Never can

Subahna Allah, I am trying to update this blog frequently, but unfortunately things happen differently. We plan, but Allah swt know the best and always has a better plan.

Our homeschool is always up and down in term of formal learning. But, still we trying to catch up whenever we can. Amazingly, on some of the things, unlike Maths of course, kids seems to get better although without formal homeschool and it was like up and down. So, it's help to release my pressure seeing this happen. Of course as a mother who homeschool, and busy running our life, we always think that we never done enough. But, when every time I sit with them to do some work, it seems that they had grab the lesson that they didn't before better than before. I think it's a magic of seat back and relax, but of course not negligence. And I think as a mother we could tell and feel between those two.

Yesterday me and AS was doing comprehension. Before when he was doing comprehension, not sure if he lazy or what, but he didn't grasp the idea of answering the whole sentence. He will only write down the answer without repeating some part of the question to make it full answer. But yesterday, when I told him to get his English workbook, because he want kinder surprise chocolate, he open the comprehension page, which far in the middle than where he suppose to do. Because he the one who want to do this, the page about snake, I told him that he need to answer the comprehension in full sentence. I write down the first one and show him the second question on how he got to repeat some of the word in the question. Alhamdulillah he got the idea and answer everything in full sentence with correct answer. I praise him and told him how good his work that he been doing except he got to try to do his hand writing better than that.

Today, I start printing mindsprinting for him. Yes, I start on mindsprinting back again and pay for it for AS and S. Both of them do the test again. S was behind on some topic in maths, which I know that will happen, because I make her stuck on some topic for long time before and even now. So, there are some topic that she should learn but did not yet. But, it wasn't worry me because I know once she master basic important things in Maths, she will just move quickly as MS. AS was right on his level, which I didn't actually expected, Alhamdulillah.

So, today when AS English come to comprehension part, he answer all the question in full sentence, with correct answer and nice and neat handwriting. Also with short time he finish his English and Maths, which both got 4 pages for Maths and 6 pages for English. All done actually under 40 minutes!

MS not doing any work today as he was tidy up his wardrobe and than we were out. S did her mindprinting. PS was on school holiday for three weeks. All of them also busy with new pet, hamster. We just had two hamster since a week ago. They was asking this for ages. Probably since three years ago. I manage to get fish for them, since two years ago, but I never actually put this story up and picture, may be some day! I was so lazy these day with picture! So, now we got five fish in big aquarium and also two hamster. Actually I meant to buy four hamster, one for each kids. But, we didn't manage to get the hamster cage from car boot sale for boys just yet. PS bought hamster cage, new one actually from a supplier in car boot sale for £10. It cost around £30-£40 in shop. But, this selling fast that day, the first summer car boot where we live. Seems like everybody was waiting for this car boot to open and this man who sell variety of pet items. So boys didn't manage to grab one, the supplier didn't come last Sunday , so we have to wait for this coming Sunday, Insya Allah. I will not spend too much for that, but I want the big cage. So girls got actually 2 floor of cage. Because I said to them if we want to have animal like that, we need a big cage for them. I don't want them to find like they trap somewhere but comfortable to live like in their nature.

On other story, we also went to Science Feast couple of weeks ago and I still haven't manage to put up picture! Many things happen actually. MS been making so many things using cardboard boxes and recycle item. He also been making video review about his toys since nearly two years ago. When he reach 13 years old, he really want a you tube account to upload his video as he always used you tube as a 'teacher' to help him do things and make things. He also like to make video about his bionicle. Only since couple of days ago I manage to sit down and look at his video and approved his video to be put up in you tube. Hubby was also quiet surprise watching how MS talk and do review in the video about what he been making. Although I don't really like him much with bionicle toys, but I guess things will pass by and he actually learn lots of skill in it.

So now we actually plan for him to actually design something that more into learning and put together electrical and electronic knowledge we learn in science. He love science and always talk about how science help him making and design things. He actually wanted to be a vet, because he love animal, but he actually very good in designing things, creative and also getting good and better in using tools, which I think he probably better off involved in engineering course which he also think he best at.

This is how thing is at the moment. There are plenty more things to come and I should write more often and hope I could that so. Many experience and things that we have go through together that wasn't been capture in this blog as I was so so busy. But, I have to say, my busyness with my business also have giving me chance to put more into kids education. My business is full into helping hubby financially and all of them go into kids education, Alhamdulillah.

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.

Long Hiatus

I've been in long hiatus with this blog, unfortunately. Sometimes it seems that I don't have time for it or what, not so sure. Don't feel like writing most of the time. But at the same time feel exciting about writing but no so as well. Probably we are on our swing home schooling. Pretty much so for all this year, I reckon.

