My Unschooling/Structured HE Experiment…

In light of recent discussions on the IHSAN Forum,  I set myself an experiment. I wanted to see what would be different about a structured HE day and an unstructured day. Monday, I set up the workbox system for the first time and R used that system for her HE. Today, we had an unschooling day! Yup, thats right we had an unschooling day.

So, lets compare the two different days:

WORKBOX MONDAY

Preparation: I set up R’s schedule strip on the Sunday night, and filled her boxes according to her schedule which can be found at the top of this blog. What went in the boxes?

Box 1: Word level worksheets (independent work)

Box 2: Handwriting book – 2 pages (independent work)

Box 3: A book read to me (work with Mum) and Making sentences activity

Box 4: 3 pages of surahs she has memorised (work with Mum)

Box 5: 2 pages of Qaidah practice (independent and work with Mum)

Box 6: Maths – 2 lessons from the MEP program (work with Mum and independent work)

Box 7: Arabic – writing practice on her wipe board, 2 pages from Madinah Arabic for kids (independent work)

Box 8: Read a recycling book to R (work with Mum)

Box 9: We began to recycle scrap paper to make homemade paper

Swimming lesson

When she awoke, she followed her morning routine and took her schedule strip at 8.30am. She worked through her schedule strip from 8.30am to 1.30pm (this included any breaks, free time, lunch that I had scheduled in into the schedule strip but not including her swimming lesson).

Here are some pics:

This was R's schedule strip. The numbers refer to the box number and the pictures are breaks etc.

R making some sentences which she later copied out and illustrated.

The recycling book we read. Since we moved, we have really got into recycling. So, we read this and discussed it at length. We have a green recycling box and orange bags from the council and are actively recycling.

Scrap paper that R ripped up and placed into a bowl of water to soak overnight. This was to show how something old can be used to make something new.

UNSCHOOLING TUESDAY

Preparation: She woke up and I told her that she could do whatever she wanted to do today as long as she at least read to me and did her Quran practice. She agreed.

What did she do today? She started around 9.30am and finished around 4.30ish, again that was with meals, breaks etc. Although now, she is reading to her brother. So, I guess an unschooling day doesn’t really end. Mmmm….

Finished making her homemade paper recycling project (it is still drying as we speak).

Dressed up and played

Did her 3 pages of Quran revision with me and 2 pages of Qaidah practice

Painted two pictures

Made a picture using stamp printing.

Made salt dough pieces (they are currently drying)

Read 3 books to herself

Made a geography puzzle

Here are some pics:

We drained the paper. Then placed the soaked paper into a food blender and blended it. R then added food colouring and glitter and mashed it even more.

I used an empty frame and the netting of an old niqab and stretched it over the frame and tied the back.

R spooned the recycled mixture onto the netting and squashed it into the open space of the frame. It is currently in the boiler cupboard drying.

Made a salt dough mix for R (so easy to make - got the recipe from TMEG's Ramadan pack. She then modelled it into what she wanted. They went in the oven and are currently cooling ready to paint tomorrow inshaAllah.

 

So, I asked R which day she preferred. Drum roll please………………………

She said she preferred UNSCHOOLING TUESDAY because it was fun! I really don’t know what to say. Yes, she had more fun today because she did more arts and crafts. But then on WORKBOX MONDAY, she completed more work in different subjects.

My dearest readers,  your comments and advice are much welcomed – structure vs. unschooling…where do we go from here? I did this experiment to see what works/how it works. Yes, they were only two days – so can’t really say much but what do you think? Right now, I don’t know what to think. lol

 

What a week!

So, where do I even begin?!

Our life is in boxes and it has been a little difficult with the kids as they want their things. We were due to move into our new place on Sat 17th and then I received a phone call saying that the landlord has withdrawn! I broke down crying out of pure frustration (and tiredness). We had booked the van, cancelled bills etc and even put a deposit down. When my hormones settled, I realised that Allah (Swt) had definitely saved us from something. Both DH and I had prayed istikhara, so without a doubt Allah knew that this place was not good for us. The only thing was, the flat we are currently in had already been taking by new tenants and we were due to move out on 17th Oct which is only a few days away!

So, the hunt was on. We needed to find a new place and fast. Really  – Allah is indeed the Best of Planners. And last night we found a place which is much better in all ways than the one that we lost. Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah. So, we will be moving out as planned in a few days inshaAllah.

