I can Swing!

Maimoonah loves to swing but for all these years we had to push her. Last few months I have been trying to teach her to swing on her own. And she has been trying hard to do this masha Allaah.

Suddenly this week she started swinging on her own in style Masha Allaah! Now when she goes to the play area she just swings for about an hour and enjoys it and thrilled that she could do this on her own masha Allaah! Here she goes...

Allaah Created Countries and People

As part of our Pre School Curriculum we learnt about continents, some countries and people this week.

I have compiled all the pictures on to a slide show Insha Allaah.

We spoke about The Creation of Allaah - People and countries. We did the mini work book done by our dear sister Umm An Nu'man. You can download it here Insha Allaah.

Then we pasted the world map on to her Environmental Studies Book and coloured and named the seven continents. Masha Allaah she has learnt all the continents and is able to mark on the map now.

The Encyclopedia we had came handy here masha Allaah. We read through all about the continents on it and we were able to get facts by reading masha Allaah.

Inspired by our sister's post here I thought of making a book for Maimoonah together with her on the topic Allaah Created Countries and People. So here is what we did. Cut and coloured some pics of Children of the World for which I got the link to download from a dear sister Umm Sara here.

Then chose some countries that we want to learn and pasted the country map on to construction paper. And typed out little sentences for each country which I could make her read on her own Insha Allaah. Then we pasted the children on the country page. Also showed her all the countries we have chosen on Google Earth. Then put the book together and started reading throughout the week, masha Allaah. All the pictures are on the slide show. It was fun and a good learning experience masha Allaah.

Then we did the one Muslim country study which is included in the Mini Workbook by our sister Umm An Nu'man. We chose Saudi Arabia and found some facts on the Internet. Recorded them on the workbook. She ate the common food of Saudi dates and gave 5 stars too.

We also read the Arabic first Book of Countries.

I thought she would not understand much on this topic but masha Allaah she could grasp everything and could talk about people she knew who were living in some of the countries.

MEP - Reception Year - Detail Post

Insha Allaah this is the detail post on the Maths Program we are following.

The plus points I see in this program:

• This is totally free masha Allaah and could be downloaded here.
• Any additions that they make are separately added so that you can download them separately.
• This program begins from the reception year and continues till GCE Ordinary Levels and GCE Advanced Levels
• It has been adapted and modified for UK Schools (Originally Hungarian Series)
• There are many sisters who are using this masha Allaah
• It gives you the whole lesson plan for each lesson, each period for the whole program from reception to Ordinary Levels
• Preparation on your side is nil or very little. Everything is ready to print only thing you have to do is read the lesson plans before you start a lesson Insha Allaah.
• Its very much fun to learn so far masha Allaah.
• Makes maths a user friendly subject.
• Makes the kids think and have fun at the same time
• Has some physical movements involved that kids enjoy.
• Its a program where Language, art and craft and early learning activities are all combined with Maths.

Here is a lesson that we did this week Insha Allaah just to give you an idea.

We did Lesson 18.

Here is the students book page

And here is the Lesson Plan page for this particular lesson.

So first thing we do is talk about the picture. I ask her to tell me about the picture. She told me there 2 children 1 adult and first thing she asked me was where is the father? (This whole book is based on a family, so the kids are taught concept with it). Then I asked her few questions like what do you think mother is doing, then she said The mother is reading. Then we also spoke about what are the things that we can see in their room? She said toys, beds, pillows, clock etc.

Then we concluded children are getting ready to sleep. Then I asked how does Maimoonah get ready to sleep. Then she said " I have a wash, change into my night clothes, recite the Qul Soorahs and the Aayathul Kursi and the dua before sleeping.

Then I ask her questions according to the lesson plan and may be a little bit more. Here are some sample questions according to the lesson plan.

• How many adults are there? Knock the number .. now?
• How many dolls are there in the room? Show the number .. now?
• How many dolls are on the bottom shelf?
• How many types of vehicles are there?
• What is above the ball?
• If Ben has fallen asleep then how many people in the room are still awake?
• If the father were to come how many people would be there in the room altogether?
• How many paires of slippers are there? (I had to explain paires to her and she understood well and in fact went to the shoe rack and wore her pair of slipper and came to me)

So that's the end of the lesson.

Still no writing in this reception year masha Allaah except for drawing lines and circles. Lot of concepts are taught through talking and play masha Allaah. I am so glad that I came across this thanks to sisters who share their home school journey. I got to know this through sis Umm Raiyyan at Ummi Home Schools Me.

