We manage to do some lesson today. Everybody did quiet some lesson for their Maths, English and Islamic Studies. Three important subject that I get the kids to focus in whatever situation.
I had started some work with AS for Key Stage 2 Maths for 8-9 years old despite him just turn 7 last month. Because this stage will give him more challenging work rather then just boring easy work for him. We will continue to do key stage 2 work for maths as a revision and practise. He also started to do workbook for English for age 7-8 years old. Which is also a bit more challenging for him rather than simple basic English. He can stay on his own, read the instruction and follow the example. Topic such as noun, proper noun, phonemes can be self teach now. I interrupt now and again if he need help. So, thing progress pretty quick and advance with him.
Others also progress in their own way. PS got her last day of card making courses. Lots of benefit for her and her last course is making scrap book. She also started to research her self on project she needed to do in Islamic Studies, IT and Art and Design.
MS and S should be fine in their learning. Although we are mostly busy and on the go, but every time we on the learning time, they catch so quickly, unbelievable. Also every time we came back from somewhere, and quiet a long journey and tiring, they can just take their workbook and do a bit of this and that and this happen almost constantly everyday, alhamdulillah. So, not much worry actually even though I am pretty much busy bee..and its good as we learning the curriculum but kids also get interact in real life a lots. Not just boring formal learning, but mix up with everything in reality.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Monday, 22 March 2010
Anytime
I had bought a new workbook for AS which is complication of Key stage 1 curriculum for English and Maths. It's only £1.99 from the work out let. And last night at around 8pm, he took the book and asking me if he can do some work. I am no bother at all while I was resting in front of the internet. He than keep going on and manage to do at least 10 page. When it's time for the kids to go up to their bedroom around 9.30pm, he ask me if he can bring the book up stairs in his room and I think by today he manage to finish a quarter of the book already, Subhana Allah. Anytime!
I did find out that AS was a different kids than others. Although he can be a difficult one than others, as he has been a youngest in the family for more than 7 years now, but he is learning at anytime and anywhere. The other kids, the result of schooling had a big different way of life so to say. And the other things that separate him also because he did went to nursery since he is one years old until three and half years old which also make a big different because the other only started going to nursery or when they about three to three and half years old.
There are several reason that make him a different person, but to do more experiment, I might not have anymore after him to tell a different from others observation..:)
On the other story, kids had been getting involve in their learning happily ever after in between my busy hours. It was like working full time with my business at the moment but at the same time, did not leave my kids behind. Be with them all the time, drag them everywhere I need to and lots and lots of life learning, reality for sure. And that for sure is a learning it self. he learning that cannot be seen but happen. Weird but true.
Still sometimes I cannot get 'this' out of my head. That learning had to be sitting down, worksheet, workbook, making something or doing something that can be seen physically as a result. Although I used to be homeschool, my homeschool focusing on exam which make me not much different from being in school. So, still this awkward way of thinking playing. But, the result that I see, is actually better in actually had the learning physically in evident, weird. This is why unschooling got a place! But, to be unschooling full time, probably wasn't my 100% choice. Oh...!! Silly me actually. I am thinking of unschooling better which make me think out of the box and make kids think out of the box but I still trap in the box my self.
That's what the way of education been presented to us , make us. Learning only in proper way, learning only by having or taking exam and learning only happen if we can see the work been done by topic. I need to get his out of my mind, as soon as I can!
I did find out that AS was a different kids than others. Although he can be a difficult one than others, as he has been a youngest in the family for more than 7 years now, but he is learning at anytime and anywhere. The other kids, the result of schooling had a big different way of life so to say. And the other things that separate him also because he did went to nursery since he is one years old until three and half years old which also make a big different because the other only started going to nursery or when they about three to three and half years old.
There are several reason that make him a different person, but to do more experiment, I might not have anymore after him to tell a different from others observation..:)
On the other story, kids had been getting involve in their learning happily ever after in between my busy hours. It was like working full time with my business at the moment but at the same time, did not leave my kids behind. Be with them all the time, drag them everywhere I need to and lots and lots of life learning, reality for sure. And that for sure is a learning it self. he learning that cannot be seen but happen. Weird but true.