As all of our stuff is in boxes, I am trying to be out as much as possible with the kids. So we have spent some lovely sunny days here. I love this place and am happy that we are not moving far from it:

Do you know what I love about HE? The relationship between siblings is strengthened. Alhamdulillah.

The time was spot on on the sun dial and we discussed how 'telling the time' has evolved throughout history.

R was thrilled that the olives on this olive tree were growing. I'm not sure if you can make them out, but this olive tree was FULL!

After this lovely day, R collected some leaves and did some leaf printing at home.

What was especially nice this week was attending the shahaadah of a lady I’ve been in touch with. MashaAllah she decided to take her shahaadah and along with another sister, we were honoured to witness her enter into Islam . It was especially nice as R was there to witness it. She was very happy and asked me a sweet question “Ummi, did she become Muslim because of the dua I make every night for all the non-muslims to become Muslim?” And you know what, who knows… Sometimes we do not know whether the dua of one of our sisters/brothers changes our situation or indeed those of others. When I was hunting for a new place, a sister texted me and said “Making dua you find a place near the masjid.” And that is what we found, alhamdulillah.

This week has made me think about sincerity. My level (and lack of) sincerity, my weaknesses as a Muslimah, and how important it is not just to teach my kids to read or write or even memorise the Quran but subhanaAllah, to try and build a beautiful Islamic character by the will of Allah. And it starts by me changing myself so that I can be a good example inshaAllah. Here are some pictures of ourselves in Regents Park, the day that the sister entered Islam:

R was intrigued by this bird. The subject of animals is not my thing, so only know what a pigeon and swan is. Alhamdulillah, the sister to be knew that it was heron. So we both learnt something today!

And to leave on a deep note, please read the following entry from my dear sister and friend’’s blog. Her words struck a very deep chord…

http://muslimmotherhood.blogspot.com/2009/10/reflections-of-transient-nature-of-life.html

‘So its going to be a long day?!’

said my daughter excitedly as we sat in the car 8.30 am this morning! i had just informed her of the day’s plans.

We missed our Thursday Home Ed group last week and she has been counting down the days to today. I really don’t think our Home Ed would be the same without our trips to our Thursday Home Ed group. She loves, I love it and I think so do all the other Muslim home educated kids (and their Mums!)

Today was just lovely. All the kids entered the gates and they were given a sheet of paper and had to complete a treasure hunt trail (all children aged 3 to 13 did one) and they were given a prize once they completed it. They had to find all the pictures of girls/boys (see pic below) look at their names on the sheet, write down the age of the child next to the name on the sheet and if they were old enough – they had to add all the ages at the end. There were about 10 pictures to find in quite a large outdoor space. They were so happy when they completed it.

By the way, that isn't me holding up one of the treasure hunt pages! lol!

After that, a sister who is a fitness instructor and home edder got them to do some sports games. The kids loved it. I really don’t know where this sister gets her energy from mashaAllah (must be her diet and strict fitness regime mashaAllah).

Then, we laid out the tables full of food and treats and everyone took a plate and helped themselves.

If that wasn’t enough, today was the first day of the cycling club for sisters. There were 4 of us and whilst we cycled around a very large park, the kids did a cycling session with a sister’s husband who is a cycling coach. Sisters have asked me how on earth do you cycle with jilbaab and believe me it is possible. One of the sisters that cycled today wears niqab and we all felt wonderful riding on our bikes, alhamdulillah.

And then as we were walking back from the cycling session to the car, the kids were doing this and I just thought what a classic Home Ed picture and just had to take it (!) :

Whilst everyone is at school stuck to tables and chairs, here is what R and a sister's kids are doing...I love HE!

I was going to end this post with the above picture but then had to share what happened as we sat down for dinner today. Hubby was on his way back from work, and we were all eating Tagine Zaytun. The following conversation unfolded:

R: Ummi, when animals die, do we put them in a box and then into the ground

Me: Well, as Muslims – we cover a dead body in white material and then put them into the ground. But we don’t put the box into the ground.

R: Oh… (Thinking)

Me: (Carried on eating and feeding baby Z)

R: So is it haram to put it in the box?

Me: We follow Allah and His Messenger and every believer is buried covered in white cloth, not in a box.

R: Will I be buried like that?

Me: Yes inshaAllah.

R: Who will bury me?

Me: Abi, inshaAllah.

R: Who will bury baby Z?

Me: Abi, inshaAllah.

R: Who will bury you?

Me: Abi, inshaAllah.

R: And who will bury Abi?

Me: Some of your amoo (uncles)

R: But if Abi dies and he is buried, that means I won’t see him ever again.

