A mix busy days

I was busy, not sure if we are actually achieve much. I had to be on the go these couple of days. There are always things every day need to get sorted outside Post office, groceries, and suddenly printer is 'jem' and need to exchange. And it's all happen in different days. Which left me shattered. Plus variety of cooking one menu after another. One of the things that I had felt so much more now, cooking. Not just PS who eat more
than my portion even hub portion and MS as well. But, now I had S as well eating like an adult portion.

AS always eat a good portion anyway. So, from time to time now I've been cooking for six adult portion. 

Alhamdulillah although PS was busy, she still help me in the kitchen. Although only me doing a lots of cooking now, all of them still help me in between their study. Sometimes I do feel sorry especially for PS as she hard quiet a lots of workload. But, I don't want that as an excuse of not helping around. She still help clean toilet, doing laundry, doing dishes, clean up the kitchen and all other task. So do MS and S. I can see that it seems piles up a lots on them as their study as well, but still they need to learn, life is not that easy. In the near future, if they work, they still had to run and do other things to survive and to fulfil basic needs. Study is not an excuse not helping around.

 With AS I had manage to keep on track with him. With her Maths is on the schedule. We did on topic of TIME. telling time and also elapsed time. I think he find it a bit difficult at first and was asking why he got to learn all this things as he already know how to tell time. I give an example, if we about to take a plane from Newcastle airport at certain time, we need to calculate what time we should be there and what time we should depart from our house and how long will it take to reach there and etc. Alhamdulillah he understand after little bit of explanation. Also after a lecture and warning if he seem to be moody first thing in the morning help to improve the situation. If he felt like moody and angry, he try to pull himself back and get on with his work. He has got to learn a lesson and teach himself that life is not always easy. I for one will not let him get his own way too much now. I think he learn the lesson.

 Now we are on topic of temperature. We had been on this topic since yesterday and will still on temperature topic on Monday before we moved into Money Problem. My worksheet is from variety of website include Enchanted learning, Ed Helper, Primary Resource and Parents in Touch. We also did some Geography lesson last week, we talk about atlas, Me and AS only. Than we talk about latitude and longitude. That latitude and longitude is an imaginary line which help to determine the position anywhere in the world.

As also start doing some science from his workbook. We just going to finish key Stage one workbook as I got couple of them. We also did some lesson about plant which in notebook which I print out some worksheet and get him to draw plant with root, leave, stem and flowers. Just to get him to do some drawing related to science. Like I mention before, my kids had plenty of knowledge in science, but I just need to help them to bring their info and knowledge into writing and how to document what they know.

Quran reading is better. He seems to concentrate more after the lecture. Therefore his Quran reading also improved when he concentrate. I point this out to him, so he recognise the improvement and things get easy because the change that he made. It's depends on him big time to work with me to make our learning easy. For me, there are some of the things that need to enforce , but at the same time I do not want them to learn for the sake of study and me. Certain things they cannot see the benefit it of course. Therefore from time to time I had to explain, motivate and remind them that the purpose of learning is not for me.

AS English is fine. He start write on his own blog. He got three fiction writing now done. But, none of them with punctuation! Anyway, this is for him to kick off with ideas and transfer it into writing. He also did some workbook. Today we learn about poem.

We haven't done much of Islamic Studies formally. On Friday, we all watch video from you tube about The mahdi, lecture by Sheikh Mumtaz Ul Haq, Masya Allah, very resourceful and beneficial talk. Things like this is to remind us about the purpose of life and how life in the near future will not be easy and only the chosen one that will stay to live and keep steadfast.

 MS as usual on his Conquer Maths. He is on C-A level now. He wasn't enjoy much, but I told him he need to finish it and than I can print out all his record and unsubscribe Conquer Maths. I was thinking of using IXL  UK for S and AS just to top up their worksheet. it's just me. I am very fussy and like mix and match! By end of this months, when MS finish his Conquer Maths he will start do revision with Key stage 3 revision workbook and test paper. We will than go over each topic for Key stage 4 with plenty combine worksheet and workbook and test paper.

I had bough couple of books for MS to read. He always borrow book from library. Now I want him to read the book that I choose. Which will be a bit challenge for him. Also he is a slow reader. I determine to tackle his English my own way. Start with improving his reading skill, than transfer ideas into paper before we go deep into different type of writing such as debating and argumentation.