Still sometimes I cannot get 'this' out of my head. That learning had to be sitting down, worksheet, workbook, making something or doing something that can be seen physically as a result. Although I used to be homeschool, my homeschool focusing on exam which make me not much different from being in school. So, still this awkward way of thinking playing. But, the result that I see, is actually better in actually had the learning physically in evident, weird. This is why unschooling got a place! But, to be unschooling full time, probably wasn't my 100% choice. Oh...!! Silly me actually. I am thinking of unschooling better which make me think out of the box and make kids think out of the box but I still trap in the box my self.
That's what the way of education been presented to us , make us. Learning only in proper way, learning only by having or taking exam and learning only happen if we can see the work been done by topic. I need to get his out of my mind, as soon as I can!
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Friday bit
We manage to get on with homeschool today. I think we come to the point that it's actually take pretty much short time to actually finish important subject daily. Make me think what is the kids actually doing in school from 9am to 3pm? And if in Malaysia from 7.4 to 1pm. I am trying to get a bit of hard work for them, but still they manage..May be I need to get more work and harder than I thought.
And on top of that, I manage to get couple of other things done. Despite of usually it will be mad Friday with me going in and out sending boys to hubby for Friday prayer nearby where he work.
So, alhamdulilah, all kids manage to do Maths, English, Science, Geography, Islamic studies and Quran reading. I am trying hard to be a bit mroe organise in the future to come, so more things be able to do. Kids also enjoy playing in the garden as we now got 12ft trampoline. Weather is also lovely.
So, homeschool is one of the easy routine so to say, only to keep track in this blog is a bit difficult!
I am now working on year 2 with AS and hopefully in couple of weeks he should be able to finish work for key stage 1. So we can dio revision, and other learning and can moved to a deeper topic in eac important subject and probably moved to year 3 work on some of the topic he might be able to do. Other smoving along nicely. Actually when the time come, the kids getting mroe matured, the learning had become more easy to understand. This is when I think, tryiong hard to teach them and push them than normal kids did or average kids did is more damaging in the future. Kids need to be develop in other part of social and emotional rather than reading and counting. Reading and counting will come anyway in the future when the right time reach them. Forcing them or putting learning in place too early is actually taken the most precious gold from the chilhood time. Let your kids grow and develop without too much pressure and stress. Because when the time come, they cannot think as they used for us to put everything on the table and open their mouth and feed them.
Let them explore the world around them as a toodler and a child. We can never get back our childhood or change the past and it will stay with us forever.
And on top of that, I manage to get couple of other things done. Despite of usually it will be mad Friday with me going in and out sending boys to hubby for Friday prayer nearby where he work.
So, alhamdulilah, all kids manage to do Maths, English, Science, Geography, Islamic studies and Quran reading. I am trying hard to be a bit mroe organise in the future to come, so more things be able to do. Kids also enjoy playing in the garden as we now got 12ft trampoline. Weather is also lovely.
So, homeschool is one of the easy routine so to say, only to keep track in this blog is a bit difficult!
I am now working on year 2 with AS and hopefully in couple of weeks he should be able to finish work for key stage 1. So we can dio revision, and other learning and can moved to a deeper topic in eac important subject and probably moved to year 3 work on some of the topic he might be able to do. Other smoving along nicely. Actually when the time come, the kids getting mroe matured, the learning had become more easy to understand. This is when I think, tryiong hard to teach them and push them than normal kids did or average kids did is more damaging in the future. Kids need to be develop in other part of social and emotional rather than reading and counting. Reading and counting will come anyway in the future when the right time reach them. Forcing them or putting learning in place too early is actually taken the most precious gold from the chilhood time. Let your kids grow and develop without too much pressure and stress. Because when the time come, they cannot think as they used for us to put everything on the table and open their mouth and feed them.
Let them explore the world around them as a toodler and a child. We can never get back our childhood or change the past and it will stay with us forever.
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Comparison
AS took three of camera we had, two digital camera of mine and one old camera that used Kodak which MS bought form car boot sale for 50p. It was Olympus though. He put all this three on the table and try to do comparison on his own by presentation. I see the opportunity for him to make a little project. I told him to get a piece of paper, divided into three and write down what he think about all this three in writing.
