Possibly I am. Busy with all sort of thing.
We had been on unschooling time for quiet sometimes when I busy, than in between kids will do their formal school work. It wasn't bad now I reckon. We did our quran readin everyday, Alhamdulillah. It was and still slow but progress. I guess I was and will be very fussy with quran reading. Alhamdulillah I've been bless with good proper quran teacher. Than at the age of 13, my mum arrange for a tajweed teacher come to teach me an dmy mum at home. I did learn quiet a lots of this teacher apart from what we learn in primary school. So, I am quiet fussy when it come to reading quran especially with pronounciation. Especially with kids who had English as their first language. But, Alhamdulillah it was progressing but very very slow and I don't mind. Important for them to grasp and master the pronunciation.
Thanks to ummrashid who send me link for Science. Sorry I haven't got a chance to reply. I will Insya Allah go through it, once financially permit. I am going to get the English course first for MS and S. Hopefully by end of this month. I am concentrate for them with three important subject which is English, Maths and Science. I am going to sit and decide weather MS and S will take biology, physic and chemistry as double science or they just going to take two from the three as PS did or just foundation science. I had to decide early than later as it give pressure on them if it's too late.
At the moment when ever we got time with formal homeschool, Maths will be the topic that they just get on straight away. MS is revision on Key stage 3 with workbooks. Which is very good. At one time he will do at least 3-5 pages. Sometimes up to 7 pages. This enable him to cover up the time when I was busy and needed his help around. S still on mindsprinting with maths, so do AS. S still with time topic. She find it a bit difficult with time problem but she get there. Worksheet also getting harder and a bit complicated and tricky, so she only manage to do one set at the time. Unlike AS who will usually do 2 -3 set at the time and today, as we had holidaying for quiet some time, I get him to do 10 set. He actually take around 10 minutes for one set of sheet or sometimes less. It's muliplication and division with one digit at the time. He's very quick with it, so make job easy, Alhamdulillah.
I had made some more research about dyslexic. I had talk to a friend, who is a doctor. She suggest me to bring MS to the doctor. But, I think I will contact the organisation and get MS to do assessment. He improve so much in reading. A lots and he doesn't sound struggle anymore. But, still he lack of concentration at some point, had short term memory problem, or even he cannot remember his childhood at some point. He need a constant nagging in term of concentration and focusing. Just like many dyslexic and it's just about time for me to get some help around. He has been improved than what I used to worried about him. Alhamdulillah. I am still worried about him in term of socialisation, not because his homeschool, but because of lack of understanding from people surrounding him. Which I now try to understand and look back I think it was quiet horrible of not understanding the situation.
PS was sooooooo busy of course. Her first paper is this Friday. Some of her school friends from First college which transfer to Interhigh all go back to year 10 actually and will be taking exam next year. What a waste of time and money Interhigh is, but there you go, it's an experience and cannot regret. It was a nice school in some way. IN term of homeschool, I like it. How they teach different than what in the curriculum. BUT, when it come to exam, teaching outside curriculum and teaching for knowledge is no good...A reminder for me as well as getting the kids to take exam is somewhat needed proper teaching rather than just pick and mix. We had to be in the system or in the curriculum to be able to at least reach the standard in the exam. Especially with GCSE. So, PS was behind before when she was with First college. But, as I put her on year 11 and plus I register her for Higher tier paper for Maths, she had to work harder and harder in short time. I know she might not get good result due to the time that she got to learn and finish the whole curriculum, BUT< she work very very hard...poor her..until she think her head going to explode..
For me, it has reach the target although she haven't sit on exam yet. She had constantly on revision. She understand now learning for exam is different than learning for knowledge or info. She understand now that some of what she learn, she might not going to used it in later life. She had fight the stress. She had gone through pressure and I could say, she manage to handle it in her own way and although she soung like giving up sometimes, she never did. She is a true fighter. And as for that, for me, this had meet the purpose of why I want my kids to take the exam. She on pretty much excellent independent learning with revision. She had matured though out. I am really glad. If she didn't get at A, I know she already achieve what needed to achieve and learn from exam.
I had to go now, may be some more post later..hopefully..
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Update
Not sure why it is hard for me to update on this blog. I do have time, but might not be proper time to proper update. May be I had to write a bit than try to write too much after long time.
I am busy and very very busy indeed, still kids are on homeschool formal and informal.
PS is stress and keep thinking she will fail. Same as when she going to have her SATs when she was in year 6. She is kind of person who will get sooo nervous in exam. Poor her, she said that when she open the paper, even the past paper, she forget everything. I told her, make doa to Allah, only Allah swt can help.
MS is on revision on his Maths. I had now see what I need to do with MS and S English. They only stay on their workbook and I do need help for someone to organise their work and check it properly. I don't have time to be honest. I will soon get them both on CatheringMooney tutoring. For science I was thinking to used Oxford homeschool curicculum for IGCSE science for them both. I think it's about time for them to have specific tutoring curriculum as GCSE books is not much in the market. Plus there are no past paper as well except from Edexcel Website which can only obtain by teacher through school package scheme. So, I decided that for that two subject, they need to get on proper curriculum instead of me picking this, here and there. As they are no has to start learning for exam. I think I had get some experience from PS. I did not understand much about exam here before. Especially for IGCSE as it didn't broad yet, the resource is not much as I wanted.
For Maths, I should be alright as Interhigh also used Conquer Maths. I'm not bad in Maths as well and hub is always there to help in difficult area. Science also is not bad actually as I got hub which willing to get involve more now to teach the kids. Just that I need proper curriculum for exam needs especially as I said IGCSE resource is not as much in term of workbook and study book. Not as much as I want. PS also whine about this. Poor her. She really work hard. If she didn't get a good result, I know it's not her fault. She had to study in short time and her time in First College is in some way a waste. She realise now why I keep asking her if she want to move, but she keep saying it's ok. The problem sometimes with PS, she know that the price with First College is lower than Interhigh. So she don't want a burden on us, the parents. Until I had to urge her that I am willing to do what I can, as long as she work hard on it. Plus her nervous nerve on exam, if she don't get a good result, I know she work hard and grasps the knowledge as exam cannot measure everything.