MS Quran Reading also improve a lots. He know went to moved himself or when to keep practise on the same part. I think he will get better reading than PS. With concentration of tajweed as well, Alhamdulillah. He was slow reader as his academic reading, but Insya Allah we make sure it's right. So I don't want to push too much and create a rush type of reading instead of proper pronunciation.

He work with S on Science as before. The different is, before I just get them to do the work with revision guide book without me sitting there with them. I don't really pay much attention as before as I know they understand and have much knowledge and lots of info about science like I said. The only things is they did not know how to transfer their understanding into writing and documentation. This is what I need to work with them. But, as they understand how things work and many of other info and knowledge in science, it won't be hard. So I had sit with them and they got many of question that they skip. They understand but do not know how to explain things in writing which they reason is they not understand at all. When I sit and start to read the revision book and explain, they give me boring face that they already learn about it!! I told them off..oh yes..especially MS. I said that if you already learn and understand you should be able to transfer your understanding into the answer. Therefore I sit and help them on couple of question of how the answer should be for science and how to use our understanding and transfer it into answer and explanation. Alhamdulillah they had go through many topic they left some question unanswer before. Therefore MS and S will be on science for a while as I want them to get rid of key stage 2 workbook. I know, MS is on key stage 4. But, his knowledge in his brain and mind is advance than some topic in key stage 4. Only like I mention, we need to work on transferring the understanding and the knowledge into explanation and scientific evidence in science. Than Insya Allah I will be guide them both for year 7 science workbook and revision book from letts and lonsdale. Therefore now, I can start make plan for their science as I can see what we will be cover and what material we will used. I will mix and match in between with their science notebook as I want them to be able to draw the experiment and other science picture.

S is still with mindsprinting for her Maths. She still on division topic. I had print out with date planned for her worksheet until next month. She will be doing division possibly until end of the year. She find it too much at first, but after many days, she said it's getting better and easy. I had her do two set of worksheet together  a day which mean four worksheet of it.

S also had her own blog which she mostly blog about animal. That is in some way, part of her English. She had done her English on her workbook until I sort something out. All three of them is in need of their English to be planned out. AS is ok at the moment as he got mindsprinting as well to get him going, plus workbook and he also did his spelling twice a week now. I am in need to sort out MS and S, but will probably try to plan them both in the same lesson plan.

So, there one by one subject we try to go through. I haven't touch History yet. I think I want to sort out English and Science first. Than geography, than History. I got new material for Islamic studies. Plus many of books to be finish. I do feel stress out in some way, think that kids are behind in some area and things like that. But than, I think that I shouldn't. We are homeschool. We are easy to cover up the area need to. I just need to calm down, take one things at the same time and plan things that will help in the near future. Rushing will not do any good. Also to see how things go and than take it from there is better than plan, than ditch up the plan altogether.

More of Geography Lesson 27 September

This time together with MS, S and AS . Usually I print out the map, for the lesson that we had long time ago. This time I think they should learn the skill of drawing map which I used to learn in my primary school by tracing the map. So, I print out the outline of the map from Enchanted Learning and get them to trace in their Geography notebook.

Label the map and than write some simple fact about it and make a Flag, a bit of art and craft I guess.

Other subject yesterday work brilliantly. Every one did their Maths, English and reading quran. We didn't yet did formal Islamic studies. Neither do working project and experiment I hope to get in to. but we get there. At least we increase from two subject a day to three now. Islamic studies is something we do in action , we talk and we sit in halakah. So, I wasn't that desperate in a way. Just to bring it into note formally and learn more in formal setting apart from workbook.

I was please to see where we going now and at this moment I am desperate to get the work in the garden done as weather is nice and warm. So do other things at the same time don't want our routine homeschool interrupted. Alhamdulillah for the blessing that Allah send...Life is hard, but nothing easy at the end. Let alone Jannah...I keep reminding my self!

Maths, maths and maths

Now I am talking about maths, again. And whenever maths involved, it will involved MS of course. Today I had to go out first things in the morning, send hubby and go to pick up some boxes. I bring AS with me. PS, MS and S usually know what to do on their own, and I just been out for a quick one. When I came back MS told me he find it hard on Maths and need to do the second attempt on Conquer Maths. He's on Integer topic today. I thought it wasn't bad, so I put him for 3 topic under integer which is addition and subtraction, multiplication, division and Bodmas.

