Science Experiment

On Thursday last week we been having some fun with science experiment. AS, MS and S were doing electrical circuit experiment while PS was playing with chemistry. It was a fun Thursday and we also manage to finish work for Maths for Friday as we going out and busy on Friday.

We had been off homeschool routine at the moment, as kids going to play with snow everyday and we also having difficulty with internet connection at the moment. I had to update this in the library with my net book.

We will have more guest by weekend and the rest of the week next week and our homeschool will resume until new year, Insya Allah.

Lesson 16th Dec 2009

AS:

Maths: Adding; to regroup ot not
English: vowel and word search
Islamic studies: A responsible muslim boy
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Multiplication
English: Writing and composition
Science: Circuit
Quran reading


MS:

Maths: Times and calender revisited
English: writing formal and informal letter
Science: Gravity and opposite forces and how we see things
Quran reading

PS:

Maths: Transformation
English: Media text
Geography: Settlement and housing
Islamic studies: History; North Africa
Quran reading

Lesson 15th November 2009

AS:

Maths: Adding with two regrouping. 2 set of worksheet done today. ( He getting quicker in adding with regrouping where in every question, one digit adding will have more than ten and had to regroup with the next digit. He learn the concept very quickly and today manage to do 2 set today in short time, alhamdulillah)
English: Learn about setting in writing. ( I found a good workbook from Morrison design for key stage one writing story. Inside they had made like a writing pad to learn how to write a story. He had learn about character before and how to describe. It's such a fun workbook and AS enjoying it so much and do not want to miss it every day. Just what I need in writing story)
Islamic studies: Still on Iqra workbook, elementary grade two 'we are muslim'. Today topic is about 'our duties to Allah' and 'we obey Prophet Muhammad' He learn about 'Iman mufassal' which he know already and he also learn that hadith is the saying of the Prophet and sunnah is the action of the Prophet s.a.w
Quran reading: Progressing slow and steady.
ICT: Play with ICT games from parents in touch website.


S:

Maths: Multiplying with mroe regrouping tens. More practice with mindsprinting worksheet.
English: Punctuation. Rewrite sentence and put and capital letters and full stop.
Science: Making circuit using plug and play. Also doing workbook with the same topic.
Islamic Studies: Ad Duha
Quran reading. Progressing steadily.

MS:

Maths: Time revisited. Today is about elapsed time. He's getting on pretty well, alhamdulillah. Attitude towards learning change now since he gain confident with maths. No more miserable face and even with other subject if they hard, he had a willingness to work hard.
English: Describin things
Science: Shadow and light
Islamic studies: Ad duha.
Quran reading. Progressing very nicely, alhamdulillah.


PS:

Maths: Transformation 1
English: Analyse poetry 2.
ICT: using online Allison course
Islamic studies: Haid chart
Quran reading. Progressing.


Alhamdulillah another happy homeschool day. Last night, around 10pm, kids was all over MS room and play with plug and play circuit. They making circuit for light bulb, alarm, using switch, using magnet and etc. We had lots of resource and I will use the one that not involved outdoor and mess at the moment. I'm still not finish doing planning yet for January and hopefully it won't be hard to do that, Insya Allah.

Lesson 10 th & 14 Dec 2009

10th Dec 2009:

We only do maths:

PS: Shapes revisited
MS: Division revisited
S: Multiplication
AS: Adding with regrouping hundreds

14th Dec 2009

PS:

Maths: Shapes, line and symetry revisited
English: Analysing poetry
Science: Atoms and elements
Islamic Studies: Kalimah (a word in arabic) ; Tanween
Quran reading

MS:

Maths: Time revisited
English: Plan a story
History: Guy Fawkes and Gun powder plot ( from parents in touch and primary resource, we also watch google video)
Islamic studies: Ad duha: Practice writing
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Multiplication
English: writing and composition
Science: using air
History: Guy fawkes and gun powder plot
islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

AS:

Maths: adding with regrouping hundreds
English: Spelling
History: Guy Fawkes and Gun powder plot
Islamic studies: Our duties to Allah
Quran reading

We had started the day late again today, nothing usual at the moment as the lateness. we coming back from a dear sister house last night around 10.30pm. Alhamdulillah everything going fine with our homeschool routine although i'm trying to start the routine early as this week is the last full week for our homeschool. By the end of next week we will have guest until the end of the month. so, our homeschool will resume until 5th of January 2010.

PS and MS now on revisited topic on Maths. I love this mindsprinting as before it teach a new topic that related to another topic they will revisited the topic they had learn and will also deeply learning into the particular topic. For example, MS got 6 pages of mindsprinting for his 'time revisited' but deeply into the topic with harder problem solving involving time.

Alhamdulillah, PS and MS slowly starting to get back on track. Nice and easy as they had been so much behind. Herrmmm...what school had done to them? Unfortunately, as they had been in school before, I had to go back with them on the lesson that they should had learn more. S and AS not been too much damage with school system as S still just into key stage 2 when we start homeschool. AS alhamdulillah only been in nursery. So, I'm trying to catch up more with this two before it's too late.

It must been nice for others who had been homeschool since their kids were small and never send them to school. Homeschool can always been in advance. But, I don't think I will ever be too advance with my kids in their lesson except the big one as we had to cover lots of other lesson as well like islamic studies. Apart from that I'm also need the advance to cover up uncertainty, So, the kids won't be advance at the end, but as long as I am happy with what kids had been learning and they also happy, I think I should be alright.

Lesson 10th December 2009

AS:

Maths: Adding with regrouping hundred
English: Writing and handwriting
Islamic studies: The belift of the muslim (at the moment using book "We are muslim" from Iqra foundation elementary grade 2, we finish grade one early this year)
Quran reading

S:

Math: Multiplication with regrouping
English: Writing and composition
Science: Leaves and plantv
Islamic studies: Revise on the book she start learning, 'our faith and worship' volume 2.
Quran reading

MS:

Math: Prime factors and unit test.
English: Paragraph
Science: Gas, melting and freezing substance
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

PS:

Maths: Unit test
English: Novel and short stories
Geography: Unit test and mapping
Islamic Studies: Ad Duha
Quran reading

PS art class start today: lesson today; About our self and future.

Lesson 9th Dec 2009

AS:

Maths: Adding with regrouping tens.
English and Islamic Studies: Work book level 3 from emaan series
History: Seaside games from Parents in touch
ICT: Computer part
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Unit test; Big multiplying no regrouping
English: Composition and writing
ICT: Saving, printing and tool bar
Islamic studies: Fasting and obligation
Quran reading

MS:

Maths: prime factors 3
English: Sentences with and and but
ICT: Saving, printing and tool bar
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

PS:

Maths: Algebra; properties of numbers 3 and closure properties
English: writing formal letter
History: Test Unit
Islamic Studies: Alexandria


Summary:

Today we make a plan to go for a walk to the seaside. I was thinking to get up early and sort out worksheet for kids before we go. Unfortunately, I'm not quiet manage to do that, but still I'm already printed out some work last night. I make decision that we wait until asr time which is at 1.24pm to make our outing easy. While I'm making breakfast, kids as usual, take their worksheet and started to work on it while waiting for me, alhamdulillah.