S had now moved on from multiplication to Calender and time topic in mindsprinting. AS had now on proper multiplication. He was excellent as usual. Four pages can be done easily in 15-20 minutes.
Actually the kids had their own on going project. MS had you tube account where he made review on his favourite games and toys. Also on his making gun and short rifle of HALO games from cardboard. I don't like to mention this as it's sound like violence. I don't like it at first. Especially the wrong way people take it in as we are homeschool and muslim. But, it's not as what in people mind. He just love the creativity and he start with making bionicle and now moved on to making all this from cardboard boxes. This had been going on since two years ago actually. he got set of friends in you tube and guess what, some of them, the good one are dyslexic and autism. This is how I found out that he possibly one of them. How he actually draw, is like professional. He can easily impress people with detail. It's just a nature talent all this sort of boys got, one of the strong sign can easily be seen. I will soon post his you tube channel. He also got his blog up recently.
S also got her own you tube channel. She crazy about hamster. She got her own blog about hamster near,y a year ago and something had gone wrong with it like the account was hack and she cannot access it. So she made another one. She than started her own you tube account with video about hamster. She had build her own virtual friends similar age as her. She recently ask me if she can do swap of hamster supplies.
AS also got his own blog with he write story mostly about alien and space. He had this on going for quiet sometimes now actually.
So all kids had their own on going project which actually keep them busy when they not on formal homeschool schedule of workbook and study book. Also with their pets as we got 5 fish, 4 hamster and a rabbit. We recently had made a proper Rabbit cage from wire mesh and timber. Possibly it's same price as if we buy the hutch with the play area. But, at least we all learn. It's me and the kids especially PS and MS that make it. With a little bit help from hub as well with his electric saw. MS also used manual saw to cut the timber. It was quiet a success although first time it wasn't as good as we used left over pine from PS broken bed. And it was too small. So I decided to get a proper garden timber for that. So they also busy looking after our Pets. We are planning to get chickens. Me and hub was planning to build our own chicken coup as kids actually now can become a handyman especially MS. He do get a skill for it.
So that's the story for now. There are plenty of unplanned and self independent project going on with kids. Alhamdulillah. I just got to organise a little bit on proper homeschool subject for exam purpose. Hub also get involve more now. Islamic studies at the moment is his field. I just need to get proper schedule for us to see where and what we should concentrate more.
Alhamdulillah for the homeschool.
I am busy and very very busy indeed, still kids are on homeschool formal and informal.
PS is stress and keep thinking she will fail. Same as when she going to have her SATs when she was in year 6. She is kind of person who will get sooo nervous in exam. Poor her, she said that when she open the paper, even the past paper, she forget everything. I told her, make doa to Allah, only Allah swt can help.
MS is on revision on his Maths. I had now see what I need to do with MS and S English. They only stay on their workbook and I do need help for someone to organise their work and check it properly. I don't have time to be honest. I will soon get them both on CatheringMooney tutoring. For science I was thinking to used Oxford homeschool curicculum for IGCSE science for them both. I think it's about time for them to have specific tutoring curriculum as GCSE books is not much in the market. Plus there are no past paper as well except from Edexcel Website which can only obtain by teacher through school package scheme. So, I decided that for that two subject, they need to get on proper curriculum instead of me picking this, here and there. As they are no has to start learning for exam. I think I had get some experience from PS. I did not understand much about exam here before. Especially for IGCSE as it didn't broad yet, the resource is not much as I wanted.
For Maths, I should be alright as Interhigh also used Conquer Maths. I'm not bad in Maths as well and hub is always there to help in difficult area. Science also is not bad actually as I got hub which willing to get involve more now to teach the kids. Just that I need proper curriculum for exam needs especially as I said IGCSE resource is not as much in term of workbook and study book. Not as much as I want. PS also whine about this. Poor her. She really work hard. If she didn't get a good result, I know it's not her fault. She had to study in short time and her time in First College is in some way a waste. She realise now why I keep asking her if she want to move, but she keep saying it's ok. The problem sometimes with PS, she know that the price with First College is lower than Interhigh. So she don't want a burden on us, the parents. Until I had to urge her that I am willing to do what I can, as long as she work hard on it. Plus her nervous nerve on exam, if she don't get a good result, I know she work hard and grasps the knowledge as exam cannot measure everything.
S had now moved on from multiplication to Calender and time topic in mindsprinting. AS had now on proper multiplication. He was excellent as usual. Four pages can be done easily in 15-20 minutes.
Actually the kids had their own on going project. MS had you tube account where he made review on his favourite games and toys. Also on his making gun and short rifle of HALO games from cardboard. I don't like to mention this as it's sound like violence. I don't like it at first. Especially the wrong way people take it in as we are homeschool and muslim. But, it's not as what in people mind. He just love the creativity and he start with making bionicle and now moved on to making all this from cardboard boxes. This had been going on since two years ago actually. he got set of friends in you tube and guess what, some of them, the good one are dyslexic and autism. This is how I found out that he possibly one of them. How he actually draw, is like professional. He can easily impress people with detail. It's just a nature talent all this sort of boys got, one of the strong sign can easily be seen. I will soon post his you tube channel. He also got his blog up recently.
S also got her own you tube channel. She crazy about hamster. She got her own blog about hamster near,y a year ago and something had gone wrong with it like the account was hack and she cannot access it. So she made another one. She than started her own you tube account with video about hamster. She had build her own virtual friends similar age as her. She recently ask me if she can do swap of hamster supplies.
AS also got his own blog with he write story mostly about alien and space. He had this on going for quiet sometimes now actually.
