When You Hear Noise From the Trunk

October 2, 2018July 29, 2019 Juli Herman

Recently, I came across a post consisting of an image by Gottman Institute that spoke volumes to me, especially since I have been feeling overwhelmed for the past few weeks. It says, “It’s ok to not do it all.” I felt like someone said what I needed to hear, and what I needed to read at that moment in time. Women, in general, might be predisposed (and this is a generalization from my limited experience and observation, not data) to be a Jack-of-all-trades, doing everything that needs to be done,…

Once Upon a Time: The Magical Power of Reading-Aloud

September 1, 2018March 17, 2021 Alina Jaffery

I remember the sun beating down upon our moist heads as we were ushered in from another scorching recess. We walked into the chilled portables as we slogged in lazily and melted upon our desks. Mrs. Schwemer, without any deliberation would soothingly begin reading from our read-aloud. With our eyes closed, heads rested upon the desks, we were transported. Some days we were transported to a barn among talking animals and an intelligent, sympathetic spider trying to spare a young runt pig’s life from his eventual slaughter. Other days we…

A Different Kind of ‘Homework’: The Value of Incorporating Chores Into the Homeschooler’s Life

July 11, 2018July 29, 2019 Alina Jaffery

Cleanliness is half of faith Prophet Muhammad (SAW) [Sahih Muslim] If you ask a homeschooling mother about the struggles and challenges of home education, chances are she will express the constant struggle to keep up with the messes that come along with it. Homeschooling is a fulfilling, enriching, and explorative journey that the family embarks on together, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. However, the journey is messy, sticky, and can be dreadfully disorganized. When we turn our learning loose, and we trade in our lengthy, dull, drawn out curriculum…

Tips on Homeschooling During Ramadan

May 23, 2018March 17, 2021 Weronika

Ramadan is an exciting time for Muslims all over the world but, as homeschool mothers, we can often find it exhausting. We are busy running around after the children, preparing and teaching lessons and doing the household chores on top of fasting. Some may wonder how they will be able to cope! Others may find fasting quite easy but would like to know what they can do differently in their homeschool to make the most of this blessed month. Here are some tips to help you homeschool during Ramadan. Focus…

3 Key Ingredients to Homeschooling a Young Child: Play

February 20, 2018November 16, 2021 Noor

Part 1 “I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing a soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to extreme old age”– Henry…

3 Key Ingredients to Homeschooling a Young Child: Environment

February 14, 2018March 17, 2021 Noor

Part 2 Environment The right environment can give so much to a developing child. Young children are like sponges and will absorb everything around them (Montessori, n.d.). It is also the age when they are refining their senses which then builds their brain architecture. Have you ever seen a young child explore something? They will literally put it in their mouth, smell it, feel the texture, stare at it and notice all the fine details that an adult is likely to miss. Ever notice their response to the slightest of…

A Meeting of the Minds

February 14, 2018February 14, 2019 Alina Jaffery

“In later days, the Prophet (SAW) told his Companions that there was no Prophet who had ever lived on this earth, who had not worked as a shepherd,” I read emphatically from the Goodwords Seerah book. “Mama!” My daughter squealed excitedly, “Even Prophet Musa Alayhisalaam?!” My daughter is absolutely obsessed with the life of Prophet Musa Alayhisalaam. When I told her that I had named her after his adoptive-Queen mother who is also one of the women of Jannah, she was beside herself with pure joy. “Even Prophet Musa Alayhisalaam,”…

One Watermelon Seed

February 9, 2018March 12, 2018 Juli Herman

We read this book, One Watermelon Seed by Celia Lottridge and I thought it would be a great lesson in skip counting by 10s. On top of that I thought it would be a great lesson in reinforcing the Arabic numerals too. I had the girls help me draw the fruits and produce and N was the one who helped a lot in making these cards mashaaAllah. She drew most of the fruits on paper and we scanned them and I colored them using GIMP and then put them…

Leaves, Roots, Flowers, and Fruits

January 16, 2018March 12, 2018 Juli Herman

I got a new stack of books for Z from the library last week. One of them is Leaves, Leaves, Leaves. As usual, I read him the book, and he was attentive and quiet. Reminds me of the days when he didn’t have that much of an attention span. And as usual, he didn’t say much about the book after I was done. I commented on the art in the book, as I tend to usually do with him. This book has an interesting artwork for the pictures. I started…

Zulhijjah and Eid Al Adha

January 16, 2018October 1, 2019 Juli Herman

Pre-Activity: I’m rushing, trying to find something for Zulhijjah, and Hajj in terms of discussion, activities for the kids, all of them. I started with Z because I know Umm Nu’man has stuff on Hajj mashaAllah. I printed the Hajj theme pack, Hajj Story Board/Game, Hajj Game, and Hajj Addition and Subtraction Activity. While I was printing it, Z saw me and immediately had this excited look on his face and said, “I want to do that!” He helped me take the printed sheets out, and wanted to start right…