After that while waiting for asr they manage to get some subject done and put it away. We were thinking to just go to the beach round the corner, but I make decision to go a bit further in Rocky about 15 minutes away. They had a big Morrison just off the beach and we get some of food to eat there, junk food really such as crips and juice. Of course when we arrived there and do a quick shopping, it was nearly 3pm. Kids rushed to the beach, playing with sand and water using bucket and spade they brought from home. We off back home just before magrib and after magrib,we had some meal, read quran, taaklim as usual and kids continue with subject they need to finish off.

Alhamdulillah, with the outing, we still manage to get all done. Well, this is the advantage while hubby not around, plus I had stress free mine thinking we can finish our homeschool anytime we need to. This is hardly gonna happen when hubby back. Art and craft and outing is always stress me out as this things taking so much time yet gain a little. But, this is the need sometimes, not all the time for us anyway. Why? We do outing a lots. Especially if hubby here, and we not having guest around, we usually go outing during weekend. Also kids do art and craft most of the time, everyday!! Anything and everything. Painting, colouring, making things, cutting, gluing and all sort. Art and craft is my kids life which is why I don't really have to integrate art and craft in our learning. I can be sick of papers, colour, scissors, glue, paint stick in the sink and clothes and all type of boxes from tissue roll, cupboard boxes, cereals boxes and etc. Last night after we finish lesson, I was sitting in front of net book, browsing, AS busy looking at art and craft book( which we had plenty) and start asking about paper colour and etc. _I'm not paying attention at him at all although he was next to me until he presenting me with eid card with the front page he write " 9 Dzulhijjah" and in side is 3D kaabah! A bit of surprise as he did this all by himself follow the instruction. I bet that's just show the result of learning. Well, he make things like that all the time but if I'm about to make a lesson in art and craft and make a plan of what to do and how to do it, he won't be interested. Because I intended to see what others do in his age and it will be too boring for him, usually.

Anyway, Art and craft session will be with PS soon. I'm more than happy about it. Today also is the first lesson she teach all her three sibling with ICT. They actually more advance than the lesson they need to learn, but this is just to fulfill the need to record informally. For example, AS age should be learn to open and turn off computer, which he did ages a go. AS also can go to ebay and search for things!! Yeahh..shopping..He can google what he want to know and know how to used cap lock and etc. I think I will only interrupt later sometimes to teach them about go safe online. They know what they can go and what they can't They usually have others around when they on the internet. I can say that I can trust them to be on them without me around and that do happen, as I said when I busy or when hubby around and I'm taking time off from kids. I'm quiet happy to build this trust upon my kids and they seems to keep the trust and respect.

It was not easy when kids growing up. There are lots of things we need to keep and eye on , but we can't spy too much on them as this will not going to build up trust and respect from them to us. I can say that relation between me and my teenage daughter getting better then it has been before. It was time when it goes high and out of proportion but I find out that was me. Probably I was scared and confuse that she had now grown up and I had to start giving her some space around. But, still she had to be told off. And I don't want her to feel that She get told off like she was small but she will get that if she behave like small. She was in transition, it was not easy, she's not small nor big. So, to get the right balance was crucial!! It has to be try and error. Now I can see MS as well. I try as I can to handle it the right way. It was a crucial time for me as if I got it wrong, I will deeply regret it later. When hubby back, I will than send MS to started going 3 days in jamaat with hubby. This will take him a way from home, away from his other sibling, and he can have time of with hubby as father and son and also good learning experience. I can't wait for that to happen. So, hubby had to get involve more now as MS is getting big. I'm also want hubby to have a chat between father and son about boy and grown up world!! Brought up kids was not easy especially at this time of fitnah. And I don't go that we do the best and what going to happen later, not our fault. For me, what I'm doing now is for the future. It's not worth me teaching them to al islamic studies, knowing the whole quran and translation, can speak arabic or memorise hundreds hadith if they go astray when they big. I've seen this and to say that we do the best, is not enough because I seen that the result is the parents actually not doing the best. Usually parents think that teaching them when hey small and as kids behave well when they small, than that's their best and job done. It's not for me. My job will not done until I die. Because one of the things that I will bring into the grave yard is my children that make doa for me and of course pious children. Begin pious when small, doesn't mean pious when big. It was very crucial. Every step for me is crucial. How we manage and handle kids these days is very crucial.

I don't mind my kids not being a hafiz, cannot speak arabic, not knowing the meaning of quran, but standing firm in believing in Allah and have a manner and attitude that can pull others into Islam by only showing the good behaviour. Fear and hope to Allah is what I want my kids to grow up with all the time. Than they should be fine without me. I don't want them to scared at me, but to respect me. And for me it was all not easy. I'm using all experience I have, observation upon others and also experience that people share with me. And I have hope from Allah that he had mercy on me and not testing me using my kids the test that I can't bear with and also I fear Allah that anything can happen at anytime as for that I can't say that I had teach them everything they need for deen than why are they turn around later.

I had found out and see how many parents now are arrogance and put them and thei kids in high place in what they had learn about deen. They had put themselves higher status and compete to each other to bring up kids to memorise quran, being an alim and alimah, can talk in arabic and etc. Of course all this lesson is good and of course the status is high as we know when someone can memorise the whole quran, but such arrogance and competition to make their kids one, had put people high in status and forget that the one that had a such high status is only Allah s.w.t. I seen that these also had put the kids behave arrogance as well which is quiet sad looking at someone who had such a knowledge but are far from humble. This is happening a lots now around and for me this is had turn wrong. And having a knowledge is different than practising the knowledge. And more sad when people used this knowledge of deen to gain duniya status and wealth. I believe that the more we teach to become hafiz, alim and imam and etc, the more we had to put stress about humbleness and arrogance. The more I reckon we have to get them to clean toilet bowl as this been said to put people down to earth.

The example is easy, I have seen lots of doctors I know, had medical problem either themselves or in the family. Usually a condition that they not be able to give treatment although they had full knowledge in medical. Hubby always says that this is because Allah wanted to put themselves down to earth otherwise they will have the arrogance in themselves.

When my kids used to go to school when they small and usually as a Malaysian we always a bit soft and kids do get bully when they small. My rules is do not hit anybody even though you been hit! Always back off although it's painful. Do not be anger to others although they try to get into our nerves, always walk away from the situation. As we are Muslim, we been teach not the lesson about our Prophet, but to bring it into practice. So, doesn't matter how we been push, we will always be patient.

Sometimes, I don't know if I did the right things for my kids. Who know what going to happen in the next ten years. But, for me it was always crucial to try and error and observe closely to see the result. It was always there. We as a parents can always recognise. Usually either we wanted to believe it or not. That's all. But, Insya Allah, always have hope and fear to Allah and always know that what we did is as bab, only Allah can change and bring the outcome we want. But, of course it is our responsibility that we will be ask later in the day of judgement. No turn back at that time anymore. And we have to take all responsibility we been given and accept the good or bad outcome in the day of judgement.

Back on routine!!