So all kids had their own on going project which actually keep them busy when they not on formal homeschool schedule of workbook and study book. Also with their pets as we got 5 fish, 4 hamster and a rabbit. We recently had made a proper Rabbit cage from wire mesh and timber. Possibly it's same price as if we buy the hutch with the play area. But, at least we all learn. It's me and the kids especially PS and MS that make it. With a little bit help from hub as well with his electric saw. MS also used manual saw to cut the timber. It was quiet a success although first time it wasn't as good as we used left over pine from PS broken bed. And it was too small. So I decided to get a proper garden timber for that. So they also busy looking after our Pets. We are planning to get chickens. Me and hub was planning to build our own chicken coup as kids actually now can become a handyman especially MS. He do get a skill for it.
So that's the story for now. There are plenty of unplanned and self independent project going on with kids. Alhamdulillah. I just got to organise a little bit on proper homeschool subject for exam purpose. Hub also get involve more now. Islamic studies at the moment is his field. I just need to get proper schedule for us to see where and what we should concentrate more.
Alhamdulillah for the homeschool.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
PS, exam and future
PS is really busy herself with revision, Alhamdulillah. For me, it wasn't about passing the exam. Although we talk about how she should aim and target the pass result and also pass the exam, in other side of me, it's not all about passing exam.
For me, from what I see now, taking exam is one way to matured ourself in some part of life. Although in some way, I did push my kids for exam style learning, still I did not 100 % pushing them for it. I am trying to teach them the balance although at some point it can be very confusing. I push her of how important she take exam, passing the exam and etc. She was asking me at some point of what is the beneficial of the exam as there are some people do not need or take exam but still success. This is when we talk about the successful for us , Muslim is the only deen. Of course exam is not that important. Diploma, degree or any academic achievement for me , not that important at all. But, to go through the system in many ways teach you some part of life skill.
For example, PS learn how to motivate her self. She learn how to balance between revision for each subject. although she seems quiet late in setting up her revision and etc, (where her friend which still in first college and used to be in the same class with her, not been register for exam yet although they same age, I'm glad I pull her out and put her in interhigh although she was quiet behind in term of exam learning), still she trying to catch up and on the way, she learn how she need to arrange herself. What she need to prioritise for her exam and etc. She also had learn how to combine resource we got although the book is not for the same exam board.
For example, she taking IGCSE but recently she used OCR book for biology and she said she find out it's very good than IGCSE book we bought for interhigh revision. I told her that athough they different exam board, they might had some different level of depth in each topic, but still they are in the similar curriculum and they will learn about the same thing. It's us , who need to know how to use although it's a different exam board book, still it can be useful to understand the basic concept.
There are at some point, we had been out for one whole day from nine in the morning and arrived back home at around 7 pm and she straight get back into her study table. She even bring with her revision book to study in the car although I don't like that because she sometimes got car sickness and headache by reading in the car, just like me! I did tell her off at some point when she still on her revision the whole day!! I said to her that she had to get off it for a while and don't get too stress out. she was quiet worried from time to time and this is when I try to pull her back and told her it's not worth to stress out too much, as this is only duniya. Although at some point I did remind her that we had spend £350 only for exam fees for four subject and she had to make sure she pass them with good result. I sis put pressure on her at one time and tell her off for studying too much at one time. For me, I am there to guide them and try to teach and reason with them to strike the balance. Alhamdulillah she understand.
We haven't talk much yet about her future study. She know that she will not going to go to walk in college or Uni. She accept that this is not a good choice for her as a muslim girl. Not that muslim shouldn't go to Uni. But, after trying to work hard to homeschool, with the big reason to avoid the fitnah outside, I don't think I will send her and get her to involve in team work assignment in college or uni which mean she had to mix with non mahram. What's is the point although let say I know she will look after her hayya, but I will keep question , about what is the point all this years I try to avoid the fitnah. Boys can be a bit different. But, girls in Islam is like a gems or gold. I will not for no strong reason to put my gold out on it's own and mix with the risk of someone if not touch but can still smell the fragrance from it. It's just not me, unfortunately. Although I do know she can look after herself, and had confident with her, still there are many warning in the quran and hadith and the advice by scholars about our girls.
For me, I will get her the education she need and she want. But, this doesn't mean, just follow what she want. Sometimes there are time , we think this is what our kids want, but I think most of the time it's what parents want. Of course. But, for me we talk and discuss about why I will not let my girls to go to walk in college and Uni. Long time ago we used to discuss about if she want to go to college or uni, she cannot stay boarding. Mean where ever she want to study, we all had to follow her because girls cannot stay on her own without mahram. Not in college or Uni environment. Than slowly I reason with her about college. We watch college life and especially college usually full of people who are doing the courses as they cannot get into Uni. Most of them with no hayya. Is this the kind of environment she want to go? She then realise herself and one day she said to me, she don't feel right going to college. She said to me that I am right that mostly lots of people there because they either repeat GCSE or cannot go to college straight after A level. So they do other diploma course. I don't degrade college. Especially community college. But, I did went there for a while. Actually to do some childcare courses. The cafe can be really scary. I mean, if we can imagine, I read an article about high school or secondary school kids wearing school uniform but like a prostitute. Because they had mini skirt and light tight and all this sort of make up and hand bag. Although school rules not allow that , still they don't bother. College is for 16. If they can do what they want before 16, drunk and get pregnant, do we think they going to stop only because they going further education now? Oh my...it will get worst. Although I know Insya Allah either PS and MS been able to look after themselves and separate themselves, but why do I want to throw them in that environment? When people talk about going party and etc.
One thing she really wanted to get into college because she wanted to do art course. Alhamdulillah recently I had found on line art course which start from basic until degree. Although she don't want to get degree for art, but just wanted to learn something as her interest. So she might just do diploma for that.