Me: (Oh dear, what do I say?!)

Me: Well…if Abi dies, then inshaAllah we will see him again in jannah inshaAllah.

R: But that won’t be for a very long time.  (Her eyes reddened and became enlarged. She tried to hold back the tears and then….the bank burst!)

She cried and cried and cried. And it wasn’t a moany childish cry. It was a cry out of pain and the fear of loss.

I obviously took her into my arms and held her.

R: I don’t want Abi to die. I want to see him every day.

Me: Yes, but we don’t know what Allah will bring us. Right now he is on his way home, so don’t worry inshaAllah. But if Allah does make Abi die, then that means that Allah loves us a lot inshaAllah because the pain we will feel will wipe away our sins.

She carried on crying.

Did I explain it in the correct way? I’m not sure. I hope so.

I then realised that my daughter had just understood what it means to die. And all of a sudden the reality of the importance of her upbringing, of this Home Ed journey dawned on me.

SubhanAllah, what a day…

Enjoying the sunshine

A very brief post. We were out both days of the weekend that has just passed. On Saturday we attended the Eid Festival which takes place in Dunstable Downs (near Luton). This was our first time. It was like any other bazaar: bouncy castles, face painting, henna painting, rock climbing. But my favourite part of the whole day was just the beauty of Dunstable Downs. The views are simply breathtaking. We stayed until sunset and it was just beautiful. Unfortunately, my camera couldn’t catch the beauty of the place – but if you can go there -GO THERE!

We met up with some sisters whom we know who also home educate and all our kids had a wonderful time. It made me feel quite emotional seeing how free they were, collecting chalk, running into the bushes, playing and rolling in the fields. Isn’t this what HE is about. I want to live in the country – I want my kids to be surrounded by nature. I think we will definitely be going back inshaAllah.

On the Sunday, we thought we would be having a relaxing day, but we were invited at the last minute to visit the seaside not far from Margate. The weather was splendid  – again, all the families stayed until the sun went down. And it was just lovely seeing the kids playing in the sea and making things with the sand. Oh, how I love the sea! I could build my own hut and live there!

Anyway, here are some pics:

Kids from a local school acting out the scenes from Surah Al Feel.

Beautiful Dunstable Downs (pic does not do it justice!)

On another note, we might be moving. Will know for definite in a couple of days. We only moved to our current place in December, but we might be moving again. I don’t like moving – it stresses me out. But I’d rather move now whilst I’ve got the energy than when I am huge and very pregnant. Anyway, will keep you posted. Alhamdulillah, although we are keeping to our timetable, I’m a little worried that moving and then the baby’s arrival will take a huge chunk out of our HE for this year. I think for me, if I can get all the English and Maths stuff done before the year is out, I will feel really good. If she is also reading Quran fluently and has finished memorising her juz – then I’ll be happy inshaAllah. But will we be able to get through all of this with the moving and birth of no.3? I hope so inshaAllah.

Keeping to schedule

Uploaded a new page (see the top of the blog) which includes our timetable which has been tweaked a bit since I included it in my previous post.

Alhamdulillah, we have really been enjoying our HE. We have kept to schedule except afternoons which I had a bit of a problem with. For me after lunch, I kind of wind down and don’t want her to do anything that is messy. But I have had to overcome my fear and just let her get on with it. I really have relaxed about things like cleanliness and really just letting her enjoy the HE experience and I can see that she has been learning a whole lot more.

A very dear sister who is also HE (she knows who she is) has been a rock to me. I don’t think she realises how much. I don’t take illness very well in that it drives me mad when I can’t do what I normaly do. At a time when I felt like I couldn’t go back to normal, she helped me and continues to help me see what HE is all about.  May Allah (Swt) bless her and her family and their HE journey. Ameen.

So, anyway – what have we been up to? I’ll let the pics do the talking:

I have realised that in order for HE to go smoothly with R. I have to make sure that baby Z who is almost 18 months old is occupied. I found Mr. drawing all over the walls with a fat blue crayon. The curtain rail broke as he thought he was tarzan and we had to buy a new keyboard for the PC! So different to his sister. Anyway, it seems that he likes puzzles and was occupied for a full 40 minutes!! These puzzles were stored away til he reached 3 but he really enjoys them. Alhamdulillah.

Every day she reads 2 books to me and I read at least one to her. We really enjoyed this book. I was surprised how much.