Alhamdulillah, we back on school routine. Kids just getting on in good order. As soon as we all come down stairs, they will grab their worksheet while I'm prepared breakfast. Everybody seems very motivated. Also they all just get on without hassle accept talking to each other in the middle of work and probably distracting each other, but nothing major except couple of shout from me. Anyway, they all do realise who concentrate will finish quick.

Today something that I notice, everybody finish work early and in order. Masya Allah. While at the same time, I'm getting on my housework. It was a big improvement from last week. They all getting on Maths without whinge. It seems now it's become one of the lesson they love. They all getting on with the lesson with pretty quick understanding. MS is always the one I'm worry about and always stress with Maths, now getting on stress free. What a release. S getting on her multiplication with big number pretty quick as well although at first stage of multiplication she find it hard. But, she getting used to it and learn very quickly as she used to with all other lesson. AS yesterday start with adding with regrouping ones which I'm quiet worry if he's going to find it hard. But, alhamdulillah, he understand pretty quick as well and today get on with two pages of it on his own. PS now comfortable with algebra. So, she back on mindsprinting today, yey! Still on algebra.

I'm now will start focusing more on English especially writing and spelling. Other subject is not much to be worry about. Geography and History, I'm using workbook from Letts, which is interesting revision with worksheet after every topic. It's been design depends on age group. I'm not worry much about this.

Islamic studies is revision and learning all the time. Alhamdulillah. Quran reading going well. Although it's long way to go for them. I found out that Iqra taking ages especially with me who only moved them one or two sentences. I'm very fussy with quran reading and make sure pronunciation and tajweed is correct before they can be moved. I can see improvement in their reading pretty much now by stressing the important to pronounce it clearly before I can moved them. For me , quran reading is better harder at first, but once they grab the way it should be reading , it will be easy.

As it's getting cold and we been study in the middle room, it was a bit of a chaos. I need to reorganise paper work and workbook as they don't want to keep going back to the library to pick up books needed! Looks like the library is become a library to store books!

PS will start teaching all other three kids ICT on Wednesday and Friday. She already made a lesson plan for them from ICT workbook. As she love teaching, this will give her chance to learn and practice at the same time. Of course she love that. She will also make her art class again for all her sibling as she used to starting next week. I had to say she will be more organise than me. She will motivate them with sticker and sweets and also make plan in advance of what she going to do.

Overall, I'm a happy bunny with what's going on with our homeschool. Alhamdulillah. A long break had actually worried me, but the loves of learning help everything. It's look like we never been on long holiday before and I wonder how is that can happen. I bet kids might can go forward very quickly with their lesson plan if we don't have long holiday and unschooling, but i reckon it's a need as this is how kids will develop to be in their own world without too much interruption from me. I wonder how kids can get on well and quick to settle down although we haven't really been on our formal homeschool routine since April! I think the answer is, this is what homeschooling do best. But, of course because my kids getting bigger , they do have to have formal homeschooling. But, if they only under 5/6, I think unschooling suit me better as I love to have stress free time with my kids. I don't like put hassle on them at the age they shouldn't and just need to play all around without our interruption. Because our worry sometimes not helping them to grow properly unfortunately and disturb their imagination and development.

I believe that when the right time comes, the approach and learning will be so easy until for me, I don't realise how formal homeschool that we just start has been so easy than I expected! When I know that I'm on track, I know that something right had happen. And to make things right before to get the good outcome is always worry me. Sometimes, when we do things and make decision especially a decision which against majority, it seems hard to note about the outcome. And every time I see the result, I know that at least I had stand on the right things. But, of course that on the way to do things, there are always try and error. Observe and learn from our own and others mistake is for me somewhat important. I don't just do things, sit back and let it just follow the flow. I do adjust hundred of time at first, middle, before and after. I'm always thinking that I might be right, I might be wrong. But, I'm always think about the outcome of A, B, C, D and always take the way that the outcome had the lowest risk. So, what I do now or after is not for today or tomorrow, but maybe for next year, next 5 years or 10 years or more. We been given brain to plan and schedule, which i think we should and leave the rest to Allah. But, with hope and fear, Insya Allah, Allah will help to put what we fear away. As we always put hope on him.

Lesson 7th and 8th Dec 2009

7th Dec 2009:

AS:

Maths: Adding regrouping ones
English: mindsprinting level 4-2
History: Read about homes from library books
Islamic studies: Greeting other muslim
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Times table ( with more bigger number now)
English: Punctuation
Science: Sounds
Islamic Studies: Fasting
Quran reading

MS:

Maths: Least common multiple
English: Explanation marks
History: Middle ages
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

PS:

Maths: Algebra
English: Sentences
Science: Food and life
Islamic studies: Saiyidina Uthman


8th Dec

AS:

Maths: More adding with regrouping ones
English: Nouns
Islamic Studies: Greeting others ( including non muslim)
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Big multiplying no regrouping
English: Punctuation
Science: Light
Islamic Studies: The months of Quran
Quran reading

MS:

Maths: Prime and Composite and Prime factors 2
English: Best, worst , least
History: Harold vs harold
Islamic Studies: Ad duha; standing futha

PS:

Maths: Algebra; Properties and number
English: Sentences 2
ICT: Letter typing and comparing keyboard
Islamic Studies: Saiyidina Uthman

Lesson 3rd & 4th Dec 2009

3rd Dec 2009

AS:

Maths: Adding no regrouping
English: Minsprinting level 4
History: House and building
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Times table from mindsprinting
English: Language of books
Science: Changing state
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

MS:

Maths: Common factors and multiple
English: Test paper 3
Science: Animal and human cycle
Islamic studies: Zakah
Quran reading

PS:

Maths: Algebra
English: Newpaper tabloid
Science: Acids
Islamic Studies: History; Saiyidina Uthman


4th Dec 2009

Maths only:

AS: adding with no regrouping
S : multiplication
MS: Least common multiple
PS: algebra.

Getting On

I did feel the pressure as we start back on our homeschool routine. I can also feel the satisfaction along the way. As eid approach and we were busy with visiting and guest, we had slow down on Monday and slowing picking up back again. We are on revision topic now and again as that's what I like with kids lesson; pull and push. Now and again lots of topic will be revise either it be maths, English, science and most of the subject really. For me it's not about moving forward too fast as that is what homeschooling can do to a child, but it's more about grab what we learn and understanding it in and out. It's not worth learning and that's it, finish and topic close.

Especially islamic studies. That's why in kids lesson, you will see my kids might been learning the same things now and again. What I did, is finish one workbook and might start with another workbook but with different kind and presentation but still on the same level but also do teach advance of deeper in the same topic. For example, AS learn about salaah time, so do PS but both of them at different level. But at the same time they will had a revision for the particular topic and advance the topic.

This is when I think I will have a problem in doing one year plan or schedule. I love to see how kids learning behaviour on each topic and plan from there. They might advance on one topic but not on the other. Even in similar topic but different level. For example, PS now is learning algebra. She probably I guess will stay in the same topic for around 6 months. But in algebra, she will learn from basic algebra up and also a variety of equation. She will needs hundreds of practice and worksheet. At the moment, I stop her from mindsprinting worksheet and just concentrate her on getting worksheet from different website to get her specialise with basic algebra before we moved along. Let just say that I'm very fussy. I don't want to cover one topic and tick it as done and moved on. No. for me this is learning. Otherwise my homeschool just be the same as school, to teach in order to tick the curriculum. As long as the kids learn what the curriculum says, than job done. And that just not the way I want. Otherwise I better send them off to school. So, I had to make sure that I stick to particular subject needed for them to progress further until I feel satisfied that they able to moved forward.