At the moment Insya Allah she will take A level with Interhigh. I can only see two subject she might interest with A level with Interhigh which is Maths and Psychology. I was thinking to get her to do IGCSE child development as well next year while she doing her A level. She did mention that to me. I think 3 subject is enough for her, as she will also start her alimaah course Insya Allah after Eid if we not going anywhere. I think she should be able to cope with that. because she had to start learn Arabic and urdu and it will be lots of memorizing when she start her alimaah course with hadith and tafsir and etc. I don't want her to burden too much with academic at the time. After her A level, she can then start with Open Uni with humanities or education degree, which I think suit her and she had develop an interest for that apart from her capability of sharp observation.
I think Insya Allah that will keep her out from fitnah environment and I don't think she will be someone who had culture shock with outside world. In the house, we do had tv, internet and games and we had variety of people who walk into our life. We also don't just stay home all the time. MS and PS also is my extra hand in dealing with other things on my behalf at some point, so they are living with real outside world rather than keeping them on one side in fitnah and one side in hayya. I think we need to keep hayya environment in our kids life all the time, but didn't mean we did not expose our kids into real world. But, when they are homeschool, they are actually living real world.
Of course it can be very different with the boys. For me, not that I teach them different. But we all know that a girl will be under responsibility of the parents until they marriage and than the responsibility been pass to the husband. This is because in Islam we been told how fragile woman is. If other going to says Islam is not fair for having separate way for boys and girls, I would say that Islam treat woman better because we are gems and gold. Which is why it had to be different way because gems and golds will always attract thief.
We all know that girl will need mahram. We all know that girl in Islam need protection more than man. We been told that the best place to pray our salah is in the house and in the room in the house. So we should take all this guidance as the time come.
Although I wasn't sure about MS yet, but I know if he need to go to walk in college or Uni, he will get that chance. Although he might be reluctant because he really hate being in the environment of others who cannot look after their hayya. I might than get him to do his A level or diploma either by distance learning or part time in the evening in college and than send him to Middle east may be, Saudi possibly for his degree. I think he is good to do engineering like his dad. That is his strength in term of hands on. But still he's not sure and I yet to seriously discuss with him.
May Allah make it easy.
For me, from what I see now, taking exam is one way to matured ourself in some part of life. Although in some way, I did push my kids for exam style learning, still I did not 100 % pushing them for it. I am trying to teach them the balance although at some point it can be very confusing. I push her of how important she take exam, passing the exam and etc. She was asking me at some point of what is the beneficial of the exam as there are some people do not need or take exam but still success. This is when we talk about the successful for us , Muslim is the only deen. Of course exam is not that important. Diploma, degree or any academic achievement for me , not that important at all. But, to go through the system in many ways teach you some part of life skill.
For example, PS learn how to motivate her self. She learn how to balance between revision for each subject. although she seems quiet late in setting up her revision and etc, (where her friend which still in first college and used to be in the same class with her, not been register for exam yet although they same age, I'm glad I pull her out and put her in interhigh although she was quiet behind in term of exam learning), still she trying to catch up and on the way, she learn how she need to arrange herself. What she need to prioritise for her exam and etc. She also had learn how to combine resource we got although the book is not for the same exam board.
For example, she taking IGCSE but recently she used OCR book for biology and she said she find out it's very good than IGCSE book we bought for interhigh revision. I told her that athough they different exam board, they might had some different level of depth in each topic, but still they are in the similar curriculum and they will learn about the same thing. It's us , who need to know how to use although it's a different exam board book, still it can be useful to understand the basic concept.
There are at some point, we had been out for one whole day from nine in the morning and arrived back home at around 7 pm and she straight get back into her study table. She even bring with her revision book to study in the car although I don't like that because she sometimes got car sickness and headache by reading in the car, just like me! I did tell her off at some point when she still on her revision the whole day!! I said to her that she had to get off it for a while and don't get too stress out. she was quiet worried from time to time and this is when I try to pull her back and told her it's not worth to stress out too much, as this is only duniya. Although at some point I did remind her that we had spend £350 only for exam fees for four subject and she had to make sure she pass them with good result. I sis put pressure on her at one time and tell her off for studying too much at one time. For me, I am there to guide them and try to teach and reason with them to strike the balance. Alhamdulillah she understand.
We haven't talk much yet about her future study. She know that she will not going to go to walk in college or Uni. She accept that this is not a good choice for her as a muslim girl. Not that muslim shouldn't go to Uni. But, after trying to work hard to homeschool, with the big reason to avoid the fitnah outside, I don't think I will send her and get her to involve in team work assignment in college or uni which mean she had to mix with non mahram. What's is the point although let say I know she will look after her hayya, but I will keep question , about what is the point all this years I try to avoid the fitnah. Boys can be a bit different. But, girls in Islam is like a gems or gold. I will not for no strong reason to put my gold out on it's own and mix with the risk of someone if not touch but can still smell the fragrance from it. It's just not me, unfortunately. Although I do know she can look after herself, and had confident with her, still there are many warning in the quran and hadith and the advice by scholars about our girls.
For me, I will get her the education she need and she want. But, this doesn't mean, just follow what she want. Sometimes there are time , we think this is what our kids want, but I think most of the time it's what parents want. Of course. But, for me we talk and discuss about why I will not let my girls to go to walk in college and Uni. Long time ago we used to discuss about if she want to go to college or uni, she cannot stay boarding. Mean where ever she want to study, we all had to follow her because girls cannot stay on her own without mahram. Not in college or Uni environment. Than slowly I reason with her about college. We watch college life and especially college usually full of people who are doing the courses as they cannot get into Uni. Most of them with no hayya. Is this the kind of environment she want to go? She then realise herself and one day she said to me, she don't feel right going to college. She said to me that I am right that mostly lots of people there because they either repeat GCSE or cannot go to college straight after A level. So they do other diploma course. I don't degrade college. Especially community college. But, I did went there for a while. Actually to do some childcare courses. The cafe can be really scary. I mean, if we can imagine, I read an article about high school or secondary school kids wearing school uniform but like a prostitute. Because they had mini skirt and light tight and all this sort of make up and hand bag. Although school rules not allow that , still they don't bother. College is for 16. If they can do what they want before 16, drunk and get pregnant, do we think they going to stop only because they going further education now? Oh my...it will get worst. Although I know Insya Allah either PS and MS been able to look after themselves and separate themselves, but why do I want to throw them in that environment? When people talk about going party and etc.