By the way, PS had started back on her Online school with First College just after eid on 13 of September 2010. Others also back on Conquer Maths now and again. Also on workbook. Our library is full with my business stock at the moment, so we just squeeze in family room as usual. PS usually sit in the lounge by her self as she need full concentration. She getting on so well and learning style and homework needed to be done is really good. I like the learning style they had as it's totally different than school although the target is GCSE. She also had friends who live around the globe, Thailand, China, UK, Europe and other part of the world. So, it was excellent as they share the experience and background. I am so please with what going on, alhamdulillah. It was worth the money.

MS is waiting to go to Darul Ulom. But, we had to wait as we had some plan before we send him off. We need to go back to Malaysia to sort out PS and MS identity card and to sort out several other things. But, as we not sure when, but probably this year, we put MS entrance on hold until we sort everything out. We also looking and planning for a gap year, so to say. Probably travel somewhere and live somewhere in middle east for couple of month to learn arabic and for kids to gain experience. But, we not so sure how to do this at the moment. And what lay in this next couple of weeks and months. PS settle as she can continue her class when ever she is as long as we can get her internet connection. So, that's sort out for her. AS and S not in worries position. S had catch up well on Conquer maths, so do MS. AS also catching up in his way. He improves a lots in his own, despite me on yo yo homeschool.

So, homeschool never actually stop here although this blog was quiet for a while. It's just I don't have certainty at the moment with kids and our journey. Only PS now, had certain and proper routine and on track. She start school at 9.30am and finish at 2pm. Than she will be send homework and need to submit before 12midnight. So, she sort of busy whole day except she got day off Friday as her school only 4 days a week. I probably get MS on that as well if we take decision to move and take a gap year for the whole family.

That is what going on with our homeschool at the moment. May I be able to come back and write here. Insya Allah.

Nature

My husband love nature as he was raise in the village. Unlike me. Although I was raise in the smallest state in Malaysia with tiny town, but I was in the middle of that tiny town. So, it was less nature to me as I wasn't allow much to play with mud compare to hubby. I was always try hard to avoid things like camping, praying just about anywhere clean when ever we need and things like that. But, marriage to one of sort of 'born survivor' made me turn like one although not fully one. I remember one of the sister I know in Malaysia since I was 12, make a remark to me before we came to UK that if me and hubby get thrown in out in the sea, we will grow as an island compare to other people. What she think is we will survive when ever we go although we handed with nothing.

Kids I reckon had inherit some of hubby nature genes. Although in hubby eyes, they are still far from it compare to what he used to at the same age. Plus of watching 'Bear Grylls born survivor' give them lots of knowledge they love and learn from time to time. But, of course knowledge ONLY is not enough if there are just left as a knowledge. But, to learn practically usually harder than we learn or we think off.

MS and AS always asking me if they can make a shelter at the back garden using stick and left over grass or dry leaves from the garden. MS and PS experience making this when they are in school. They will had to go out on school trip and learn practically to make a shelter in the wood and their shelter will be tested against water and the strength. I told them, they can do it if they want. But, first MS get carried away by making archery from the tree stick. It was quiet good to see how kids can go out and find what ever they can to create and design something and tested against it.

Mind you, PS fingers in the video is actually trying to make some fun out of the video at the time which I didn't know that they are making a video of testing the archery.

For me, homeschool for me is all about thinking out of the box. Is about thinking differently and having idea and creative not just in learning but surviving. At the end of the day, it's not worth having all sort of certificate, if we can't even survive when the time come. Especially being a muslim, we do face hardship at some point and it's very important for me, to create the strong mind and the way of thinking. Honestly I do not know what is my homeschool or how will it end. I do not have big target for. Degree, getting a good job wasn't in my target at all. May be because I am not any of it.

Making money? I might good in business, but in the situation of holding the need that we need, I can used what I can to help my family. It was far from luxury. if we got extra, it was always go on kids education. Never a sofa, dining table and neither luxury clothes. I never bought any abaya since years ago. But, of course the important changing clothes now on kids especially they grow pretty quick. Working professionally in UK mean we can only cover the basic need such as house rent, bill, food and car. We cannot actually go beyond that. What I got from my business, can only cover the need for their things such clothes, shoes and education. Living in UK is far from rich and luxury. Not when one working professionally with 4 dependent. Unfortunately. But, I love my privacy life we got here and to be able to tuck in with my own value and perspective without having to argue much with others especially relatives and close friends. It wasn't nice when you had to break a relation because of you had different opinion than what the rest of people want to hear!. But, at the moment, this is what typical Malaysian had in their mind.