We are revising her reading and are using the Ruth Miskin Series. She can read these books quite easily, but I want to use these next few weeks to review everything we did last year before moving on to more difficult books. She feels quite happy when she reads the entire story all on her own. This series is good because it gives the parent questions to ask the child as you read through the story.

We were waiting for the butchers to open and the kids enjoyed chasing pigeons. It was a nice moment for me, reflecting over the ayat in surah mulk - that it is Allah (Swt) who keeps the birds afloat in the sky.

Hubby didn't like the traditional Qaidah which uses the Asian style of Arabic. He's not used to it and wanted the other style (can't remember the name of it) So, I was given this by a sister and mashaAllah the lessons work perfectly with R. MashaaAllah, she is progressing nicely. We do 1-2 pages of this a day.

We made date parcels which was one of the activities from the TMEG Ramadan Guide.

She decided which Islamic reminders she wanted to put into the date parcels. Can you figure out what the picture is? It was a good idea from TMEG as we have been discussing the meaning of the reminders at the time of iftar as suggested.

She has started her swimming lessons and has had two lessons so far. She is really enjoying it mashaAllah. The course lasts for 14 weeks and then she can move on to the next level.

I am using A&C Black for Maths. Some of the stuff is really easy for her, but I want to cover all the reception stuff as revision. I think we will be switching to Year 1 fairly soon inshaAllah. If it really does get to easy, I'll just scrap the Reception stuff and move on to year 1 straight away. AND THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF HE. If she was in school, we would HAVE to stick with reception level! What if she is a whizz at Maths and progresses to Year 3 work whilst she is still at reception level age - HE allows you to do that.

Finally we are back!

I have been rather useless at blogging these past couple of months. But I have a good excuse for it. We will be expecting a new addition to the family in 6 months time. Yup, by the grace of Allah (Swt) I am just over 3 months pregnant. R is very excited and I am somewhat nervous as baby Z will no longer be a baby, but a very busy 2 year old when the baby is born inshaAllah.

The last 3 months have been full of morning sickness.  I actually feel irritated that they call it ‘morning’ sickness as mine was all day. Alhamdulillah, feeling much better now. 2 days after Ramadan began, I got bad food poisoning from prawns which got worse and had to go into hospital. Feel recovered somewhat and so today is my first official day of fasting. R has expressed her ardent wish to fast with us tomorrow which will be a Saturday. So, we have decided to wake her up for suhr and let her try. Lets see how it goes.

So, what have we been up to? Well, R went to Algeria and is back. She apparently had a wonderful time swimming in the sea, playing with monkeys in the Berber mountains. I used the time whilst she was away organising HE for next year. All resources are now organised into categories. It took my forever, but got there eventually. I now have lists of everything we have for each subject and they are all in one place.

Aside from that, we received our Ramadan Guide from Tailor Made Educational Guides which we have been working through. It feels so great to have everything ready. All I have to do every day is take a wallet: the instructions and resources are all there. We just need to follow it. As I have been ill, we are a little behind, so instead of one activity a day, we are doing two activities.  I think they are going to do a Hajj one, so looking forward to that one too inshaAllah. You can find more about them at www.tailormadeeducationalguides.co.uk

Here is something she made which was day 2’s activity of the guide – a Ramadan acrostic poem (it took her almost 2 hours to complete, but she persisted mashAllah):

Our timetable for the year is finished! Yay! When I have time, I will add it to the top pages of the blog. We started our HE today. As it is Ramadan, it is not as full as our main timetable. This is what we are doing during Ramadan:

RAMADAN TIMETABLE

Quran         3 pages of revision
3 new ayat hifdh
2 pgs Qaidah

Literacy        Read to her
She reads two books to me
Literacy work x4
Handwriting x2

Maths            Maths work x4

Islamic Studies    Ramadan Guide from TMEG

Once Ramadan is over, we will switch to the full timetable which you can find here: (it probably looks a lot, but one activity takes no longer than 15-20 minutes)

HE Timetable 2009-10

And that is it for now.  Hope to be posting more regularly.

She’s gone for 2 weeks.

Today I drove husband and R to the airport: they are spending 2 weeks in Algeria. I didn’t cry. But now I feel the tears welling up.

I know any mother would miss their kids if they were away from them, but I don’t know I think it hits us Home Edders harder. They are with us 24 hours a day and then baam! 2 weeks without her. Oh, my heart is aching.

You really don’t know what you have until it is gone. “Don’t worry Ummi”, she told me. “I will be sad in Algeria.” “Why will you be sad?” I asked her. “Because I’ll miss you.” Broke me heart!