One thing she really wanted to get into college because she wanted to do art course. Alhamdulillah recently I had found on line art course which start from basic until degree. Although she don't want to get degree for art, but just wanted to learn something as her interest. So she might just do diploma for that.
At the moment Insya Allah she will take A level with Interhigh. I can only see two subject she might interest with A level with Interhigh which is Maths and Psychology. I was thinking to get her to do IGCSE child development as well next year while she doing her A level. She did mention that to me. I think 3 subject is enough for her, as she will also start her alimaah course Insya Allah after Eid if we not going anywhere. I think she should be able to cope with that. because she had to start learn Arabic and urdu and it will be lots of memorizing when she start her alimaah course with hadith and tafsir and etc. I don't want her to burden too much with academic at the time. After her A level, she can then start with Open Uni with humanities or education degree, which I think suit her and she had develop an interest for that apart from her capability of sharp observation.
I think Insya Allah that will keep her out from fitnah environment and I don't think she will be someone who had culture shock with outside world. In the house, we do had tv, internet and games and we had variety of people who walk into our life. We also don't just stay home all the time. MS and PS also is my extra hand in dealing with other things on my behalf at some point, so they are living with real outside world rather than keeping them on one side in fitnah and one side in hayya. I think we need to keep hayya environment in our kids life all the time, but didn't mean we did not expose our kids into real world. But, when they are homeschool, they are actually living real world.
Of course it can be very different with the boys. For me, not that I teach them different. But we all know that a girl will be under responsibility of the parents until they marriage and than the responsibility been pass to the husband. This is because in Islam we been told how fragile woman is. If other going to says Islam is not fair for having separate way for boys and girls, I would say that Islam treat woman better because we are gems and gold. Which is why it had to be different way because gems and golds will always attract thief.
We all know that girl will need mahram. We all know that girl in Islam need protection more than man. We been told that the best place to pray our salah is in the house and in the room in the house. So we should take all this guidance as the time come.
Although I wasn't sure about MS yet, but I know if he need to go to walk in college or Uni, he will get that chance. Although he might be reluctant because he really hate being in the environment of others who cannot look after their hayya. I might than get him to do his A level or diploma either by distance learning or part time in the evening in college and than send him to Middle east may be, Saudi possibly for his degree. I think he is good to do engineering like his dad. That is his strength in term of hands on. But still he's not sure and I yet to seriously discuss with him.
May Allah make it easy.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Quick Report
I would said that kids were on half term holiday. It didn't meant to be, but as PS is on holiday and MS got friend over almost everyday, I had to call it holiday then.
By the way, kids had been on their work. Maths is as usual. English and other subject. Then Quran reading is also progress beautifully. Alhamdulillah....I would say that me being patient with them reading Iqra book from Malaysia is paid off. I am the one who is very fussy with the reading of the Quran. They will only moved a little at a time. Although I know it will take years, I just don't care. Now listening to MS since he start reading the Quran, I felt really satisfied. It's good...Alhamdulillah. He do of course need to be repair on his tajweed sometimes, but I could say he read nicely. Ad he also able to progress a bit more than just one line. Soon Insya Allah he should be able to move to new line, at least half a pages each time. PS is still struggling at some point. I did make her to finish his Iqra book. Although MS also didn't finish it, but he did read far more further than PS for Iqra. I need to pay attention to PS more than MS in Quran reading now.
S also had moved further and able to move her self on new line. She had more confident than before. The hardest part in teaching the quran is of course tajweed. Especially with the long and short pronunciation. I will make sure they correct before the moved and they able to read correctly with at least 70-80% proper tajweed before they can move to next line. It took ages, but Insya Allah seeing the progress and benefit of it, I just had to bear with it....
Islamic studies is here and there from our taaklim session. Time is getting longer now and after the wedding in the house, the routine house inspection, the guests in and out and the visiting, I felt like ill. But, my body seem to hold it now and again. I felt that I need to be ill in order to get proper rest, but my body is coping very well although my mind is sooooo tired. Kids homeschool is not much fun for me at the time as I felt sleepy most of the time. I know that I need proper rest, mean away from everything. But, I can't at the moment.
So I thought this week we will be off from homeschool and I can get my head and mind back on track. Sometimes we do need this! Although PS Alhamdulillah concentrate on her revision from time to time. I do feel syukur with her change from time to time. Although she do make some silly mistake along the way, but we have to let them make some silly mistake in order to learn. And in order to get a grip and know how to control themselves from mistake. I am also been grateful that I did control my kids from too much freedom. I dare to let it open up. Although I've seen like someone who quiet open, as we had TV, internet, x box, wii fit and etc at home, but I would say they are not like taken over by this. Or they might sit and play for hours in their free time, but they will leave and jump off it if I say so straight away. They never moan if I told them to. They didn't stick to it and ignore me, never at all. They learn that all of that got a boundary and limitation and along the way, all this gadget that they always have, teach how to use and how to control themselves from it. Everybody had desire and in teenage hormone, thing can get out of the hand at some point, but if they used to learn how to control themselves, than Insya Allah they will be able to.