MS is the example. When we start homeschooling, I made him to stay on multiplication including all topic about it from one digit multiply one digit to 4 ,5,6 digit and so do revision. From short division to long division. It does take a big massive patient from me and him. There are a time where he feel give up and I feel give up. It was all about thinking about the reward. I never get him to memorise the multiplication even though that's what I did when I learn them. Only by going through hundreds of exercise, i can say from someone who hate maths and times table and stress out everytime on lesson because of Maths, into someone who take maths very easy, loved it to bits and enjoy moving forwards. And as for that hard work on basic topic as for multiplication and division, he can even now teach S on that topic and had more confident than ever. If I look back, it was shout and scream at some point and I nearly loose my temper. Also thinking that he will be so much behind on the curriculum and topic than what he suppose to know and learn than others on his age. but once he moves forwards, alhamdulillah it's a light at the end of the tunnel. Although he now in year 7, but still doing year 6 maths, but he's progressing pretty quick than who he is when I start to homeschool him. It was all rewarding , alhamdulillah.

So, this is what it is with my homeschool. For others like S and AS it was not bad as they went to school for a short time. S now is a bit stress out with times table. As there are plenty of worksheet for her from mindsprinting. So, I try to less her other work at the moment. AS will build up skill on addition and subtraction as mindsprinting will help step by step with the worksheet they give for each child. I just need to be patient to confront with them now and again with plenty of exercise.

Today AS also did KS1 test paper. It's got more than 10 pages, but alhamdulillah after a bit of encouragement he manage to finish it off. It's not many question as it's only had 2 question for each page. So, English, Maths and Science for me is all about more revision and a bit new topic. It's all about to strengthen their knowledge. So do Islamic studies and quran reading.

As I will have guess coming in three weeks time, the last week before hubby back home, I know that I had to try to schedule a plan for them to make my job easy. I just didn't realise now and again that I'm not allowed to stay put and it's always something for me to catch up, alhamdulilah..

Lesson 2th December 2009

PS:

Maths: Algebra
English: Comprehension
Science: Energy
Islamic Studies: Ad duha


MS:

Maths: Divisibility test ( mindsprinting)
English: 11+ test 2 from parents in touch
Science: revision teeth, organs and food
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading

S:

Maths: Multipliying 2 digits by 2; no regrouping (mindsprinting)
English: Adverb and adjective
History: Ancient Egyptian
Islamic Studies: Ad Duha

AS:

Maths: Addition with 2 digit by 3 digits ; no regrouping (mindsprinting)
English: KS1 test paper from parents in touch (comprehension)
Islamic studies: Ad duha
Quran reading
Quran reading

Lesson 1st December

AS:

Maths: Addition with three digits no regouping
English and citizenship: All about me worksheet from parents in touch
Quran reading


S:

Maths: Times table with 2 digit; no regrouping
English: Grammar worksheet from parents in touch
Islamic studies: Ad Duha
Geography: Learning about bridges
Handwriting
Quran reading


MS:

Maths: Factors (mindsprinting)
English: 11+ test from parents in touch
Geography: Land and weather; worksheet from parents in touch
Quran reading


PS:

Maths: Algebra
English: writing play for investing in children club
Geography: UK region and surrounding
Islamic studies: Times of Salah topic in dept
Haid and zikr
Istihadah

Lesson 30th December 2009

I guess we all too busy and tired as for eid. So, lesson on this day was just rather to fill in the time.

PS:

Maths: Algebra
English: workbook
Geography: Mapping
Islamic studies: Haid and salaah


MS:

Maths: Shape and lines (mindsprinting)
Science: Plants
Islamic Studies: Muslim fasting obligatory
Quran reading


S:

Maths: Times table (mindsprinting)
English: Workbook
Quran reading
Islamic studies: Fikh


AS:

Maths: Addition with two digit; no regrouping (mindsprinting)
English: Comprehension from workbook
Quran reading

Today lesson 26th Novenber 2009

PS lesson:

Maths: Percentage and fraction revision
English: Characteristic and sentences
Geography: workbook: continent and places around the world
Islamic studies: Islamic history: Saiyidina Uthman bin Affan


MS lesson:

Maths: Fraction and chart
English: Punctuation
Science: Drug and medicine
Islamic studies: The month of the quran
Quran reading

S lesson:

Maths: Division
English: Grammar
Islamic studies: Condition of salaah and azan ( another fikh book finish today)
Science: magnet
Quran reading

AS lesson;

Maths: More addition on work book. (part of revision. he already on two number addition in mindspriting)
Science: Healthy eating and Plants
Quran reading.
He was fasting today as yawmul Arafah. Really wanted to get up for suhur with me. Went to sleep after 2 subject and I let him to finish off.

Alhamdulillah..

All lesson is from workbook. We just settle our self to get back in to homeschool routine. After nearly 2 years now we been homeschooling, kids had just get on with their lesson pretty quick and move on from one pages to another very quick. At the moment we are finishing off lots workbook we have and will start on mindsprinting soon, Insya allah after eid.


eid mubarak to everybody..

25th November 2009

AS lesson;

English: workbook; comprehension test
Maths: workbook; revision about numbers, number square, number lines.
Science: Sats workbook; Body part and balance diet
Islamic studies: tauheed
quran reading


S lesson:

English; workbook; Noun, adjective, verbs and writing essay.
Maths: division
Science: Carnival and herbivore
Islamic studies: Ghusul and verbally revision for 1 and 2 topic about arabic term for fikh and cumpulsory act of wudu.
quran reading


MS lesson;

Maths: Workbook revision
English: comparison
Science: Revision from year 6; food, excersice and part of flower
Islamic studies: Practice of the fast
quran reading


PS lesson:

Math: revision yesr 8 workbook; decimal, fraction, numbers.
English; Year 9 workbook: descriptive writing
Geography: Facts about UK geography
Islamic studies: Fikh
Quran reading

Taalim today about fazail/benefit of salat. Also we talk about illness and cure from Allah. We also talk about 9th of Dzul Hijjah.

Back to school

At last...after long battle, we are now officially back to proper homeschool. After a long unschooling or elective homeschool, we are now back to the proper schedule, workbook, worksheet and plenty other scheduling task.

Alhamdulillah, we manage to pull together and with hubby absent, it was a good time to get my self back into what it needed in this winter time. I love unschooling in some way. At that time this is when AS gain a lots. I think small kids do better by unschooling. His reading improve significantly. So, to say, he can read news paper or any news in yahoo or internet fluently. No teaching actually in the process of it. No scheduling and planning towards what needed to get him to read. Just leave him and his love towards reading had just push himself to it. Library visit played an important part of it. He choose his own book. He had his own collection book that he love. He become matured in the way of thinking because of his reading. He think that reading make him gain more knowledge. And the material for islamic knowledge that he's reading is actually higher level for him. It's probably for age 11 above. But he insist.