I know all my kids including the youngest 7 year old AS had already in their mind what they want to be when their big. It's not a job that they only dream off, but something they focusing on as well in their own point of view. I didn't put off any of their dream as it wasn't go beyond the limit of Islam at all, but I wasn't actually focus it in my mind and plan for their target formally. I do have several plan informally in my dream, but was I really focus is actually their deen, the strength and the weakness they might had along the way with their deen, also for the girls what important is for them to focus on having confident and firm as girls had a big challenge in brought up their family. So, importantly for me is cleaning, organising their own room from time to time, spring cleaning, helping around and think sharp and sensibly as what I think needed for a girl who will one day become a wife and a mum. Their role will be more challenge in the future. So, from time to time, when we talk about their dream especially PS as a girl, I will try to put some input in simple word about the bestest job for a muslim woman is to be a better wife and mum and that is the important focus in our life.

When S said that she confuse sometimes because she think she had couple of ambition and not sure which one to choose, I do said that being a fulltime wife and mum will fulfill all your ambition and also enable you to do all other related task as well. But, of course it's required lots of courage. For me , it wasn't easy to be a mum or wife. It was on going challenge.

Boys, I wasn't worried much as well. My sibling history and hubby sibling history shows that when you choose islamic education on top of everything, the life after they finish study is more successful than the one who choose secular education in term of duniya. It was amazing which make me no worried at all even if my kids cannot even make a good essay or doing a good maths. Because I seen it as a real history in front of my eyes, Subahna Allah. And this is also become a conversation and motivation from time to time. So, thanks to my brother and one of my brother in law who had been successful in the future they might not even dream before will be that easy. Without any secular examination AT ALL. How their success had made others with the real secular education had to listen to them. They never learn how to do a project, how to do an essay, far than knowing algebra, geography, history, but their sacrifice along the way had been refund by Allah s.w.t. with the greatest dream they never even bother to dream off. Seeing that and more day to day in their life, make me more strong in what I believe I want for my kids especially boy. But of course all this had to give credit to parent who had make sacrifice financially and emotionally. I am actually learning to make sacrifice emotionally and I think I will be worst than the boys. The boys had been motivated as they had the input since small, but me my self is actually not so sure although I had ease a lots because the boys seen so sure. How can I ask how will they be, if they actually had full confident to go for it, but now me? Still I am half way to sacrifice my self emotionally. When the time come, I know I had to.

Homeschool hide and seek

Homeschool hide and seek. That is what our homeschool like, at the moment I think. We not really in proper homeschool for ages. We get on our workbook on and off, but not as much as I would love to. I am not proper organising at the moment with so much going on. But, alhamdulillah one thing that I found out inside my self, is I don't ever feel horrible about homeschooling or if the kids actully learn anything and actualy achieve and gain anything these days.

I guess, I had my own reason for homeschool. To take the responsibility on what I should and will be ask for. Neither kids can read, write, learn, is not that important to me, BUT weather they pray or not, when they non behave, when they encounter with any question they face from watching tv, browsing internet, from friends around the house, I am there to talk to them, to answer them, to whinge to them and to be there for them. And for me, at the end of the day, that is what matter.

They are not perfect, far than that. My kids watch tv, play wii, play game on internet, go to youth centre and mix with other non muslim. They do behave badly, they mess their room. They forget to help around sometimes. I had to shout at them, scream at them, telling them off, BUT, I know that they know I am there for them. Certainly, it was never been easy when they grown up. Teenage hormone of course wasn't easy to confront. I was smiling when I read about new research suggest that terrible twos is no longer the hard time for parents, but now it's terrible 14!

So, it was constant nagging..too much until I lost word. But, PS sometimes forgot that I am her mum, and think I am her friend! So, we do get along as a best friend at some point, arguing, debating and laughing to each other. And I do had to remind her at some point that I am her mum!. But, at the end of the day I know that teenage period at this time and centuries wasn't easy. it was trickly and full fo challenge. Trust me, if you really think your kids is important, you can easily get burn out at some point. I got that time to time and I had reach the time where the burn out had really burn out and I forgot how giving up feel like. I think I just enjoy the challenge.

So, if you think that having small kids with not much different age from each other is a challange to feed them, entertain them, teach them and you feel like you got too much on you...Brace for impact soon. Under 7 especially was as easy as A B C. And having teenage girl top up the pressure. But, of course there are so much benefit of having big kids. You got help around.

PS take over totally on the garden. Lawn mowing, seeding , feeding and weeding the grass. Sort out last year plant and get them back in order. Sorting out her bedroom and help around the house on other things of course such as laundry, washing up, tidy around and on top of that help me with my business stock which she wil test the toys, clean and sort them in order ready for me to do the next step. But, of course it had to come with shouting her around and giving command after another. Wich do make me feel on top of my breath sometimes, but I am also had to think about how much she had done around and when ever I ask her to do things, although it come with question and reason, she will do the task.

And of course it's so much different with boy. MS don't question, argue or reason much or sometimes not at all. He will just get on with whatever task been ask to. But, of course as a boy, he will take time to digest things sometimes. Compare to PS which at some point, especially when I desperate for help, she just know what to do and pick whatever needed. It was quiet a challange to confront with teo different teenage gender. And to see a big different and to treat them with different way and approach as well. Which make me so tired at the end of the day!