Also exposing them in social environment too early is very dangerous. Doesn't matter how good we teach them and how strong we think they are, early expose especially in pre teenage can still go wrong. Especially with the girls. Girls has different up and down hormone than boys. Their feeling and emotion can be totally confuse. This is when we have to keep them and ensure things are under control. Or otherwise it's going to be a difficult task. I mean, I had been through once and now I got S. With MS things are different, because it's boys. Girls is totally different approach. With girls, to control too much can lead into difficulty, but to expose too much is very dangerous risk to be taken. Communication is very important at this time and to ensure that they know and understand we are in control is important and the reason is only deen. This is important. Alhamdulillah PS now is pretty much concentrate in her revision and exam. After her exam than I might get her expose a bit in term of voluntary work and etc. We had discuss about she not going to college and how she will start her alimah course after GCSE and also her A level either with Interhigh or other distance learning. She didn't understand before about college, she a bit confuse about why can't she go to college. But, after she see what college like and the surrounding of a college, which for me lots of student is from student who drop out or not able to get good GCSE doing whatever easy course college can delivered. The environment is not somewhat the place I want to put my daughter into. I don't mind my son, but I do not think we will wanted to anyway. PS than understand after seeing couple of thing herself and she decided it is not for her. I told her I don't mind if she want to do a bit extra courses on adult education, but not on day time class at college. She can either stick with Interhigh or other distance learning.
We also had talk about degree course. We talk about how it's not important in term of the purpose we live in this duniya. But important for her to understand and see the world in other aspect. That is my point of view. Something she will learn along the way of how to organise files, how to doing research although that's what she learning and doing now. So, we talk about the possibility of doing it from Open University. She had too much interest in Art and Design. I had found one online learning for it which she can learn it online and it's also got grant available. So we will look into it now. She of course had natural gift towards working with children and education. She not keen to take the course before but after she started doing basic childcare with Interhigh, she had develop interest to further the course. So we will look into Education , childcare and all sort of this area from Open Uni. She also had interest with Psychology. But, of course hub will quiet disagree with it. He always think psychology is wasting time to learn. It's didn't give much benefit especially for deen. And looking and knowing couple of psychologist personally I can relate to how the more you learn, the more you not able to control yourself although you can control and solve others problem, and help others, but not your own. But, we didn't have further chat yet about it. We will be after her GCSE. I don't mind much as we do know the direction after. Which is alimaah course and A level after her GCSE. Further than that, I don't mind much as it will take her 6 years to finish her alimaah.
I am now had to sit down with MS and start to sketch his....!
By the way, kids had been on their work. Maths is as usual. English and other subject. Then Quran reading is also progress beautifully. Alhamdulillah....I would say that me being patient with them reading Iqra book from Malaysia is paid off. I am the one who is very fussy with the reading of the Quran. They will only moved a little at a time. Although I know it will take years, I just don't care. Now listening to MS since he start reading the Quran, I felt really satisfied. It's good...Alhamdulillah. He do of course need to be repair on his tajweed sometimes, but I could say he read nicely. Ad he also able to progress a bit more than just one line. Soon Insya Allah he should be able to move to new line, at least half a pages each time. PS is still struggling at some point. I did make her to finish his Iqra book. Although MS also didn't finish it, but he did read far more further than PS for Iqra. I need to pay attention to PS more than MS in Quran reading now.
S also had moved further and able to move her self on new line. She had more confident than before. The hardest part in teaching the quran is of course tajweed. Especially with the long and short pronunciation. I will make sure they correct before the moved and they able to read correctly with at least 70-80% proper tajweed before they can move to next line. It took ages, but Insya Allah seeing the progress and benefit of it, I just had to bear with it....
Islamic studies is here and there from our taaklim session. Time is getting longer now and after the wedding in the house, the routine house inspection, the guests in and out and the visiting, I felt like ill. But, my body seem to hold it now and again. I felt that I need to be ill in order to get proper rest, but my body is coping very well although my mind is sooooo tired. Kids homeschool is not much fun for me at the time as I felt sleepy most of the time. I know that I need proper rest, mean away from everything. But, I can't at the moment.
So I thought this week we will be off from homeschool and I can get my head and mind back on track. Sometimes we do need this! Although PS Alhamdulillah concentrate on her revision from time to time. I do feel syukur with her change from time to time. Although she do make some silly mistake along the way, but we have to let them make some silly mistake in order to learn. And in order to get a grip and know how to control themselves from mistake. I am also been grateful that I did control my kids from too much freedom. I dare to let it open up. Although I've seen like someone who quiet open, as we had TV, internet, x box, wii fit and etc at home, but I would say they are not like taken over by this. Or they might sit and play for hours in their free time, but they will leave and jump off it if I say so straight away. They never moan if I told them to. They didn't stick to it and ignore me, never at all. They learn that all of that got a boundary and limitation and along the way, all this gadget that they always have, teach how to use and how to control themselves from it. Everybody had desire and in teenage hormone, thing can get out of the hand at some point, but if they used to learn how to control themselves, than Insya Allah they will be able to.
Also exposing them in social environment too early is very dangerous. Doesn't matter how good we teach them and how strong we think they are, early expose especially in pre teenage can still go wrong. Especially with the girls. Girls has different up and down hormone than boys. Their feeling and emotion can be totally confuse. This is when we have to keep them and ensure things are under control. Or otherwise it's going to be a difficult task. I mean, I had been through once and now I got S. With MS things are different, because it's boys. Girls is totally different approach. With girls, to control too much can lead into difficulty, but to expose too much is very dangerous risk to be taken. Communication is very important at this time and to ensure that they know and understand we are in control is important and the reason is only deen. This is important. Alhamdulillah PS now is pretty much concentrate in her revision and exam. After her exam than I might get her expose a bit in term of voluntary work and etc. We had discuss about she not going to college and how she will start her alimah course after GCSE and also her A level either with Interhigh or other distance learning. She didn't understand before about college, she a bit confuse about why can't she go to college. But, after she see what college like and the surrounding of a college, which for me lots of student is from student who drop out or not able to get good GCSE doing whatever easy course college can delivered. The environment is not somewhat the place I want to put my daughter into. I don't mind my son, but I do not think we will wanted to anyway. PS than understand after seeing couple of thing herself and she decided it is not for her. I told her I don't mind if she want to do a bit extra courses on adult education, but not on day time class at college. She can either stick with Interhigh or other distance learning.