He than did that and write down his opinion and view about the three product and also stated which one he like the most and why.
I found out learning just happen every time, anywhere. It doesn't mean that learning mean sitting down, with workbook, worksheet or sort of formal and proper tool. May be I am still having this sort of type of education in my mind in a way. Although I know that I learn a lots from the surrounding and from no formal education and no teacher at all at some point of my time where I should be learning. There are at some point I see that formal education damage our kids brain. But, of course it's important in away which needed as well to teach them discipline and obey. This is what make China success and now ahead from most western country. It wasn't just because they had now moved forward in term of education and relationship with outside the country it self, but still stick into their discipline and obeyness which the key of success.
Brought up in western seems too much of human right and freedom which in some way had damage a person. Too much question ask also can be seen damage the credibility of a muslim. I can just go on and on..
As I ma back on the track on my business, I had been so busy and homeschool is like pinching here and there. Sometimes, I do feel that kids might be far behind or not learning at all, but is it?
Quran memorization had improved a lots. AS had 'accidentally' memorize tahiyat as well for prayer. How, just by listening other recite quietly while praying especially Hubby and MS.
Mindsprinting now needed to pay, which make me rather sad, but as they do love them, so had to give it a go of course. Still haven't got time to get MS for conquer maths but as we on fraction and decimal topic, I just print off free worksheet for him to get on with it. So, not a big deal.
Others had been on workbook on Maths and English. PS had been enjoying her card making class and had been learning a lots from it! She learn a new technique every time.
Weather getting lovely, so we had been in the garden frequently. I had bought a big trampoline which is as high as my chest! Friend of us had bought it from Woolworth when it's closing down before. They had used it once but not happy as their kids had been jumping dangerously. So, I bought it from them for £40 which is a good bargain, alhamdulillah. Looks like our garden will become a playground!
I am pushing PS hard to finish Key Stage Three Maths with conquer maths. It wasn't a big deal but dealing with teenager is not easy so to say. She had been having part of my genes and part of hubby genes. Unfortunately I think it was my good genes and some hubby bad genes. Well, he do have hubby good genes, but the bad one seems weight more. She love criticise on everything with her sibling, and she do have the attitude of selfish! Hah...drive me crazy because that's not how I been brought up! So, to teach the value of the good that she need and take off the bad that she don't' need wasn't easy. This is just the time to do that and it's like wrestling game!
However, I reckon it wasn't easy to brought them up in such a way that in western country with western value and at the same time parent stuck with the way of thinking and their own parenting skill they had and our up bringing in different country before. It was like stuck in the middle of nowhere. I cannot say that my kids are not western as they had been brought up, even two of them born here and PS and MS was only 3 and 2 when they come here, they only know and notice the way of living in here, UK. While hubby coming from the village background in Malaysia and I am from city in Malaysian, from different state which make us far distance than each other point of view. So, I am really trying to weight up all of it, what good of hubby upbringing, what good of mine upbringing and what good of western way of upbringing and compile it all together...Oh dear..wasn't easy. But I am trying hard, very hard.
Wasn't got much time to go with the detail. Time is really not allowed me to at the moment. But, our homeschool is going on. As weather getting nice, I am thinking of setting up some lesson plan for hubby for design and technology soon, probably starting May.
He than did that and write down his opinion and view about the three product and also stated which one he like the most and why.
I found out learning just happen every time, anywhere. It doesn't mean that learning mean sitting down, with workbook, worksheet or sort of formal and proper tool. May be I am still having this sort of type of education in my mind in a way. Although I know that I learn a lots from the surrounding and from no formal education and no teacher at all at some point of my time where I should be learning. There are at some point I see that formal education damage our kids brain. But, of course it's important in away which needed as well to teach them discipline and obey. This is what make China success and now ahead from most western country. It wasn't just because they had now moved forward in term of education and relationship with outside the country it self, but still stick into their discipline and obeyness which the key of success.
Brought up in western seems too much of human right and freedom which in some way had damage a person. Too much question ask also can be seen damage the credibility of a muslim. I can just go on and on..