When we are travelling I ask her few questions like 3 rabbits were playing, 1 rabbit ran away how many are remaining? Then she tells me 2. Now she asks me the questions and I have to answer smile. I have tested her with few other numbers too and she answers correctly and that assures me she has understood the concept.

Maths is something I was always scared of from my school days and was wondering how I would teach Maimoonah, but masha Allaah MEP seems to be the right teacher for me too!

I will be more than happy to hear any disadvantages, pros and cons or any other naseehah on this program Insha Allaah. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Summary - Week 3 - Who Created You?

Summary for Week - 3

Who Created You?

Sis Umm An Nu'man masha Allaah with her busy schedule is putting out mini work books every week for this curriculum and may Allaah bless her and give her the best in both worlds for taking the time for this, Aameen. You can download these books from her blog A Muslim Child is Born Insha Allaah.

We started with this mini work book, she could read many things in it Masha Allaah. She coloured the pictures throughout the week and also did the activities and completed masha Allaah!

She enjoyed this cutting and pasting activity and this time I only cut the pieces and gave her to paste the right words at the right spot all on her own and she did well masha Allaah.

I explained to her the purpose of the creation and she has memorized the Aayah in Arabic "Wa maa khalatul jinna wal insa illaa li ya'budoon". Also told her that it is very easy for Allaah to create anything He just has to say "Be" and it is.

We read the Usooluth thalaathah and the Aqeedah book and I can see she has memorized some aayahs mentioned in them as proofs masha Allaah.

We started reading about Prophet Aadam alaihissalaam as we are hoping to start our study of Prophets next week Insha Allaah. Along with My First Quraan stories book we read this book from Daarul Kitaab. Insha Allaah hope to do more activities next week.

Then we did this sorting activity again done by our dear sister Umm An Nu'man. You can download it here Insha Allaah! She really enjoyed this activity.

We did this throughout the week and she really got the hang to differentiate people, places and things, masha Allaah.

Then we cut pictures from magazines and pasted pictures on her Environmental Studies book. What did Allaah Create and What did man make? Masha Allaah after the activity she understood the concept.

Asmaaul Husna

We did few more Names and Attributes of Allaah. "Al Khaaliq, Al Khallaaq, Al Mussawwir, Al Baari". Explained the names and Attributes and pasted pictures to illustrate. She was thrilled with the Name Al Khallaaq - The Creator who creates again and again. She was surprised, also I think she likes the tone of repetition accompanied by power "Again and Again". : )

While doing Al Mussawwir and Al Baari we went through the birth of the baby in her encyclopedia and explained to her no one else could do this except Allaah, Al Mussawwir and Al Baari.

Qur'aan Memorization

Masha Allaah, We finished Soorah Nasr. She worked on Soorah Quraish and she finished that and we started Soorah Feel. I read the Tafseer to her and explain the incidents now as she wanted to know what Allaah is saying. So For each Soorah we talk about its time and circumstance of revelation.

Reading

We have been reading "Our Creator" Learn about series book and she could read most of it on her own masha Allaah.

Meanwhile she has read to me the Mini Work book "Allaah Created me" throughout the week masha Allaah.

We aslo did a small game. I wrote some sentences on our theme "Who Created me" on the strips that remained while cutting and folded them and put on the table. Asked her to close her eyes and take one piece of paper and open it and read. She loved the idea. After she read then I asked her to tell me to do it. She was thrilled that she could tell me what to do. So we played this and made a bit of a difference in reading.

She has been wanting me to read at least 10 books a day this week and I have actually been so tired reading to her. Most of the books have many pages and she insists that I read every bit of it. Some days it has really been tiring for me and I have just put a halt and she has been crying! Subhanallaah! Also she has been reading the books on her own without my supervision on and off when she gets into a mood! So I guess masha Allaah she is developing a great likeness towards reading and I really miss a library. Want to get her more books Insha Allaah when I find a way!

Writing

We practiced letters M, T, t and letter raw in Arabic

Also made the book of L this week and she wrote the letter L without tracing.

Montessori Activities

Closing and Opening Bottles

She really enjoyed this and she was using these bottles and cooking the whole day.

I asked her to arrange the bottles according to their sizes. And taught her the diffrence between glass and plastic.

Cutting

She cuts and cuts and few days ago she cut her fingers and it bled twice. So I really wanted to teach cutting.