We also had talk about degree course. We talk about how it's not important in term of the purpose we live in this duniya. But important for her to understand and see the world in other aspect. That is my point of view. Something she will learn along the way of how to organise files, how to doing research although that's what she learning and doing now. So, we talk about the possibility of doing it from Open University. She had too much interest in Art and Design. I had found one online learning for it which she can learn it online and it's also got grant available. So we will look into it now. She of course had natural gift towards working with children and education. She not keen to take the course before but after she started doing basic childcare with Interhigh, she had develop interest to further the course. So we will look into Education , childcare and all sort of this area from Open Uni. She also had interest with Psychology. But, of course hub will quiet disagree with it. He always think psychology is wasting time to learn. It's didn't give much benefit especially for deen. And looking and knowing couple of psychologist personally I can relate to how the more you learn, the more you not able to control yourself although you can control and solve others problem, and help others, but not your own. But, we didn't have further chat yet about it. We will be after her GCSE. I don't mind much as we do know the direction after. Which is alimaah course and A level after her GCSE. Further than that, I don't mind much as it will take her 6 years to finish her alimaah.
I am now had to sit down with MS and start to sketch his....!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Plenty to share
I had plenty to share, but time is so constraint at the moment. I had to be better organise which I am currently working on at the moment. Handling homeschool, business and house. Plus trying to attend some talk here and there, trying to entertain others, which in other word, fulfil the right and obligation towards others. I guess, I can do better by improving how I organise things.
Homeschool I guess is an easy things and can always run smooth when I know what kids should be doing on the day.
Roughly at the moment:
Homeschool I guess is an easy things and can always run smooth when I know what kids should be doing on the day.
Roughly at the moment:
- PS is working hard on revision for her exam. I had rapidly see change in her self. See how she trying to change her learning style, her focus on exam and etc. Honestly , no more nagging about exam on her!!!!! Instead, I felt she sometimes focus too much on her exam and revision that I told her to take a break. I wanted to write the post on it's own about this, also about some learning style I had read in article and how PS had talk about her experience as well on it.
- The other is getting on with their learning as normal. I just need to get them on the routine and from my experience with PS exam, I leave 'other' learning as on it's own. I mean, I am started to focus more into workbook and worksheet. As this is at the end the target for them, the exam. I guess, it's easy of we can just graded them for their learning. So it can be any kind of learning style for them as mostly we parents who decided what to give and to sort out the paperwork and etc. But, if in some country such as UK, if we want to further kids into further education that need GCSE, mean your kids had to go through an exam and will be graded by others. So, the learning style and the what they learn, had to be according to which board going to grade them. Otherwise the learning will not achieve the target. Not sure if this make sense, but I will write more in it's own post when I can find a time.
- We had going for some educational visit yesterday. Only to one place but we manage at least to have some day out, although without hub. It's rarely we got to do this, because of my busyness plus PS online school. Now she got no class on Monday, so I took the opportunity to go for a day out. We went to Blue Reef Aquarium and of course going to place like this is a leaning for me, not for them! They walk around and started to explain to me like a tourist guide, or like a teacher with me only school kids!!! From every detail of the sea creature will be explain by MS, PS, even S and AS!
- I had trying hard to organise my kitchen, do lots of prep work for cooking such as freeze blended onion, garlic, ginger. Make lots of frozen chicken ball and prepare for next day cooking or cooking the night before. I want the house to be nice and tidy and in order. It's wasn't much at the moment and it's easy to slip out or it. I hate it...So, I had to work harder on it. I wanted also to be able to start some classes back again. Actually I want to get back on my online arabic class and also other islamic studies class plus getting back to continue my open uni courses I left years back. Oh, not forgetting we had family project for me to actually kick off.
Too many to share.....
Sunday, 22 January 2012
An update
Just a quick update.
PS is on her school as usual and lots of revision.
MS on algebra worksheet mostly from maths drill. English with workbook. I manage to sit together with him for his English. He did history as well with S. This is just for general knowledge of what others are learning. We don't do serious learning on History according to UK curriculum. Just to fulfil the needs of socialisation for them. At least they know what others are talking about and the surrounding area.
S is on times table still with her mindsprinting. She's a bit bored, but I still want to keep her on the track and won't skip. I did English with her as well, from her workbook. Just to see if she understand what she is doing. She did history same as MS.
AS still on his basic times table and division with minds printing. His is different than S as they are on different level. He did getting on with English with his CGP workbook.
All of them doing their quran reading as usual after magrib. We than did a circle for our Islamic studies. I put aside writing and just doing verbal Islamic studies which I think is better and efficient. This encourage them to memorise more things and used their brain. We did some tajweed lesson, hadith memorisation, doa after prayer memorisation, ayat for zikr memorisation, fikh on prayer. All this been done by saying in circle in muzakarah way. Hub will replace me if I am busy. He did some tajweed and translation with them. The most important is the istiqamah in doing this. Kids also much more concentrate as we had to go one by one in circle. Also we start doing speech / learn how to give bayan or talk in muzakarah in proper way. This is also been done in circle and muzakarah way. I think kids are concentrating much better than had to write formally.
We are busy and will be busy and very busy. So I am trying to be super organise to keep everything on top of everything.
PS is on her school as usual and lots of revision.
MS on algebra worksheet mostly from maths drill. English with workbook. I manage to sit together with him for his English. He did history as well with S. This is just for general knowledge of what others are learning. We don't do serious learning on History according to UK curriculum. Just to fulfil the needs of socialisation for them. At least they know what others are talking about and the surrounding area.
S is on times table still with her mindsprinting. She's a bit bored, but I still want to keep her on the track and won't skip. I did English with her as well, from her workbook. Just to see if she understand what she is doing. She did history same as MS.