He also had gain lots of interest in writing without any pressure at all from me. I never actually tell him to do the writing. But, as he can read well, he feel the fun of drawing and writing. He think that writing means he can express his idea and imagination. So, lots and lots of writing and drawing had happen during all this unschooling. And lots of paper had gone as well from my stock. Making his own story book is one of his favourite.

S had gain lots of other skills. Cooking is one of them. She had made cookies all on her own with a bit help on how to used the oven. She's totally got a hand for it. She also had a hand for sewing. She made lots or different shape of pillow and she was using her old shirt as she said that is recycling. now and again we did do some workbook during our unschooling. Especially our islamic workbook. Islamic education for me is not learning and learning topic after topic. Islamic learning for me is learn a bit and revise a lots. So, my kids might be behind in term of their islamic knowledge compare to lots of others. But , Insya Allah their firm believe in term of reality and practicality is what I'm after. For me, it's learn a bit but practice and keeping it on is what important.

PS might not like unschooling too much. She love schedule, she love working but the only things that she not have is if I'm around, she waiting for my command. She just know how if I'm not around. Nevertheless she working on her art a lots. She is my assistant now on my business. She had matured more in a way. She is someone who I can lay to in some of the things around the house. Who I can trust and just working and organising the way I want when I need someone. She do think they way I think as well. We had learn a lots about her puberty. We still need to sit and talk about mahram and relationship. Believe or not, I think MS is also now moved towards pre teenager. Ermmm..when hubby back, I need to talk with him about this. I'm not sure if he gonna have a talk with him as a dad and son. He can talk they way it should be and give a good advise with other teenager, but not sure when it's come to his own.

PS also did lots of workbook now and again. I'm planning to subscribe her Maths subject from Oxford homeschool. I had talk to the tutor and nearly make payment. But, decided to look through more and pull it out. Why? I wanted to take key stage 3 for maths. PS is someone who can work on her own if she had been set up proper and had a complete set of subject. But, that only had 4 topic believe it or not and it cost over £400 and the cost can run up to three years. After look through, I belie PS can do it in a year, but, with £400 for 4 topic is not worth the money. Because if I'm stuck with maths, hubby can always back me up. The only things is when I get hubby to teach her, it will ended up with tears. It's a Malaysian way of teaching. And if I'm interrupt, I will get told off as well. Hermmm..he is someone who had a diploma in teaching and learn all stuff about pedagogy and teaching theory. He good in explaining to others, but when it's come to his own family, it's different. Especially like our kids, their first language is English. And of course a big patient needed when you teach kids now a days. I wonder if he start teaching MS and PS when they first homeschool.

MS had cheer up more now. After the all horrible Maths session, he do need unschooling time. It's time to reflect what regime homeschool made to him. Giving him much more confident and grow more matured than before. How? Lack in basic maths also can means slow in the way of thinking. Because maths help to boost your brain and train your brain a lots. Between all my kids, MS is the one who slow catching up something. This had effect him big time. This is also had make him less confident and not so happy. This is what school had made him actually. For them he s moving on the phase that he can. He is someone who need one to one and taking a bit more time than others before he can moved forward. Alhamdulillah, her training in maths during the first year of homeschool had help him to boost his confident. Even we than moved to unschooling phase, what he learn, stay put. Hubby would love to know this because for him, only , military style of learning stay forever!!

So, that's where we are now at the moment. We now back on track. I'm now going to start making proper schedule, although I'm so bad in following proper schedule. But, I need one to keep me on track.

Writing and learning and learning..

I'm busy and busy with my business still. I know that it will never ended. But, I just waited until lots of things been clear up, then we can start our home school properly.

Anyway, it doesn't mean that we don't learn at all. Learning happen everytime, any time, as usual. AS now, is too much on writing story. Paper after paper, together with picture. I was amazed as in the middle oe me beign so busy, and I would love to sit and make him do writing and satrt writing story, which I try before long time ago but, he just not interested, suddenly he just get on with it, with me asking him to and telling him to.

His writing is also liek someone who been teach by a teacher. Her sister never teach him, as he's more close to his brother, and there's no way hos brother is going to teach him as he's not really into writing story. But, AS just wrote lots of story and it's the story that make sense.

I did take a picture but not yet upload into computer. And I will sometimes later.

We went to Dewsbury last weekend, and as usualy, I ended up buying lots of books. Today, I told them to started with some new book I bought. AS also had started on Aqeedah book on his own. I just gave the book which got a story about the oneness of Allah and worksheet after each lesson. The story is about Bilal r.a. AS was so interested in the story and as soon as her dad came back form work, he told him straight away about what he Bilal r.a. He ended up doing three lesson by himself. The oneness of Allah, we can't hide from Allah and Muslim believe that Allah is all seeing.

The book is from Jamiatul Ulamak South Africa and also had colouring section. I love the series of these book as it's been design for easy understanding. AS can even do it on his own.

MS and PS is laerning about aqeedah also with topic covering, the sifat of Allah, the glorious quran, the wahyu (revelation), the ilham(divine inspration) , mukjizaat (miracle) and Karaamaat. They already know about these, but this books explain all this term on it's own topic.

S did her book of fikh.

Sometimes it did come to my mind that with busy time, how and what did my kids learn. As someone who been in pretty much regime education, I was haunted by that now and again. But, seeing how kids learn best and without struggle in relax environment, make me feel that what important is they learn. Of course I will get back on my regime homeschool soon, as what this is not about learning. Regime homeschool is about learning that there are time we will be under pressure, under stress, we not always can follow our own desire when or how and what, but also had to follow others rules as long as it didn't interrupt into our believe and amal. So, regime homeschool is to teach kids about scheduling, dicipline and working under stress at some point.

So do as what I believe why I want my kids to take exam. It's because to put them under pressure and learn to work towards target. Because learning for me is not until GSCE, A level, or degree. Learning is about the whole life. They need to learn to be independent learner and know where to get information and learn without others asking them to. Learning had to be there all the time. As for that I believe that relaxing at some point is needed to let the kids know and learn that learning is not something that hard or difficult but fun and enjoying. My kids love learning as they think learning means, they get new information.

But, regime learning is important as well, as life is not always smooth...And sometimes it's not all you want, but you have to...

Getting on

We try to get on with our homeschool despite of we don't actually have proper space for it. Our library still stuff in with so many of my business stock and now I'm sorting it out one by one. Kids get on with their workbook. PS getting on with her Al huda assigment for taalimul quran course she did suring ramadhan and it's due early November.

Others just getting on with workbook mainly on Maths, English and Islamic studies. MS getting on workign independently more than before. He also can teach himself more than before and try to understand things before he ask. Although sometimes he still with his way which is leave the topic and jump to other if he stuck which make me telling him off couple of time! He's maturity seems growing and alhamdulillah seeing how PS and MS in pre teenage had become, make me feel so grateful. and do hope that this will continue to grow in positive way.