Well, let just says that I do get confuse with this, unless I sit down and study and go through my self for 10 minutes. So, I sit there and had to used my brain after really a tiring morning as I had to send hubby to work at 7.30am. I hate that to be honest, at some point. I love it at some point as I love Maths, but sometimes feel like my brain getting older, I just don't bother. So, I sit with him and go through with him. He seems fed up at first. Think that he should skip the topic. His usual habit and way of thinking had came back for a while there , I reckon. Of course I was a bit annoy and told him off. Well, not too harsh, but I just mention to him that after all that he has been through, he just want to give up. Skip or leaving the topic , won't not bring him anywhere. It will just get worth. As each of Maths topic link to each other. And Maths is also something we used all around us.

So, what I did, I sit there explain to him one question after another and ended up doing nearly 3/4 of it! But, alhamdulillah, it worth the bit of push, only a lil bit of push and not as before. He quickly realise that giving up is not an option, stressing out will just make things worth. The way of thinking which I think needs to give to every child, as life is not always easy. Plus how can we know how to do things if we cannot understand fully and learn. The way to know how to do things is to learn. Nobody know everything, but with the attitude of eager to learn and not going to give up, will help us to go through life. Alhamdulillah it wasn't as horrible as before. He more matured now but of course bad habit is hard to die.

So, after the first lesson, he seems better and manage to get through second lesson on his own and the other two lesson and find himself finishing it earlier than he thought before. But, as when he stress out thinking he got four lesson to finish and the lesson stuck him on the way, he than got another two subject to go through. I told him, do not worry about other subject today and just get on with Maths only. We can catch up others another day. So, he only did his Maths today.

Yesterday was OK for him and he manage to finish what he need to.

S is fine. She already past half of multiplication and division book I just bought on Monday. She will be finish that by next week, I reckon. Probably Monday or Tuesday. As our printer is running now, I wasn't worries much as I can print her multiplication and division exercise.

AS got printing worksheet for Maths yesterday. He got one side page sheet with nearly 100 question to answer from regrouping addition and subtraction of two digit and three digit. Also fill in the blank number and also problem solving for the lesson. He was whine couple of times during that as it's quiet a lots of question. But, alhamdulillah after accompany him on his side and with a little bit motivation, he manage to finish them all. Than we moved to English and still on tense topic. This time more about past, present and future tense. Fill in the word in the story and recognise either it's past, present or future. I talk about how he got to imagine the story when he read it to enable him to find the best possible words for it. Alhamdulillah he manage and also his spelling was very good indeed. This is the mystery that I don't know how it happen. Let's just say that I didn't actually teach them spelling.

Today in the car, only me and him. He bought a Bionicle name Phantoka.

I ask him, " What is that? Pantoka? "

He reply, " No, it's not Pantoka, it's Phantoka. P and H make sound F!".

Dear me, I been told off. I remember than we had learn about this in his Mega English book before. I though study English wasn't fun for him as a boys, but hey, he not just remember but also manage to explain to me.

In our English lesson yesterday, I was asking him about what we learn before which is Pronoun, Noun and verbs. He manage to explain to me what they are with example. Than we talk about what is verbs. Also we had learn about 1st person, singular and plural and 2 nd person, singular and plural and 3rd person , singular and plural. We talk about how important to know all this to ensure we can describe and make a good story and writing. He seems to enjoy the lesson and participate much about it.

Today AS didn't do any lesson apart from his memorization of surah after we back home. He seems tired, and when I went to pick hubby up, he wanted to follow, and he fall asleep in the car although hubby work place is about 10 minutes away. He continue to sleep after he pray magrib when we arrived home.

Tomorrow is Friday and I will be busy again as hubby half day and also my business shipping in two weeks time. At the moment we still manage to stay on our homeschool track. Apart from getting them to do some project is on hold. It wasn't that important actually. May be because our life is more into reality. Example, I didn't actually get kids to do lap book of activity similar and project, but they all had their own scrap book, writing book and notebook to write their idea. MS and AS mostly used most of my old cupboard and manage to design so many things. Recently MS had design helmet which from inside, we can see outside but from outside we cannot see the person face that wear the helmet. This is actually happen in day to day basis. They design and make sword and many other things from time to time using recycling items.

So I guess it's the unschooling bit getting balance with our formal homeschool with worksheet , workbook and formal learning.

25 Jan 2011

Alhamdulillah we manage to do some work despite of we all going out after asr. Just after PS finish school. MS , S and AS manage to do some work before we went out and after we arrived home just after Magrib as we had to pick hubby up at 4.30pm, but he got meeting and finish around 4.45pm.