As I ma back on the track on my business, I had been so busy and homeschool is like pinching here and there. Sometimes, I do feel that kids might be far behind or not learning at all, but is it?
Quran memorization had improved a lots. AS had 'accidentally' memorize tahiyat as well for prayer. How, just by listening other recite quietly while praying especially Hubby and MS.
Mindsprinting now needed to pay, which make me rather sad, but as they do love them, so had to give it a go of course. Still haven't got time to get MS for conquer maths but as we on fraction and decimal topic, I just print off free worksheet for him to get on with it. So, not a big deal.
Others had been on workbook on Maths and English. PS had been enjoying her card making class and had been learning a lots from it! She learn a new technique every time.
Weather getting lovely, so we had been in the garden frequently. I had bought a big trampoline which is as high as my chest! Friend of us had bought it from Woolworth when it's closing down before. They had used it once but not happy as their kids had been jumping dangerously. So, I bought it from them for £40 which is a good bargain, alhamdulillah. Looks like our garden will become a playground!
I am pushing PS hard to finish Key Stage Three Maths with conquer maths. It wasn't a big deal but dealing with teenager is not easy so to say. She had been having part of my genes and part of hubby genes. Unfortunately I think it was my good genes and some hubby bad genes. Well, he do have hubby good genes, but the bad one seems weight more. She love criticise on everything with her sibling, and she do have the attitude of selfish! Hah...drive me crazy because that's not how I been brought up! So, to teach the value of the good that she need and take off the bad that she don't' need wasn't easy. This is just the time to do that and it's like wrestling game!
However, I reckon it wasn't easy to brought them up in such a way that in western country with western value and at the same time parent stuck with the way of thinking and their own parenting skill they had and our up bringing in different country before. It was like stuck in the middle of nowhere. I cannot say that my kids are not western as they had been brought up, even two of them born here and PS and MS was only 3 and 2 when they come here, they only know and notice the way of living in here, UK. While hubby coming from the village background in Malaysia and I am from city in Malaysian, from different state which make us far distance than each other point of view. So, I am really trying to weight up all of it, what good of hubby upbringing, what good of mine upbringing and what good of western way of upbringing and compile it all together...Oh dear..wasn't easy. But I am trying hard, very hard.
Wasn't got much time to go with the detail. Time is really not allowed me to at the moment. But, our homeschool is going on. As weather getting nice, I am thinking of setting up some lesson plan for hubby for design and technology soon, probably starting May.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Our life
Time flies. Like always, busy with me is very synonym.
But, homeschool is actually tagging along with my business and working and progress even in little edition, medium edition or bigger edition. It's all depends. When I was busy, than documentary will be one of the learning session. As for this, not just the kids is learning, but I am as well.
We getting on with our workbook whenever we got time. There are couple of learning had progress. I had to stop mindsprinting or any other worksheet as our lap top had broken. My note book seems didn't get along with our old printer and I haven't bother to connect it after fail several time. The broken lap top might need a new battery and transformer, unfortunately.
We did lots of work which include:
MS: Maths on decimal and fraction workbook. He been progress with this quiet a lots and we will keep on this topic until he finish master in fraction and decimal.
English: we did go though several workbook we had. Grammar, punctuation and spelling, writing and comprehension.
Science: Finish workbook for key stage 2, even though he already in year 7, I will moved him to year 7 when I think we cover the whole topic needed in depth. (very fussy I am, because for me it's not worth learning without understanding the concept and can relate the topic with everyday life for science)
Islamic studies: variety of topic, Islamic history, ad duha, quran reading, surah memorization, aqeedah and fikh. He did brilliant azan now where he is now allowed to do azan for friday prayer where he, AS and hubby did their Friday prayer.
History and Geography: He did several of history topic from workbook. We went for a visit to Museum last week as well with lots of history of North East and mining as we live in used to be lots of mining.
AS:
Maths: On lots of revision of addition and substraction. Lots of practise make perfect alhamdulillah. Really moving and progress and addition and subtraction is easy peasy for him now with lots of big number and he can do pages after pages in just a short time.