AS still on his basic times table and division with minds printing. His is different than S as they are on different level. He did getting on with English with his CGP workbook.
All of them doing their quran reading as usual after magrib. We than did a circle for our Islamic studies. I put aside writing and just doing verbal Islamic studies which I think is better and efficient. This encourage them to memorise more things and used their brain. We did some tajweed lesson, hadith memorisation, doa after prayer memorisation, ayat for zikr memorisation, fikh on prayer. All this been done by saying in circle in muzakarah way. Hub will replace me if I am busy. He did some tajweed and translation with them. The most important is the istiqamah in doing this. Kids also much more concentrate as we had to go one by one in circle. Also we start doing speech / learn how to give bayan or talk in muzakarah in proper way. This is also been done in circle and muzakarah way. I think kids are concentrating much better than had to write formally.
We are busy and will be busy and very busy. So I am trying to be super organise to keep everything on top of everything.
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
We are back
Yes, we back. Not on homeschool, as homeschool is real life! But, I haven't been updating this blog and was so busy and just manage to up date what I am up to in the other blog.
There are so many story since I had been on hiatus. Unfortunately I might no be able to record everything, if I don't write everything before I forgot. I had try to set up my own group on facebook for 'ourhomeschool progress' in the hope that it's make it easy for me to record the learning and what is happening. I did bought a diary for 2012, in the hope that I can at least sketch something in it for a quick record.
I had been quiet busy as I had container loading for my business just before Christmas Holiday. The last two weeks before the holiday, I was run errand. At the same time trying to get kids to do some learning in between. But in other way of course at the time like this, it was real proper learning for kids. Sorting out, figuring things. How to sort things out. Now, to sort boxes out into our van to bring it to the storage, PS and MS can manage well better than me. I mean, it's quiet a puzzle to ensure we used every single space, so we save the fuel. Things like this seems small, but they like value for learning. How to organise time. How to organise job. How to spread the job, sorting and dealing with people. This is real life that I am now happy that is happening.
I had dream before to actually open Bed and breakfast and cafe, actually wanted kids to get involved in more real life action, and secure environment. But, I think that dream is quiet difficult to achieve at the moment. Now as the business is quiet a sustain and I am getting busy, kids had also involve not just in simple thing, but other difficult task. It does really give better result, Insya Allah.
As the story in my other blog, me and hub had send MS to two weeks scholar's scribe course. I will try to put that in one post on it's own. This is on the 18th of December 2011. AS had went to karate grading on 17th December 2011. He's now had orange belt. I need to get him actually on swimming lesson sometimes soon. He always look forward to it and also been choose as best student of the day that week.
Than on 24th December, we had masturat jamaat (ladies jamaat that come with their mahram) from East London to Newcastle. There are six sister. One Pakistani, four Bangladeshi and One Malaysian. The Malaysian sister is married to Uzbekistan. Therefore me, hub and three kids excluding MS of course had been going back and forth to visit this jamaat, Alhamdulillah. It was very nice to have jamaat from London. One sister, who had 9 children and couple of grand kids also in the jamaat. I just love this jamaat because some of them can relate so much like me, where we just involved in the work of tabligh from our parents. It make a lots of different actually, although the different is because I was homeschool, and stay home, my involvement is far more than them as they are in Darul Ulom and boarding school.
Alhamdulillah it was so nice to be in such environment. Especially for the two girls. also PS got to meet new girl who attend Darul Ulom in Newcastle which she will be joining hopefully after Eid , Insya Allah. It will be very good for her, especially the school is very new. So, the girl akhlak is excellent. Which is what I want. I even now thinking if I should send S as well and also get her to do her school there as well...ermm...I was even thinking to move to Newcastle , so I can send MS for part time hifz as well. As part time hifz for boys is in the evening. Alimah course run from 9-12. PS can actually do A level there as well if she want. But, this will take the whole day. Especially for academic course, sometimes they had to stay until 7, if they had extra class for GCSE. But, many things got to be think...At the moment Insya Allah, PS will start after Eid if we didn't actually taken one plan project. Other wise she had to start January 2013 and might have to catch up. But, she don't like S to follow her and be on the same class. Therefore may be I had to send S a year after. we'll see, Insya Allah. Hopefully they had boys open soon, otherwise I see what I can do for MS. With his condition, I cannot put him in Darul Ulom..But, Insya Allah AS should be alright to go Dewsbury. Therefore I need proper plan to make sure he can be somewhat a bit advance.
So, there are plenty of bayan dan muzakarah for that whole week of Christmas Holiday for me and the girls. As there are quiet lots of young girls, Alhamdulillah we did plenty of infradi muzakarah. Sis N and me will rotate naturally when we give infradi muzakara. So, plenty benefit for me and the girls. I love when sisters in jamaat will spend all the time they got with for infradi dakwa..it will be lots of muzakarah about how important to bring deen into our life, how important to spend time to go in jamaat to learn and motivate ourselves.
After New Year holiday finish and MS had come back and hub had went back to work, PS still on holiday. MS was quiet ill when he came back, and I was also tired as I haven't got proper rest since week before. Therefore we just tidy the house and relax. What we did only muzakarah for Islamic studies and quran reading. It's good though. MS quran reading is much better now, I am so happy. It's come with proper pronunciation which nearly perfect tajweed. We did some random muzakarah everyday. From fikh us sunnah, repeat memorization of hadith and repeat memorization from everyday zikr.
On academic side, kids did start some Maths and English. Not other subject yet. I am in need to actually getting proper learning and squash them in tiny time as I got to actually plan and organise a simple wedding in our house for 100 guests end of this month for a student couple, than I will have to load another container sometimes next month..All this just happen to be in place..I am going to be very busy bee.
PS is back on her online school this week, since yesterday. She also got a place for basic Mandarin and basic child care course. So, that's good for her. She will drop her Spanish lesson as well so she can concentrate on Maths, English , Biology and Physic paper.
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