After Magrib , kids continue their work, alhamdulillah. As I just got new printer two days ago and manage to set it up yesterday, I am not looking at getting kids to do some project. I was thinking a geography project, but for some reason the page I wanted to print out from Ed Helper using pdf file, not printing out anything, although I manage to print other worksheet.

MS on his work schedule on Conquer maths, also do his English from Writing Skills workbook and Science revision of key Stage 2. MS understand and can explain and do practical experiment on science. The only things is he need to learn how to explain and give reason in proper writing of the experiment and conclusion. This is what I need to focus with him and also with S and AS.

S is fine with her new workbook of multiplication and division workbook. Also her new English workbook. AS did his problem Solving workbook on his own and also did his science workbook for Key Stage one which accompany by revision workbook. I wanted to sit with him for that and go through the revision guide, but he want to do it all by himself. Which is reading the revision book and do his workbook according to each topic. He love and got no problem at all of learning independently just like others. Although at some point I like to sit and go through with them to ensure they understand, but I will got a reply which is " It's ok, I understand this or that. I learn this before". Either they learn from reading or watching.

That's all for the day.

Workbook

Yesterday I went out to sort out couple of things for my business. PS stay home with MS as both of them cannot miss their school work. AS and S came with me. I manage to stop by at WH Smith to get couple of books. We quiet rushing anyway because time for prayer is near to each other. I cannot find books I wanted to but manage to grab couple of them.

From top

Reading and Writing Fiction is for S. MS also got similar book before. I like Schofield & Sims series as they got individual topics for English and Maths. S also got Vocabulary before. Among their English topics is:

• Punctuation
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Vocabulary
• Reading and Writing Peotry
• Reading and Writing Non Fiction
• Reading and Writing fiction

I like them so much as kids can concentrate more in each individual topics rather than mix than all in one book. They also got KS 1 and KS 2. Price is £2.95 which I think affordable.

KS 1 Problem Solving 2 for AS.This is another Schofields & Sims series, but paperback. They usually got several level in each Key Stage. For example they got problem solving 1, 2, 3, 4 and etc. Mostly I like Maths because it help kids to concentrate with lots of exercise for individual topic.

Multipliying and Dividing Key Stage 2 for S. As S is now concentrating on Multiplying and Division this is one of the book she will had to finish. It's concentrating Multiplying and Division only from easy to hard.

Toady Times table for AS. I wanted Schofield & Sims book for addition and subtraction, but cannot find one. As AS did start her timetable before form his Math book, a basic one, I though I get him this book to play with while I got a printer , so I can print lots of worksheet for addition and subtraction.

Key Stage One English Advance Practise book for AS. He already start Key Stage 2 workbook, but as this is for him to get into more exercise in English and streghten his Spelling, vocab and grammar. I like CGP book for revision.

Letts Success Learn and Practise English for 10-11 years old for S. S love English. I like Letts publication as well as they publish individual level for each subject such as English, Maths and Science. But they do got different set and style. Just got to go through and see what you want. This is level 5 book as S now is year 6. She need harder and challenge book for her English study.

Writing Skill Builder for MS. I never bought from this publisher. But, English seems good especially for writing and it teach you from one easy work to harder one. In Writing it teach you one by one from start of writing, planning, including making leaflet, poster, and all sort of writing. So, I will see how this one goes.

Yesterday MS finish all his work in Conquer Maths according to his schedule I made. I had copy and paste and send it through message from my account to his account in Conquer Maths. This to ensure he can check what is due for him on the day. He also did his English and Science.

S and AS got a day off as they follow me. When we arrived home, MS and PS already finish their school and it's no way S and AS will start their homeschool, so I just leave it. No rushing by the way and no stress, Alhamdulillah.

AS and S learning

AS got not much worry from me except I need him to do more writing stories and familiar with all sort of writing. He did writing on his own count, from time to time. He make lefleart, map, stories and etc but informally Without me actually sit there with him. But, usually he made better writing without me, it's like if I am there with him, all his idea gone.

Today he finish the whole of his addition and substraction book. He learn some of difficulty topic of addition and substraction. I will need to get him another book for the topic, and also mindsprinting. Probably another 2 months, we will concentrate on this topic. Than we will concentrate times, measurement and graph. He already know all this and learn from time to time before, but I just want to make sure this been strengthen up before we moved deep into multiplication and division. I think we might take between 6 months - 1 year for multiplication and division take into account some unplanned journey and my busy time. So no stress on him and me.

From summer, I will set up some science project with him and also geography. I will get a new printer hopefully tomorrow, so we will get back on enchated learning and my other favourate website for science and geography. Probably a little history. Also IT.