Well, our homeschool table and chairs I order three weeks ago had arrived from South Wales. far a way. I am about to give a visit to ikea for storage as well. Actually wit my business that is growing, I am in need to organise my homeschool and therefore need to find storage and homeschool solution. The school table is good as they can stack on each other and save space. Just what I need. We also got them in four different colour and also four different colour for the chair. Untill I go and get the storage, it will still be a mess and unorganise. Hopefully after that I can sort out the paperwork and make our homeschool easy workable and simple. As I know where to go, it was much more easy. But I still had plenty paperwork and article and worksheey I had print out and curriculum since nearly 3 years ago since I start our homeschool. All these will need to sort out soon. Especially my mum and dad will come for a visit on July and after they go back to Malaysia , it will be ramadhan. And than winter will approach later after eid and we probably going for a long holiday.

Too many thing to do but I do take things easy these days even with homeschool. I don't know how far kids had achieve but will track their progress in proper soon..Hopefully I wasn't up in the shock!

Today homeschool

We manage to do some lesson today. Everybody did quiet some lesson for their Maths, English and Islamic Studies. Three important subject that I get the kids to focus in whatever situation.

I had started some work with AS for Key Stage 2 Maths for 8-9 years old despite him just turn 7 last month. Because this stage will give him more challenging work rather then just boring easy work for him. We will continue to do key stage 2 work for maths as a revision and practise. He also started to do workbook for English for age 7-8 years old. Which is also a bit more challenging for him rather than simple basic English. He can stay on his own, read the instruction and follow the example. Topic such as noun, proper noun, phonemes can be self teach now. I interrupt now and again if he need help. So, thing progress pretty quick and advance with him.

Others also progress in their own way. PS got her last day of card making courses. Lots of benefit for her and her last course is making scrap book. She also started to research her self on project she needed to do in Islamic Studies, IT and Art and Design.

MS and S should be fine in their learning. Although we are mostly busy and on the go, but every time we on the learning time, they catch so quickly, unbelievable. Also every time we came back from somewhere, and quiet a long journey and tiring, they can just take their workbook and do a bit of this and that and this happen almost constantly everyday, alhamdulillah. So, not much worry actually even though I am pretty much busy bee..and its good as we learning the curriculum but kids also get interact in real life a lots. Not just boring formal learning, but mix up with everything in reality.

Anytime

I had bought a new workbook for AS which is complication of Key stage 1 curriculum for English and Maths. It's only £1.99 from the work out let. And last night at around 8pm, he took the book and asking me if he can do some work. I am no bother at all while I was resting in front of the internet. He than keep going on and manage to do at least 10 page. When it's time for the kids to go up to their bedroom around 9.30pm, he ask me if he can bring the book up stairs in his room and I think by today he manage to finish a quarter of the book already, Subhana Allah. Anytime!

I did find out that AS was a different kids than others. Although he can be a difficult one than others, as he has been a youngest in the family for more than 7 years now, but he is learning at anytime and anywhere. The other kids, the result of schooling had a big different way of life so to say. And the other things that separate him also because he did went to nursery since he is one years old until three and half years old which also make a big different because the other only started going to nursery or when they about three to three and half years old.

There are several reason that make him a different person, but to do more experiment, I might not have anymore after him to tell a different from others observation..:)

On the other story, kids had been getting involve in their learning happily ever after in between my busy hours. It was like working full time with my business at the moment but at the same time, did not leave my kids behind. Be with them all the time, drag them everywhere I need to and lots and lots of life learning, reality for sure. And that for sure is a learning it self. he learning that cannot be seen but happen. Weird but true.

Still sometimes I cannot get 'this' out of my head. That learning had to be sitting down, worksheet, workbook, making something or doing something that can be seen physically as a result. Although I used to be homeschool, my homeschool focusing on exam which make me not much different from being in school. So, still this awkward way of thinking playing. But, the result that I see, is actually better in actually had the learning physically in evident, weird. This is why unschooling got a place! But, to be unschooling full time, probably wasn't my 100% choice. Oh...!! Silly me actually. I am thinking of unschooling better which make me think out of the box and make kids think out of the box but I still trap in the box my self.

That's what the way of education been presented to us , make us. Learning only in proper way, learning only by having or taking exam and learning only happen if we can see the work been done by topic. I need to get his out of my mind, as soon as I can!

Back to school

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I should...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A very long holiday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Early summer holiday

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

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

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

Experiment Part 1

On our experiement day sometime last week...

Electical circuit..build by MS

Using magnet to move things by S.

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

Lemon clock by PS.

Revise with workbook, experiement and record.

AS with electirc circuit car.

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

Life on the other side

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unschooling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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