English: We did lots of spelling, grammar and also start to learn in depth about writing; such as stress on punctuation as capital letter, question mark, exclamation mark and full stop. Start learning about how to write a story, about paragraph and will progress further Insya Allah.
Islamic Studies: Going through couple of topic in 'We Are Muslims' book. Learn formally about azan and before we did the formal learn in the book, he can do azan properly already. Only he need to open his mouth more to get it done nice and clear. Insya Allah, lots of practise will be done. He's already do the iqamaah brilliantly since more than a year ago. He now will make sure he got proper wudu' , with his jubah and kopiah before he pray. A change he made for himself without anybody actually telling him. He will prepare and be very particular with the time for praying, Masya Allah. Lots of lots of memorization done while I was busy, one surah after another in Juz 30. Cannot wait to reach 12 at year 7 to go to Darul Ulom.
Science, History, Geography: We did several of this now and again, but not much. It's happen now and again especially science.
Lot of play of course!!!!
S:
Maths: Also on fraction topic and also we do lots of words problems solving. We will stay on the topic for sometimes.
English: Did lots of variety from grammar, spelling and writing, Also some comprehension. Just needed to practise more in writing. Will start to do letter writing as well.
Islamic studies: Do lots of Islamic History about the Prophet in details. Lots of quran reading and look after her prayer constantly since she reach ten, alhamdulillah. No question about it. This practicing is somewhat important. And to see her moved into that with eagerness when the time come and she needed is lovely.
Science, History and Geography: We did variety of this and like others, watching documentary, visit to sunderland museum and some workbook and worksheet.
PS:
Math: Progressing in Conquer maths to finish off the revision for Key stage 3.
English: Lots of variety of exercise of grammar, words, writing and comprehension in depth and GCSE style.
Islamic studies: Lots of discussion. Finish ad duha and will start to do some formal and proper tajweed learning. But, her quran reading getting better in term of tajweed and pronunciation and also reading. Not progress much in term of quantity but progress in term of quality, alhamdulillah. One book she did about aqeedah cover al topic such as khurafaat, khilafiat, jtihad and the ending with one by one topic of the day of judgement such as imaan mahdi, Prophet Isa, Yajuj and Majuj and more and this topic had create big discussion between me with four kids. I read several article about this in central mosque. Hubby is in the same room and didn't actually join the discussion and mind his own business. Hubby usually is a reference for me if it's involving the matter of fikh and Islamic history. I think me and kids was stuck with this discussion for about 2 hours.
Overall, we had been having a mix of good outside and inside that I had to juggle in between my busy-ness. I do feel at some point that if we actually do something? As my kids is on the age of formal learning. But, if I look back, it's like wow...ok..we do cover a lots in our busy time.
Today 3rd of March, alhamdulillah, we manage to start early. House is in clean and tidy and as I had guest yesterday, I had lots of left over food, therefore it was quiet relax today and by 10am, AS already done his Islamic Studies, English and Maths. Unbelievable. MS and S also start early but they had more work and they stop at around 10.30am, and go outside to play as weather is lovely. Now we waiting for zohr and MS and PS is on their study session. S will continue a bit more later.
PS now attend card making class which is meant to be for over 19, but with my writing permission, she allowed to attend once a week for 5 weeks and it's only round the corner form where we live. They also went to Youth club and library club each one a week which make us all busy round the clock.
But, homeschool is actually tagging along with my business and working and progress even in little edition, medium edition or bigger edition. It's all depends. When I was busy, than documentary will be one of the learning session. As for this, not just the kids is learning, but I am as well.
We getting on with our workbook whenever we got time. There are couple of learning had progress. I had to stop mindsprinting or any other worksheet as our lap top had broken. My note book seems didn't get along with our old printer and I haven't bother to connect it after fail several time. The broken lap top might need a new battery and transformer, unfortunately.
We did lots of work which include:
MS: Maths on decimal and fraction workbook. He been progress with this quiet a lots and we will keep on this topic until he finish master in fraction and decimal.
English: we did go though several workbook we had. Grammar, punctuation and spelling, writing and comprehension.