In between now and again , we will do Bahasa Melayu as well. I will need a new Islamic Studies book for him, possibility Iqra book but the futher learning which MS and S using before. He should be able to, Insya Allah.

S is ok. Similar case like AS. I need to put her into some manual curriculum of distance learning for her English. She is very good in writing stories but need some proper checking up. I am so lazy and as it take lots of time to actually concentrate, I just cannot do that.

For Maths, she is on multiplication and division now. She finish one workbook for the particular topic only and I will get her another one. Also with mindprinting, it will be lots of exercise for her in multiplication and division. Probably I would say, I don't mind if she need to spend around 6 months , 5 days a week only for multiplication and division on her Maths. Than it's easy when we move on other topic. She can than be able to concentrate her Conquer Maths along with workboook on particular topic similar with what MS had been through. I reckon she should be able to moved forward and progress according to curriculum. I was planning to put her with First College, probably September 2012.

Also I need to get her some project and worksheet on science, georgraphy and some history. She do her Bahasa Melayu also from time to time. Her Islamic Studies is fine and also quran reading. Not much to worry about her, except need a bit more motivation and get teach her to set target and learn to organise and manage her work through project. She in need of learning how to do research and compile work from research. I will set up a project for her to do as a team with MS.

That's all for now.

Working forward

Alhamdulillah, ourhomeschooling is working forward in the sense of not much stress and pressure. I guess, everybody notice that it's very important time now, in winter and spring for us to gettting on with our work before we had leisure time in summer. I had limit the time that two kids from neighbourhood coming to play with them. This is because if they came, they stay until night. I don't mind to baby sit them, but as we are homeschool, seems that we lost the flexibility of it.

So, alhamdulillah kids had been concentrate in the sense that they getting into the routine happpily. PS as usual, with her online school. The best about it, she seems to concentrate more an dmore, busy day by day and getting on serious learning than before. I am happy, very very happy. I do not want to put much stress, although I do at some of the point, through tarbiyah session. But, I do want kids to realise on their own account as well. Whenever I put stress, I will also give them tarbiyah which is motivate them in the sense that open their eyes from their point of view. Kids need to be help to see things from different and matured perspective.

MS getting on his Conquer Maths as usual. He manage to keep on track which is doing three topic each day. So, I am now concentrate S maths. MS seems flowing higher and higher with his Maths, something I am pretty worried before and much dreaded. So, it's a time now for me to start looking and concentrate into their English lesson. I know it's important and I had put it behind and did not concentrate enough for it. But, I love maths as maths will train kids brain. When they improved and see things through maths step by step, the skill they develop and will develop is much more making sense.

So now, I am looking into their English. Both MS and S. I would love to put MS and S on First colleage. But, I wasn't sure yet. First is financially I wasn't able at the moment , second is I can still cope and would like both of them to stay for me with the teaching and learning. S got not much topic left in Conquer Maths for her year 5 & 6. And she still got until September to finish her year 6 syllybus. I reckon we should be able to make it easily before summer, but would love her to actually start year 7 work way before September in Maths. This is what I try to concentrate now with her. MS should be able to finish all Key Stage 3 before September according to my guess. So, he will be just nice on track and this will make key stage 4 maths easy and he will have plenty of time for excersice for his GCSE. Which make me proud as when I got him he was way way behind, alhamdulillah. Such a big achievement for both of us which is sometimes I do not know how I do it. With my busy schedule and at some point I think kids had waste too much time because of my busy business and they way far behind. Now, looking overall, Masya Allah, how we had catch up on it. This is because maths need plenty of excersice to strenghten basic, otherwise there's no way they can go futher on the topic and curriculum.

I'm also concentrate on AS maths and try to put him futher and see if I manage to get him on Conquer Maths earlier than what he should be. Or we can just lazying around with some fun if we forward. Plus AS seem confident that he need to go to madrasah for his hifz and alim course. So to get him forward in curiculum will give him less pressure on his hifz soon when the time for him to start in Darul Ulom.

Now, I am looking between Oxford Homeschool for English or others curriculum. Which I can go through it with them with manual and monitor them and teaching them according to the curriculum. I just need that for MS and S. Which also mean someone can mark their work as well for English. So I am looking that type of system only for English. I don't think they too way behind, they just need lots of excercise in writing.