Also I did not want her to aimlessly cut and cut. So I decided I better train her to cut something proper. So I drew big squares and made her cut along the lines. She did well masha Allaah and I want to do more practice on this Insha Allaah.

Making Words

We made words like "Create,Jinn, Make, did etc ..

MEP Maths

Masha Allaah progressing well. Insha Allaah will give you a bit more details on this book and the activities we do separately on another post soon.

Arabic

You must be wondering why I have not done enough Arabic. Main reason is I am waiting for some text books as I need books as guide for Arabic. I want to use Madeenah books as I have done masha Allaah years ago these books but am yet to see the kids version and I want to do it with Maimoonah but these books are not available over here. Insha Allaah soon I want to buy through the net at least. But meanwhile we read all of the Arabic first books throughout the week and she is familiar with all those words masha Allaah. These books I printed out some time back may be when she was around 1 and half years old and we have been reading since then. Till I get the books will do some activities from A Muslim Child is Born and Yemen Links Insha Allaah in the coming weeks.

That's the summary. I need a favour from sisters who read this and have experience please let me know if I am missing out anything for this age or if I am doing something inappropriate Insha Allaah. Any naseehah is welcome to achieve what is good Insha Allaah!

The Truth about Rainbows!

This was something I received from a dear sister! Subhanallaah! Wanted to share!

The truth about rainbows....yes rainbows. Alhamdulillaah for Islaam, the Religion of Truth! Imaam al Bukhaari's Book of Morals & Manners:

Ibn 'Abbaas (radhiyallaahu 'anhu) said: "The galaxy is one of the doors of the heavens and a rainbow is a sign of security from drowning after the tribe of Nooh (Noah 'alaihis salaam). - Hadeeth # 766 A similar version was related by Abu Nu'aym

Abu Taufayl radhiyallaah 'anhu reported that Ibn al Kawwa asked 'Alee radhiyallaah 'anhu about the galaxy and he said, "It is the buttonhole of the sky and through it passes pouring rain." - Hadeeth 767

Ibn 'Abbaas radhiyallaahu 'anhu said, "A rainbow is security of earth's inhabitants against drowning and the galaxy is the door to the sky through which it broke out." Hadeeth 768 A similar version was related by Abu Nu'aym

Summary - Week 2 - Where is Allaah?

Here is the summary Insha Allaah for week 2.

Where is Allaah?

We watched the powerpoint presentation 'Where is Allaah" from here. We used to watch this many times from the time she was a baby masha Allaah but now she could read many things on her own and understand masha Allaah. While watching I talked about how great Allaah is and that only he could be above the heavens. We read the part about Where is Allaah in the Aqeedah book of Brother Moosa Richardson and she answered the Review questions well. We also read Usooluth Thalaathah pertaining to the topic.

Then came the most interesting activity. The mini workbook done by our dear sister Umm An Nu'man. Jazzakillaah khayr dear sis for this wonderful book! You can download it here Insha Allaah.

She really enjoyed this worbook and she could read all the contents of the book on her own masha Allaah and follow instructions. This was a good exercise. We learnt about "under. behind, in front of, above, etc etc using this book too.

Qur'aan Memorization

She memorized soorah Masad this week and almost finished memorizing soorah Nasr Masha Allaah.

Asmaaul Husna

We did the Names 'Al A'laa and Al Alee', Detail post is here Insha Allaah!

Reading

She could read this on her own masha Allaah. I wrote it on a piece of paper and you can see her reading to her stuffed toys!

She read this book to me on her own which we had downloaded and made a book sometime back.

And I read this book to her from the Learn About series.

Writing

We practiced Letters 'W, C and noon'.

Arabic Reading

We started a bit of the Iqra Book.

I am not teaching this with a time table. I just introduced the fat ha and I read through out the week once. She has caught some. We did the first page.

Maths

We are proceeding with the MEP maths reception year. And now we are in the introduction of additions and subtractions. She is doing well so far masha Allaah

Environmental Studies

We did the water cycle, detail post could be found here

Montessori Activities

Pouring water

Arranging the shoe rack

She had disarranged the shoe rack with all her anger because I had gone for a wash. When I came back I saw this and took the opportunity and made her find the right pairs of the shoes and made her arrange the rack.

Using the sponge to clean the water

Making words and sentences

These strips were remaining from all my cutting and I made use of it. Wrote some words and gave her to make sentences.

Stored them in a zip lock bag so that we can use it frequently insha Allaah.

So Alhamdulillaah we have finished week 2.