Something that I'm always scared and in dilemma before. I was tryign so hard to be really careful, pull and push nice and easy, and really playing games whish sometimes, I don't know if it will work or not. Or how the reaction and the decision going to be. But, having a pre teenager which growing to be matured, understanding more into their religion and also about surrounding area, their needs, their idea and their opinion but not contrast with the need of the religion is making me so happy at the moment.

Of course command had to be made sometimes or everytime, but they do understand their responsibility. They had emphty and trying to see the world in different mentality than what I used to see. Which is what I like. I want my kids to be better than me in a way of thinking, in handling their emotion and feeling especially. At the moment it seems work well. Of course, I had to start and change at first place and it was not easy.

Putting what is priority is also something that I want kids to learn. How to treat others, how to be independent, and be careful when dealing with things and had to follow what muamalat and muasyarat.

Hubby was very good in it and I had to learn a lot so to say. I'm not be shameful to change and learn to change in first place because if don't , kids will follow what I did. Not what they been told!!

My kids might only had basic knowledge in islamic studies. I don't put pressure on arabic, tafsit, hadith or even knowing the whole of islamic history. But, be firm with our faith and iman, look after our prayer doesn't matter what situation is what important. Doing dakwah from manner, ikram is somewhat important to me. I do not going into extreme too much, but put firm in what can destroy our yakin and iman.

I can let my kids to watch t.v on their own, to surf internet without me on their side, although I do watch their back, of course. But, I can say that although my kids are homeschool, not much interact with out side world and community, I know that when they go to college or university or in workign environment, they will not had a culture shock. They also will not hide things for me and will always share. Me and PS and MS can always be friends, not just mum and their pree teen kids. I'm so grateful that things did go as I wish at the moment.

I don't mind if behind in their curiculum, learning, exam and etc. But, I know that Insya Allah they should be able to grow up as a sensible teenager. Alhamdulillah....what a great things to see the effort all these year is showing up positively. The relationship between me and my pre teens kids is somewhat shake me up before. Looks like the start is turning into a great result and hope that this will continue..Seems like I feeling a bit sad now as I know soom they will go our on their own and venture into more bigger world. But, I do believe they will be able to make a sensible decision and know where they shouold go if they stuck..In these world now a days, looking at sensible teenager is so difficult. But, alhamdulillah, they working towards sensible and trusted one. They know what wrong and what's not right and which way they should had take if I'm not there.

I should...

I should had made record on this blog now and again but it's seems that I had too many things to record in the internet. Too many website and blog to write, record and look after. Of course with Ramadan, eid, guest, illness, in and out and daily routine of laundry, cooking and cleaning make me left with not time.

We had been on learning on and off. There are more of informal learning, and unschooling and than we jump back on our workbook and reading now and again. Reading is not something that I'm worry about. Kids had plenty of library book for reading almost every week. We read aloud everyday or our taalim session.

I can say that I just don't have theme around or set of what lesson kids need to do. At the moment we on mindsprinting and also plenty of workbook. I don't actually worried as workbook has been design for their level and curriculum they need to learn and also mindsprinting has been design to what they need to learn.

PS is now waiting to confirm with tutor about her maths subject for Key stage 3 which I subscribe from oxford homeschool. I know one family who used oxford homeschool and already finish degree in maths with open university. This family got three daughters who homeschool once they start secondary school. I'm now waiting to get english and science for her and stilll doing a bit research for that. Also looking for art and design and IT. She insist to do Malay language as well , so there plenty for me to get for her.

S and MS is on plenty of workbook now and again. I wanted to get rid of lots of workbook I had before I go back into ed helper and enchanted learning and our own exercise book. At the moment is to revise and had a bit of a final touch for UK curriculum. As we did lots from enchanted learning and ed helper during last term. MS seems relax now with study expecially maths. Unschooling after my regime homeschool during last winter and spring, end of spring and summer and early autumn is a big unschooling for us and I think had done a good job. All pressure had go down, but what we had learn still there! Now we slowly go back into routine, and believe me, my regime of homeschool will be back when winter approach...hemmm...we need that. I like winter as this is the time where we sit tight and on workbook and worksheet unstoppable nearly the whole day. Busy and tight on schedule. But, once flower come out by spring next year, we will start to run around, forget about workbook, worksheet..except PS who need to get on as she will had exam coming not far from her later.

AS is halfway on year 2 scholar books which contain maths, english, science and geography. We only start after eid and not even everyday. So, no worries at all for him except I want him to start doing more writing story and spelling.

I try to record now and again even is small. I know that I had to, just time constrain. I think I love the combination of unschooling and schooling very much. But, of course I couldn't resist my regime homeschool. For me, it's the balance. Kids can have light homeschool, consideration will be taken and can be taken, but there are time when not everything easy and we had to cope. That's what I try to bring into our homeschool. And that's what me and my kids since they where born. They can ask what they want, what they think and their opinion, but, they can't have it all. There are time, they can be consider but also there are time, they can't. Because life is not as easy as we see in theory. But, not as hard as we think it can be. So, I try to strike to balance and mix with what real life is in our learning system and routine. Alhamdulillah, they might forward in some area and backward in some area in term of curriculum and learning activity. But, in everyday challenge, Insya Allah we all for up for everything that Allah spare for us..

A very long holiday

A very looonggggggggg holiday we had...yes...

But, still we not leaving or on holiday all the time. I think, we have been on unschooling time because kids had learn a lots...by unschooling. By no paper, no worksheet and no workbook. They had gain so much knowledge, which is especially by watching documentary. I think, if they lost in the forest, Insya Allah they should be able to survive.

We had actually start doing some experiment, worksheet and workbook since the start of ramadhan. I don't push too much as all my kids is fasting plus, it's a long fasting day. AS which I don't expect him to keep his fasting for many days had manage to fast except one day, alhamdulillah. Even though he saying that he hungry, but we don't want to break his fast even I ask him too. He wake up for suhur and eat a lots..I can say then normal. He even say that he need to eat a lots so he don't feel hungry! Subhana Allah. Bless Him! :)

Kids, did some science experiment with lots of science kits we had, They did rocket blast. Body bits, and lots of other experiment and write down in their experiment book. We also try to finish all islamic studies book before we moved to the next level especially for AS and S. S had finish her Iqra workbook. MS go on the next level but not S yet. All of them had been keeping up with their taraweeh prayer except AS and S miss couple of days when they fall as sleep.

Overall, we been starting on our homeschool now and again. We also started on our mindsprinting. I get all kids to do their test again and start from there. Also we try to finish whatever workbook we have as for English, Maths and Science. I get workbook for MS from car boot which is History and Geography. And he been doing so well with both of that. Just I need him to revise on UK curriculum on that both subject. Even though we don't formally learn a lots about particular topic, but by watching documentaries had gain him so much knowledge and enable him to understand easily. I had to say when it's come to science, Geography and History, I had to listen to them and I will be teach by them than me teaching them. So, I had to surrender on that and love unschooling method on all that three subject. They had gain knowledge far better then me had to teach them.