Other subject I am looking to set up for three of them; MS , S and AS is for georgraphy and science. Than I would love for them this year to be able to do some skill such as build something with wood and etc with hubby. I will have to proper plan that. With them on track and forward in Maths, than we can spend out time on other subject by doing project. Because doing project is taking time. And for me wasn't as important as Maths. Because age can effect how they doing in their maths. And maths also train and excercise our brain. Project will teach us how to manage and organise. But, first and foremost, is to sharpen our brain, than manage and organise will be easy task. Insya Allah.

Kids are doing other subject although we are concentrating and given more time on Maths. They also doing English, Science, Malay Language and Islamic Studies Monday to Thursday. Also of course Reading Quran. But, more time was given for Maths at the moment.

As MS finishing his Key Stage 3 Conquer Maths concentrating Fraction, Decimal and Percentage, S is concentrating on multiplication and division. I need to get another workbook that concentrate on that topic only. PS already mention we need to go to WWH Smith as soon as possible as she will need some GCSE book. AS is concentrating in addition and subtraction , more into tricky excersice. Hopefully I can get them back into minds printing , to top up their maths excersice.

So, alhamdulillah everything seems improve smooth, forward and easy. Just something that I need, Alhamdulillah before my busy time arrived.

Just another day

Our Homeschool today is as usual.

PS is getting busy with her online school. I can see her more concentrating now as first class before seems too easy for her. Although she seems not confident yet to do her exam, I can see she fit on weel with senior class. Amazing online school! She also busy as there is plenty of homework than before. And the homework also is tough than before. She love the challenge. She well organize and like making her own research. So everything fit her with this.

MS is today on another 3 topic for his Conquer Maths. Before I was planning to put him on Conquer Maths every other day, but decided for him to finish off fraction, decimal and percentage for the whole Key stage three topic. He did 3 topic a day as he had done quiet a lots of work with the topic with workbook, and I think he got another eight days to go to finish off the whole three topic for the whole Key stage three. I think it's better to finish it off before we than moved to the next topic for year 8 in conquear maths, than we will start on workbook for algebra title. I was quiet amaze and release on how MS work on maths. I just cannot help myself thinking of how he is when I first homeschool him on his Maths, Reading and English. I know his teacher before do work hard on him , which is why when we first visit school after we moved, his teacher concern about his reading to me as he heard that we are homeschooling. How much can a teacher do with 20 to 30 pupils in the class. Not much of course. And MS is really so much type of kid who in need of homeschooling. I am glad, although it was hard at first with him, with all the tears and me shouting, it's all worth now, alhamdulillah.

S do exercise on multiplication and division. I think I let her stay on the workbook until she finish it and I might get her on some worksheet or I was thinking to get minsprinting back on track. Mindsprinting now is not free anymore. So I was looking to pay and get the subsription , but before that I will need to get a printer as the old one had broken down now. S also did her english and that's for today for her as I got visitor.

AS also still doing exercise on addition and subtraction. It was harder addition with plenty of tricky and problem. He got on well, alhamdulillah. Today he learn about past tense again and also about past tense of singular and plural such as was, were, had, did and etc. He actually know it from conversation probably and watch t.v I reckon and every single exercise he manage to do it with proper spelling. I wonder how as we rarely do spelling. I bet it's the unschooling learning from t.v., internet and books. His spelling is excellent for his age actually and he now can read our taaklim session of fazail amal fluently.

So, that's all for today. We just concentrate on Maths and English as than I had visitors. Tomorrow as it's Friday we will do little work as the boys will go Friday prayer and hubby fnish home at 12.30pm.

11.1.11

Another day of homeschooling, alhamdulillah....

PS was on her second day of Senior Class. She said it's OK. Like usual, she will be making fuss of things like she cannot even make it or go through it, but when she actually doing it and getting on with it, she will always make it! Oh...should I say silly girl?! That is her. Many of people in her class will be doing their GCSE on November. She said , she didn't feel she's ready for it yet. Nevertheless, her age suppose doing GCSE when they are 16. Another year. But, looks like plenty public school now start making their student doing their GCSE since they are 14 years old. I don't know why. But, one thing that I didn't feel satisfied, is over here you can do GCSE and choose the level according to your ability.

As for me and I knwo for PS as well, we want our target to be the highest level. We will not take GCSE only because we just go through it or because others are doing it now, we we will be. If she did not feel ready, than we see how we can plan it. But, of course she won't feel ready if she not been push as well, as she's exam freak. She had sort of nervous thinking about exam. Because she can't help herself if she cannot achieve highest target she want. But, she need to learn about fail, cannot be perfect and except the result but try her best. Well, the most ever best she can!

