limit with inquiry model in Southland

Tracey Cringle
Villa Maria

Years 9 - 10
I was lucky enough to be offered the use of YouPlanIt (YPI) for the last term of 2017. It has so many benefits for me as the teacher, particularly in engaging my brightest students (who were very ready to move up the school). The biggest “wow” moment for me was when the students shared their presentations with the class. We were enthralled! Having the freedom to follow their passions, the students were confident and totally engaged the audience. We just didn’t know what might come next.

The students are very keen to ‘go again’, now they understand more about how the YPI program helps and guides them to achieve more exciting learning outcomes. This is Personalised Learning at it’s very best.

Sarah Carruthers-Hyde

Years 6 - 7

As a beginning teacher, YouPlanIt (YPI) has been so helpful with time and resource management. Everything is so efficient and easy to use, from the lesson plans to the resources, to the self-assessment rubrics. I love how it puts the children back at the centre and involves them along every step of the way. YPI is incredibly versatile and helpful if you’re starting an inquiry - everything is there, aligned with the curriculum and ready to go!! 

Year 7 & 8 Student Testimonials

Student comment 1

I struggle with time management which causes me a lot of stress, especially when it comes to handing things in on time. YouPlanIt helped me organise my time and gave everything I needed in one place. It was really easy to use and gave me a lot of confidence in my learning.

Student comment 2

I felt challenged by the idea that I was responsible for my own learning and worried I might fail because I had to rely on myself a lot more. My teacher gave me basic criteria but I had to create the lessons and organise and manage my own learning. I feel proud and relieved because I worked hard and the presentation felt great!

Student comment 3

I set high standards for myself and having this chance to focus on something I was personally interested in made me feel a bit scared but I am proud of my work. I worked hard and my expectations were met!! I would like to send the PowerPoint presentation to many others so that they can be inspired by the work I completed.

Student comment 4

Taking on more responsibility for my own learning is exciting and worrying at the same time. But mostly I feel happy, inspired, pleased and proud of the work I do. I really like being able to choose my own topics and have more say in how I want to work through this.

AHA - Aotearoa Homeschool Anywhere that use the YPI in conjunction with a teacher online

Comment 1

We have found Tala and Tamina to be very professional, passionate and understanding throughout the homeschooling application process & with the online learning process. Our children love engaging with Tamina as she really is an amazing teacher who consistently makes her time spent with the children count. Quite simply - Tamina is the best teacher we have ever met!

Comment 2

Tala is an outstanding tutor and shows excellent leadership with her students, she relates exceptionally well with parents and understands the 'big-picture'.  She is a good listener enabling her to craft her response to meet the individual needs of each family and direct the child's learning outcomes.

Comment 3

Our time with Tala and AHA Aotearoa Homeschool/Curious Minds has been an amazing journey.  My 13-year-old son was struggling at school and was not able to keep up, after our first level 4 lockdown we realised just how far behind he was, so we decided to reach out and give homeschooling a go. Tala from day 1 has been a force, she has supported us and the emotions that come with this new journey, especially when my son was struggling with subjects, she has created a safe space for him to learn and move forward with his schooling. He has been learning about the subjects he is passionate about, and the entire process has been a wonderful organic experience.  He has come so far in the year we have been with Tala, my husband and I are so very happy with how far he has come and how much he has learned in his own way and at his own pace with the guidance of Tala.  

We decided this year that our 7-year-old needed the same input as our teenager and that he also would benefit from this amazing learning space that we have created with Tala.  Tala understands and reads my children so well, she has become a very important part of our learning journey and I would absolutely highly recommend Tala and the system she has built YPI, Curious Minds. The platform the boys use is easy and innovative, everything we do goes into the platform and it can be checked, marked, and signed off. I put 100% full trust in her knowledge and recommendations and as a family, we are so happy we have taken this direction with our children's learning and we have not looked back.

Thank you so much.