We don't do much activity even for islamic studies, but we did lots of talking. PS as usual on his Taaklimul Quran course from Al Huda every day , Monday to Friday. As Ad Duha now sell e boos, looks like it's a big opportunity for me to get more resource form there which I love it. Especially for PS as she can work independently. She is very good in work independently and doing assignment. Also after eid, I will get her a distance learning for English, Maths, Science and ICT. For KS3. Alhamdulillah, my business had enable me to provide more for kids homeschool. Especially for PS as she can work independently better and also with distance learning.

I can just concentrate with others and soon MS will start as well. Then this will allowed me to concentrate on the other two and give more time for them. The big two, I can just observe, alhamdulillah.

So, we will get back on homeschool routine soon, after eid. We will be busy as we had guest already make a plan for having eid with us. Also we will invited couple of close people, Isya Allah. Alhamdulillah, syukur tu Allah enable us to go though this fasting month easily even it's longer day. Especially for kids.

Early summer holiday

We off our homeschool routine with worksheet and workbook. We off to explore out side world while the weather stay beautiful and warm. As it's British weather, we don't know how long will it stay nice. So, better enjoy it before we will be stuck inside back again!!! Expecially with ramadhan coming in just around 5/6 weeks time, I'm not bother if in theory kids didn't stay with books and pens. I think this is why we don't had burn out with our homeschool. We do keep track, alhamdulillah but there are time where we chilled out a lots as that's what homeschool are, flexibility and be able to work a lots in short time.

I don't actually had a target of what kids should finish by end of school year, because I don't really put in what school year is. Although in theory we had our school year between September to July as public school, but as we homeschool, I don't put stress what we should finish in that particular time. Kids I believe learn in their own pace. It's some subject they leanr so much in a year and there's some subject they had to just stick in small area to ensure they strenghten the knowledge. It's not about finishing the school term, as our learning will never ending. Looks like we might go back to our books and pens soons while others will start summer holiday, just to ensure our brain will not been left damp there.

We are really enjoying our summer and as now we are on the mission of big spring cleaning to ensure when we stuck in the house with homeschool routine during autum and through out winter, we can concentrate as we did last time, Insya Allah.

Experiment Part 1

On our experiement day sometime last week...

Electical circuit..build by MS

Using magnet to move things by S.

Rabbit outside in the garden. Pic by MS from our library room window.

Lemon clock by PS.

Revise with workbook, experiement and record.

AS with electirc circuit car.

All our learning tools alhamdulillah come from car boot sale and worth the money. The all un open with only price from £0.50 to £1.

Picture

Picture taken by himself!

PS said, " put this in your blog, ummi."

I was browsing my blog and suddenly just now, I see a flash next to me! AS is taking a picture of him self wearing BEN 10 costume I just bought from car boot sale. What surprise me and PS is he setting up the digital camera to take his picture automatically while he's on action and the camera sitting on the study table! We ask him who teach you to do it, and he just pointed to himself! Yeah! I'm going crazy here because I still need help to set up the camera to take automatic picture by itself. How come he just do it on his own? This boy always give a surprise and not just him, but all of them! Always..!

Life on the other side

We not just homeschool. But we also a family who run our live with full of uncertainty. Unlike some others who runt heir life with less interruption in day to day activities, we not one of them. We can homeschool for days and weeks, but can stop in between, or stop altogether for certain period without a notice. That's just our journey.

These day we all busy. I was sick for one whole day. Yes, One whole day in bed! And that's a big deal for me! But, I was very busy also with my own online business that I start couple of weeks ago. And not just me, but kids also gather together to learn how to run our own business. As my business is exporting goods to Malaysia, it's not a small things to arrange and as for the start, we all had been so busy with it.

Kids had done their homework as usual actually since last week. Only I didn't have a time to get on this blog and write on it. May be some will think, that our homeschool go doom! We might had been too much on it and had been down the drain. But, we actually was enjoying our day especially with these weather. Apart from doing our hunting for the goods we exporting, we busy with our garden, plants, walking on the beach, visitors as usual and not just day but nights visitor as well.

We also manage to do science experiment, which I due to put it up on here the picture. And on top of all that, we also been busy finding souvenirs for our relatives back in Malaysia as hubby will go back for ijtimak and he will fly tomorrow afternoon Insya Allah and will be there for three weeks. And as he will not be here, we had been around to Dewsbury, sight seeing, busy with assembly the swig which hopefully will be finish today by hubby and now, I'm stuck since yesterday on packing all the souvenirs. It's just too much! Plus I'm also will do my first shipment for exporting goods to Malaysia in a week time! And yet still I had so many good to hunt before that.

And on top on all that as I said, we do get back on our homeschool routine. It's not much as kids just get on with small work and more time with experiment. Hubby did ask once, as he seems all of us very done with homeschool when he back form work. I told him, we been relax with homework at the moment. Kids had learn a lots by the look on what they had done. Too much.. so to say and it's time to back off and relax. But, on the other hand, they on unschooling mission, which lots of learning day by day among themselves. One of amazing experience, alhamdulillah having kids who are very much independent learner and not depends on me for their learning. As this is part of the plan, for us to less on our homework containing workbook and worksheet, and concentrate on surviving skill, out door activities and enjoying more sunshine as it will not long lasting in this country.

On the quick summarize, kids is on their correct level on Maths as we used minds printing which records every work and topic they did, also we had cover lots in English from writing, reading, spelling, comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, poems and rhythm. Top up in that, they had library club they attend which they did lots of work, from art and craft, researching from internet, writing up and making poster, leaflet and also book club which they listening to read aloud from the librarian and discuss about the book and writing up the summarize and book review. Geography and History also been cover up well enough which PS and MS finish country by country in geography and History for third of Asian Continent. We will finish it off before end of July the rest of the country and start on the other continent after eid. Western History been cover by watching horrible history and I'm also had bought the whole set of horrible history along with the card which contain the smell from centuries ago. We also had finish what need to be cover up for islamic studies, but islamic studies for me never finish. I'm now waiting to have sometime to make a test question for them, alhamdulillah.

We will not going to be on regime homeschool until eid now. Which we also not in it since couple of weeks ago. Our homeschool now as planned is on less homeschool and more unschooling. And as we had so many plan ahead for summer holiday as probability to have more visitors ( warn: visitor which might stay with us for the whole weeks or more!), and also as ramadhan coming soon, we then will focus more on spiritual and prepare our time in spending more in ibadaat, Insya Allah.

So, although I might not updating this blog regularly with schedule and routine, it's because we had reach a different part of our homeschool and enjoying the time and weather at the moment. Won't it time to clear up whatever need to? Oh yes for me! And as I had big kids, of course they had to get involve in this.

Lastly, yesterday we went for a lunch at friends house and her daughter ask PS why her picture was on here? We might not know it if she don't told us! We can't wait for summer school holiday as plenty activity is up and running.

Unschooling

To say that we not doing school altogether because we didn't follow our homeschool routine or doing workbook or schedulr is pretty much understatement. My kids learn from unschooling method and always be an independent learner since from teh first start of their first day they born. I'm always provided all sort of learning resource needed and all sort of learning toys and book they need in any topic they love. They always had a freedom of choice since the first day they born. But, of course as a muslim which had a firm believe and need to learn OBEY, I had put a boundaries and limitation on what they can or cannot do. And of course this is including what they learn. And this is also one of the main reason I'm homeschool. So, I can observe what kids learn and what is in their head which for me is very important.