They only left today and already I’m missing her. *sigh*

So, what am I going to do for the next 2 weeks? Well, her brother is still here and I think it is time for some quality time with Baby Z. Poor thing. I am also going to declutter everything! Sort out next year’s HE, prepare myself for Ramadhan and finish a few things off. So it will be a busy few weeks which I’m sure will make the time fly by.

On another note, our pet tortoise died a week ago. R was completely devastated! But then our guppy fish had about 20 babies and then had another batch of 30 something babies. So our fish tank is full! We had to separate mother and two fathers from the second new batch otherwise they would eat them!

I spent the weekend at an Islamic course which touched on Ihsan with one’s children. It was absolutely brilliant mashaAllah. I will type up some advice the sheikh gave the attendees about parenting. Some good advice.

Thats it from me for now!

Ramadan Guide for kids

Salaam,

From the sisters at Tailor Made Educational Guides:

Asalamuu ‘alaykum

We are in the process of finalising a few final touches on a new Ramadhan Guide.

With this guide, we have two options:

GOLD which will include instructions and all resources/materials for 28 days of hands on activities during the month of Ramadhan. You would simply take the appropriate file for that day and your child has fun whilst learning about Ramadhan. PRICE: £34.99 only (includes p&p)!

SILVER which will include instructions but without resources/materials. PRICE: £9.99 only!

The above guide is suitable for children aged 5-10.

The guide is not currently available on our website. Ramadhan is soon approaching. If you would like to take opportunity of the GOLD option and receive your package in the post in time for the arrival of Ramadhan, send us an email at info@tailormadeeducationalguides.co.uk with ‘Ramadhan Guide’ in the Subject box and we will arrange payment and shipment details.

The SILVER option will be available to be purchased on our website www.tailormadeeducationalguides.co.uk in the next week (Allah willing).

Do check out the other Ready Made Guides on our website. Although we have stated fixed prices for our Ready Made Guides, if you would like to buy the BRONZE or SILVER option and cannot afford the said price, we would be more than happy to email you the guide at a price more affordable to you. Our primary aim is that children enjoy learning.

Thank you and kindly inform your family and friends about TMEG.

Walaykum ‘aasalam
On behalf of the team at TMEG
Umm ‘Abdullah

Arty crafty

I can’t believe how long it has been since I have last updated the blog!! I have been quite ill and so just haven’t had the energy or the will to do very much.

We have spent most of our days doing lots of arts and crafts and Quran.

Here are some pics:

A collage made out of ripped up pieces of paper.

R made this frame from plaster, allowed it to set and then painted it. Got this set from the £1 shop!

First there were Hama Beads, then there was Bindeez! The little pieces stick together with water. We bought this from a car boot sale!

Stole this idea from my lovely sister over at INDEPENDENT LEARNERS! Painting with cotton buds!

All of this was given to me free from a sister who was Home Educating! Alhamdulillah!!!!!

When I was well enough to go out, we took a trip to a local common and we saw this dead frog that had dried up in the sun. He looks like he is about to leap off.

R has joined the Quest seekers reading club at the library. She has to read 6 books over the summer holidays and she gets stickers for her poster and a prize each time she completes 2 books ! She has been really motivated by this and I believe it is all over the UK!

Us at our local library yesterday. Each week they have fun activities for the kids to do based on the Quest Seekers Challenge. The kids decorated the library walls with pictures of the characters from the Quest Seekers challenge.

And that is it. For me, I have been sorting out all the resources for next year’s HE and preparing myself and the kids for Ramadhan.

Hope to post soon!

Tailor Made Educational Guides Website

Remember this from one of my old posts.  Well, their website is up:

Here is the sister’s email:

Asalamuu ‘alaykum,

We begin with the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Our website is now up and running, walhamdulilah.

You can visit us at: http://tailormadeeducationalguides.co.uk/

Please spread the word amongst your contacts. Especially all of the mothers who do not want their children spending hours in front of the TV or computer during the summer holidays. And for the home educated mothers who want to start something new and different for this coming September.

Thank you to everyone who has made duaa for us and has emailed all of their contacts. From the emails alone, we have had so many orders that have prevented us from completing the website until now.

Please continue to make abundant duaa for us.

Walaykum ‘aasalam
On behalf of the team at TMEG,
Umm ‘Abdullah

I’ll be posting a longish post soon. We have been doing LOADS AND LOADS of Arts and Crafts, Arabic and Quran. Oh, and R is whizzing around quite confidently without stabilisers on her bike now, masha’Allah.