Science: Finish workbook for key stage 2, even though he already in year 7, I will moved him to year 7 when I think we cover the whole topic needed in depth. (very fussy I am, because for me it's not worth learning without understanding the concept and can relate the topic with everyday life for science)
Islamic studies: variety of topic, Islamic history, ad duha, quran reading, surah memorization, aqeedah and fikh. He did brilliant azan now where he is now allowed to do azan for friday prayer where he, AS and hubby did their Friday prayer.
History and Geography: He did several of history topic from workbook. We went for a visit to Museum last week as well with lots of history of North East and mining as we live in used to be lots of mining.
AS:
Maths: On lots of revision of addition and substraction. Lots of practise make perfect alhamdulillah. Really moving and progress and addition and subtraction is easy peasy for him now with lots of big number and he can do pages after pages in just a short time.
English: We did lots of spelling, grammar and also start to learn in depth about writing; such as stress on punctuation as capital letter, question mark, exclamation mark and full stop. Start learning about how to write a story, about paragraph and will progress further Insya Allah.
Islamic Studies: Going through couple of topic in 'We Are Muslims' book. Learn formally about azan and before we did the formal learn in the book, he can do azan properly already. Only he need to open his mouth more to get it done nice and clear. Insya Allah, lots of practise will be done. He's already do the iqamaah brilliantly since more than a year ago. He now will make sure he got proper wudu' , with his jubah and kopiah before he pray. A change he made for himself without anybody actually telling him. He will prepare and be very particular with the time for praying, Masya Allah. Lots of lots of memorization done while I was busy, one surah after another in Juz 30. Cannot wait to reach 12 at year 7 to go to Darul Ulom.
Science, History, Geography: We did several of this now and again, but not much. It's happen now and again especially science.
Lot of play of course!!!!
S:
Maths: Also on fraction topic and also we do lots of words problems solving. We will stay on the topic for sometimes.
English: Did lots of variety from grammar, spelling and writing, Also some comprehension. Just needed to practise more in writing. Will start to do letter writing as well.
Islamic studies: Do lots of Islamic History about the Prophet in details. Lots of quran reading and look after her prayer constantly since she reach ten, alhamdulillah. No question about it. This practicing is somewhat important. And to see her moved into that with eagerness when the time come and she needed is lovely.
Science, History and Geography: We did variety of this and like others, watching documentary, visit to sunderland museum and some workbook and worksheet.
PS:
Math: Progressing in Conquer maths to finish off the revision for Key stage 3.
English: Lots of variety of exercise of grammar, words, writing and comprehension in depth and GCSE style.
Islamic studies: Lots of discussion. Finish ad duha and will start to do some formal and proper tajweed learning. But, her quran reading getting better in term of tajweed and pronunciation and also reading. Not progress much in term of quantity but progress in term of quality, alhamdulillah. One book she did about aqeedah cover al topic such as khurafaat, khilafiat, jtihad and the ending with one by one topic of the day of judgement such as imaan mahdi, Prophet Isa, Yajuj and Majuj and more and this topic had create big discussion between me with four kids. I read several article about this in central mosque. Hubby is in the same room and didn't actually join the discussion and mind his own business. Hubby usually is a reference for me if it's involving the matter of fikh and Islamic history. I think me and kids was stuck with this discussion for about 2 hours.
Overall, we had been having a mix of good outside and inside that I had to juggle in between my busy-ness. I do feel at some point that if we actually do something? As my kids is on the age of formal learning. But, if I look back, it's like wow...ok..we do cover a lots in our busy time.
Today 3rd of March, alhamdulillah, we manage to start early. House is in clean and tidy and as I had guest yesterday, I had lots of left over food, therefore it was quiet relax today and by 10am, AS already done his Islamic Studies, English and Maths. Unbelievable. MS and S also start early but they had more work and they stop at around 10.30am, and go outside to play as weather is lovely. Now we waiting for zohr and MS and PS is on their study session. S will continue a bit more later.
PS now attend card making class which is meant to be for over 19, but with my writing permission, she allowed to attend once a week for 5 weeks and it's only round the corner form where we live. They also went to Youth club and library club each one a week which make us all busy round the clock.
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