MS:

Today MS start doing his Conquer Maths again. Seems that he getting on with Conquer Maths quicker than before. MS got one problem of concentrating on what he was doing. He is much much quicker than before, but still not as much as I would like him to. This is why his best education system is homeschooling. This is why I was keep holding him from going to madrasah or not. Compare to AS which declare himself going to madrasah as soon as he finish primary school.

As he had finish his Decimal, percentage and fraction workbook, which is 2 of them, he will now concentrating on The whole topic of Key Stage three of Algebra. But, before he start the workbook of Algebra, I make him go through his Conquer Maths lesson and finish Key Stage Percentage, Fraction and Decimal topic.

At the moment I am writing this, he still on his Conquer Maths still we start our homeschool today. We start quiet late as usual actually which is after zohr. As when I came down, prepare little lunch for them, eat and than zohr time. They read quran and than we start our homeschool. They now had to stop for asr prayer and continue. I wasn't bother even if I had started late, because in winter time, kids don't play outside. We got plenty time to sit and working on our homeschool at anytime we want.

S:

S is going to finish her fraction workbook today. The whole book of fraction only. I will than moved her into Decimal and Percentage workbook similar as what MS was doing before. I might than after that get some more workbook of fraction, decimal and percentage to make sure she got enough exercise for the topic before I moved her to Algebra. She is now on her test paper for Fraction and after she finish that she will do her English, Science and Islamic Studies.

AS:

AS had finish all his acedemic work today also plus quran reading as we did quran first thing before we start all other subject. At the moment, he's on addition and subraction excersice. He is master in the topic of course but need to do more excersice of different way of addition and subtraction. It might be easy and a bit boring for him, but he just had to get on with it. Which by the way make him finish his work early than others as he getting on easy.

On English, he learn about Verbs since yesterday. Yesterday we talk about what is nouns and verbs. Today he learn mroe about verbs which is past tense, present tense and future tense. he seem sunderstand it easy and getting on with workbook all by himself. He is kind of a boy who pick things up very quickly, do work quickly, therefore finish all his work quickly. The hardest thing is to get him shoo away from the others who not finish their work yet. I can't give him more work, because he feel it's enough and it is more than enough of what he been doing.

So, that's our progress for yesterday and today. I will start to be busy from next week with my business, so hopefully kids will stay on their homeschool track Insya Allah.

Homeschool progress

Alhamdulillah it has been 3 weeks now since we start our homeschool in proper routine. Now I decides our routine homeschool is from Monday to Thursday unless we had guest or going out. We haven't properly homeschool for ages. To be able to actually get back on our routine is actually excellent. My business is also had slow down as for winter with nearly there weeks full of snow, Subhana Allah. And I took this opportunity strongly to keep up with the routine of tidying, cooking , cleaning and of course homeschooling.

Everybody was on their workbook. PS of course on her first college. She was on her last day today and she got holiday until January. Therefore she going to concentrate on Islamic Studies and also doing some Maths exercise. Also she can get more practical cooking lesson in the kitchen hopefully.

MS had finish his 11-14 years old Maths workbook on Percentage topic just in tthis 3 weeks. Today he started 11-14 years old Maths workbook on Fraction and Decimal. Hopefully he will finish that in less than 3 weeks, and I expect middle of January (as we might have guest during Christmas holiday) he can start on Algebra topic. Than he can go back on Conquer Maths and looking forward to hardern the topic deeply for end of Key stage 3. He seems progressing quiqt quickly which although some hurdle in between to get him undertsnad some of workout. He was pretty much low in Maths when he leave school before and his progres in Maths now is excellent for his capability. He knows that he just had to work a bit harder and once he get on with the working out, he will be absolutely fine, alhamdulillah. I had him of Maths, English, Islamic studies, and quran. Also he working hard on his English. He didn't like reading much. So, I had to encourage him bit by bit. He was struggling on his reading when he leave school 4 years a go when he finish year 4 which is quiet sad. He improved a lots when we homeschool and impress himself in that. He is now working hard on his spelling and grammar. If we didn't put him in Madrasah, he probabli will join PS on First college while doing hifz from online as well. But, we didn't make any decision yet, as we also in the middle of thinking of planning other things.

S is progressing herself in Maths. She is now on multipication and division workbook. Until she finish the whole workbook of it , than we will moved to another subject. Although in between it sometimes I get her to do her fraction workbook. I like this individual topic workbook which enable kids to learn the topic proper and indepth before they moved to another topic for Maths. It's very important in Maths for kids to specialist in each topic fully before they moved futher which I think school system in UK had fail on that.