They could go and learn what they want, but of course as they couldn't figure out themselves yet what best or not as their frontal lobe is not properly develop until certain age. And I just given whatever they want, for me it give a wrong signal to kids as soon as their frontal lobe had fully develop. But, of course they had to given a chance. For example, I rarely intterupt with kids library books. They choose the book according to their interest and leanr LOTS from it! And this is how AS had been progress so fast in reading. If I'm about to choose the book for him, I bet he will still be at the same level as he should be for his age. But, because he choose it himself, he choose according to what topic he like and started to like to read the infomation from the book which he interest and this had progress his reading quicker then my way if I had to choose. If I was in the library when I choose the book, I get told off by him!

"It's too easy!", That's what he will said. Poor me couldn't catch up anymore with his reading!

My kids alhamdulillah had learn lots of things while unschooling. PS had master the lawn mowing skill! I'm very please with that. She also started her teaching in ICT for MS and S. She was asking me long time ago to let her teach them ICT. But, as we busy with our regime homeschool routine, I had to put it on hold. Now, ahe will go through study book for ICT key stage 2 and teach them. PS is far away in term of ICT. When she try to do GCSE for ICT, seems like she already know most of it. And yes, she learn it upon her own interest in her own time since she was small. I had to learn a lots from her. I plan to buy a domaina nd web hosting for her to conduct her own kids website. She started to try it out and manage to make her own game and put it in her site. So, that's what PS had learn during our unschooling days. She still had lots to learn 'how to', but for 13 years old girl without any teacher sitting there with her teaching her ICT, I don't expect beyond that. I believe she can always be agood web designer but will she be? She got so many to choose in what she like to be, but whatever she will be, I believe she will, Insya Allah manage to cope. And of course the best that I want from her is she always good in teaching and managing. Two things needed as a mother and housewife.

As we always hope in to car boot sale, alhamdulillah, my kids manage to own lots of things according to their interest. They be able to get all sort of learn resource and books according to what they want to learn. And all these will be learn on their own with informal discussion after discussion between all of us in the family. Kids will told me, hubby and their other siblings new things they learn from book and learning kits and and from there usually we discuss things informally and gain a knowledge from each other.

But of course, to let it be like that all the time is not going to be my choice. Either kids will work with other people or be their own boos, they had to learn discipline, not always can be what they want to be and always had to take other and listen to others as a consideration. It's easy to get kids into situation of doing things on their own interest and for me, if one intended to work and be their own boss, with only interest will not bring them anywhere. Because without hardworking attitude and work under pressure, having working as our own boss means our company will be easy to go down then the other way round. To learn how to cope is important, and to learn to not just work on interest but the priority and what important for me is a tools that I want my kids to learn.

MS and AS now working on their own video making a movie with their bionicle. PS had her own google video account but we keep it private at the moment. This is also learn upon their own interest and without any of my help. MS and As learn a from google video tutoring in making movie with toys and as our own camcorder is old, they used mobile phone at the moment to make video and upload into the site. So, I hope I be able to get one camcorder soon and probably try to get a cheap second hand as well for AS and MS to used it on their own time when they want. I'm always surprise with what AS can do with my mobile phone which had a lots of video taken and picture also when he build new things. And all this upon their own interest and without my help. Kids do learn better on what their interest on their own way and time. But, they also know there are time and subject that they had to learn although they might not like it. Because life not always as what we want. Life especially in deen is about how to press our nafs and desire. If we didn't learn this since small, it can become harder when they big.

Yesterday I went to see a sister in Dewsbury. She life in a place where lots of muslim and lots of practising parents. Parents whose working hard to give their kids better in deen since small, but things not always go to the plan. And of course it sad to see how parent struggle when the kids started to grow into teenager world. She had three grown up kid age 21, 20 and 15. She had hard time. She kind of person who really look after kids in term of deen. She still got another three age 13, 10 and 8. And looking at the reality of bringing up kids, of course totally different then what we read from other people opinion and ideas while their kids still not going through the stage yet. I remember my grandmother always said, if she hear someone who didn't have big kids talking about other people kids and how they should be teach although they kids still small. Because kids when they small, things are so easy to go smooth. But, when the time come... My grandmother used to say, " Don't talk before you come to the reality yourself yet. It's easy to talk, but as we have kids, what we say might go back to us and Allah will test us as we give our own ideas and opinion without thinking further and other sort of reason. As for that, I never talk about how to bring up kids when kids still small let alone giving my own opinion and advise although I been through a lots and see and observe other experience. It's totally different when it comes to the term 'our own kids'. This is when it hit home, when the time come...

For me, I do like my regime and follow my interest first and foremost. Because when kids start to grow up, of course they will start to have their own opinion, interest and ideas. We had to let our regime go and our interest balance with theirs. But, if we already give 50% away, when their reach the time they need their own interest and like their own ideas more, we need to give it away doesn't matter we like it or not. For me, because I hold and control everything 100%, when the time come , I realise my authority 10%, I still had 90%. And we still in control and also kids also appreciate what been given. But, if we already give away 50% since they small, when the time come for us to HAVE to give some away because of the need of the interest, it will be 60% away from our control and what I see this is how teenage now not just in UK, non muslim country, but also in other country with majority muslim.

We can't keep our kids with us. We had to give it away sometimes soon, we had to let them explore and even if we don't let them, they will get their own way. But, for me, I want them get their own way and follow their own interest at the right time and the right place. And that for me is hard. Although I'm happy with what it is now, as what I did and how kids are, still this is what happen from what I'll observe. Kids can change lots in their transition world from child to teenager and from teenager to adult. And this is crucial time and I had seen lots even from big name in Malaysia who had very knowledgeable in bringing up kids with all sort of theory but when it comes to their own kids, plenty had fail. As for me, I can talk about small kids now, but I'm always express a concern about teenage world because I just started to have kid who walking in that stage. I can fully talk and give my opinion when I been through it altogether but, at the moment, how to have kids age 13 behave this and that which how I teach when they small, I can. But beyond that and to expect that do this and that and they should be able to be their own successful boss when they big and work on their success in their own interest or carier, I don't know about that yet! I still try to figure out as experience always tell a different story then reality of life.

We don't know if we able to work on what we want, how we like or be our own boss. For me it's still long way to go to say anything about that as my kids still not go through it yet. And world is not just what we want. Sometimes we need something, but doesn't mean we will get it. For example now, plenty company, or people with self employs had lost their company or close their bussiness down, and had to work as cleaner or operator or even working on the till and had to work with others. While they used to work on their own time, place and interest. But things can change. And for me this is what I'm looking to put and learn and teach to my kids. Me and hubby alhamdulillah always be very flexible, can work on our own, with others, in a team or any other way. And, alhamdulillah we did survive lots of occasion and this is what I want my kids to be. And for me the key word is always discipline and putting pressure in one desire and not always give what my kids want. Because life is not like what we imagine! It can turn the other way round in just a second. I want my kids to prepare the hard bit and if they get what they want, then fine. But, if not, they still survive, Insya Allah.