S also on her English workbook. In English I get them to do lots of workbook to imrpoved their verbs, grammar, spelling and writing. I was thinking to get S and MS on project sometimes in English. S also on her science workbook.

All of them concentrate on Islamic studies with workbook and tarbiyah during taaklim session after magrib. AS nearly finish his islamic book and I'm looking for another workbook for him. Iqra workbook is excellent. I am now probably moved into SA workbook I print out long time ago. He did some of them and he will now I think moved on practical fikh in Salat. For other kids also the same. I put stress in their fikh lesson actually. Problem of pure water, taharah, wuduk, and also like PS start futher deeper in masail such as janazah, nikah, and all other issue. Like quran reading , I like this to be slow but firm. Kids are slow in quran reading, but this is because to ensure the pronounciation is correct before they moved futher. It is very important to me unfortunately. Not just by pass it to finish.

So, alhamdulillah it was a good progress. AS had futher moved his Maths into multipication and Division. Also writing stories in English. He learn and done his work quickly and correctly. Subhana Allah, very impressing. Also his Islamic Studies and his quran. He didn't do other subject yet until I can get some more workbooks, textbook and other pratical things from the library as it's still stuck with plenty of my business things to be sorted out.

Now, we sit after magrib quiet long as it was still early, in our taaklim session with reading Fazail Amal, we also read Adab Al Mufrat and also this is the time when I do tarbiyah. As kids are getting big which both my first and second is now teenager, it is very important to sit and do tarbiyah. Tarbiyah for me is not open the book and teach from the book or read from the book, but sitting down and talk about issue. Socialisation issue, infulence issue, feeling and behaviour issue with all four of them , so the other two especially daughter which is with more feeling and emotion won't feel like it's all on her. So, I talk about real live, keep reminding about why we are here in this world. About nobody ever live forever. Everybody will die soon. And to think of gaining worldly things will bring misery later in our life.

At the age of teenager especially girl, they had so many dreams that suddenly come into their mind. What to become, what they want when they big. How their house going to look like and etc. So, it's very important to keep talking and reminding them in some way that we not pushing them away. I am not seem as too strict at some point. My daughter had access to internet, they all watch t.v and etc at some point, I do not puch some of these things which some people might seen as influence and disturb for kids education. Because out side world now , influence is so strong that people can just get what they want especially bad things easily. So, if important for me to let kids explore, experience it as long as it didn't do somethings againts shariah. I might had my daughter do something I didn't like when she start to be concious of her skin, how she wear and etc, but as long as she had her aurat cover properly, she know her limit and boundaries, I don't mind she had couple of different type of bangle although it can put misery into my eyes. I talk about it in a way which make her realise it didn't contradict shariah but doing unnecessary things is a waste and an act of syaitaan.

Issue with teenager had to be handle with care unfortunately. We want to invite them to good things, or otherwise they will get invited. We do not want to puch them away, but we do not want them to be nice and quiet in front of us and rebel later. This is a dangerous situation. And to create balance, and to make it right just for the particular people wasn't easy. You just have to try, not giving it up and play as safe as we can. There are times when I am just quiet when I see something I don't like with my teenager but there are also time where I say something loud, clear, and firm , than walk away to make them think. Live is not hard actually if we know and understand the purpose of it. But, of course everybody including me needed to remind again and again.

If anybody reading that had teengage kids, please share your experience in comments.

Science Experiment

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

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

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

Lesson 16th Dec 2009

AS:

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

S:

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


MS:

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

PS:

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

Lesson 15th November 2009

AS:

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


S:

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

MS:

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


PS:

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


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

Lesson 10 th & 14 Dec 2009

10th Dec 2009:

We only do maths:

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

14th Dec 2009

PS:

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

MS:

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

S:

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

AS:

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

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

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

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

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

Lesson 10th December 2009

AS:

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

S:

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

MS:

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

PS:

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

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

Lesson 9th Dec 2009

AS:

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

S:

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

MS:

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

PS:

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


Summary:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Back on routine!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lesson 7th and 8th Dec 2009

7th Dec 2009:

AS:

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

S:

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

MS:

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

PS:

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


8th Dec

AS:

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

S:

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

MS:

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

PS:

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

Getting On

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lesson 2th December 2009

PS:

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


MS:

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

S:

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

AS:

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