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.

Another day

Just another day of homeschool, alhamdulillah. I was a bit lazy today as my monthly hormone sometimes struck me quiet badly. I let PS off from her schooling, as she just got a holiday start today until early January. But, still she was doing science experiement and record them in science excersice book I bought from Malaysia. I get her to clean bathroom and toilet and also hovering all up stairs. She always tidy and clean up her room despite it was clean all the time. Usually at free time like this, she will change her pillor cases, duvet cover and matress cover and spring clean her room, alhamdulillah. Something I don't need to keep telling her to do. If she come down stairs and see lots fo washing up to do, she will do and also clean the kitchen as well.

S and MS just getting on with their workbook and than start doing experiment with Horrible science kit. As doing work with me as usual. We start key stage 2 books but had to leave couple of first pages as it was too easy for him. He also on his other maths workbook but that one only contain addition, substraction, multiplication and division. Today, this on this other work book we revise some odd and even number. Understanding how addition and subtraction can turn around using the same set of number. Than we also cover 3D shape as prism, cube, cuboid, cylinder and etc. It was quiet interesting for him as all this time I put pressure on addition, substraction and multiplication. He is one of the kids who understand things easily. So, explaining new topic to him only take couple of minutes, alhamdulillah. So today he did 6 pages of Maths including some Maths problem in Subtraction topic. He did some English today, of how to build a sentence. But, he wasn't interested much in learning today as he actually doing dictation work in his excersice book from Islamic book. He love his own learning at some point! He didn't do any of Islamic Studies yet at this time I was writing this, but will cover one topic later before he go to sleep. We already sit in our daily taaklim, alhamdulillah which cover everyday need part from tarbiyah and deen.

S and MS had cover all their work. I know they might just stuck with their workbook, but our workbook is not just one kind of workbook. Each of my kids can had couple of workbook for each subject. Probably not just a couple but may be some of them are cover individual topic in each subject which can get up to more than 10 kind of workbook in each subject. I was always fussy with workbook, but find that they actually cover what needed, but to stick with one book is quiet boring and eventually not cover deeply in each area or topic.

Not much hassle today as MS and S is on the topic they already familiar. Every two or three days, they will need my help when it's come to new topic. Once a week I will sit down with them to revise their Islamic studies.

Insya Allah hopefullly this routine will continue.

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.

Card making and progress

I should had put picture in here but never got chance to actually snap it.

PS had finish her 10 weeks card making course and now on the advance course for it. She had im[rove quiet a lots and had become nearly a profesional on card making by looking at it. Of course the material can be very expensive, but she had been told by her tutor where to go for cheap material for card making. Actually it wasn't just for card making, but also other cake decorating and art and craft. It's three store near to each other and had recently be our favourate place although it was about 20 minutes ride from our house. Alhamdulillah the material is very cheap and not just PS, but all her other sibling also start making the card under her supervision. AS really eager to get some stuff for his eid card as well.

Yesterday homeschool as usual. Conquer maths had made my job much more easier. And I am now looking for somethings else as well. PS as usual, as an independent learner, is better learn with online tools without my help. And I had found something interesting for her which I will post up sometimes by early next month when we on trial for it. At the moment, we only concentrate on three core or compulsory subject which is Maths, English and Science for IGCSE. Other optional subject wasn't that bad and she be able to start next year such as Design and technology, ICT, art and design and Child Development. I am not so sure for Art and Design as it seem need a course work but know someone who already tok it as a homeschooler. Also I know someone wo took child development as a homeschooler, so that is not a problem. ICT, she will be fine with it, Insya Allah. Design and Techonoly is the only subject that wil required me and hubby attention. I am looking to see if she can do Diploma as she is now 14+. But, not so sure yet as a homeschooler. Also the subject offer at the moment is not that interesting yet. I will sometimes post a website where parents can get all this information.

MS also had gone pretty well with conquer math. I am very please. Other subject now using workbook only. Plus our on going project. AS who had been play a lots still since we get back on homeschool schedule, now seem to get back on track bit by bit. I guess kids need a bit of a time to settle back down as adult as well and less pressure can easily speed up the process, alhamdulillah. It was good to see how less pressure on kids make things better. Although there are some point that I put pressure on. For example, PS and MS had certain topic of Maths with conquear maths they needed to finish in a day. So, it's up to them if they do one topic and rest or do all together or do half and play outside and come back later to finish it. If they don't for some reason, the next day they will have to recover the loss. So, it was a bit of flexibility and choice but under their own responsibility. Work will pile up if the don't follow the schedule and at some point they had to finish it off and be on track.

But, of course this is not really had been the case for the other small two although S will had certain amount of work to do that needed to be done. Especially as weather getting warmer, outside had bring so much attraction for them with neighbourhood friends.

Our life

Time flies. Like always, busy with me is very synonym.

But, homeschool is actually tagging along with my business and working and progress even in little edition, medium edition or bigger edition. It's all depends. When I was busy, than documentary will be one of the learning session. As for this, not just the kids is learning, but I am as well.

We getting on with our workbook whenever we got time. There are couple of learning had progress. I had to stop mindsprinting or any other worksheet as our lap top had broken. My note book seems didn't get along with our old printer and I haven't bother to connect it after fail several time. The broken lap top might need a new battery and transformer, unfortunately.

We did lots of work which include:

MS: Maths on decimal and fraction workbook. He been progress with this quiet a lots and we will keep on this topic until he finish master in fraction and decimal.
English: we did go though several workbook we had. Grammar, punctuation and spelling, writing and comprehension.
Science: Finish workbook for key stage 2, even though he already in year 7, I will moved him to year 7 when I think we cover the whole topic needed in depth. (very fussy I am, because for me it's not worth learning without understanding the concept and can relate the topic with everyday life for science)
Islamic studies: variety of topic, Islamic history, ad duha, quran reading, surah memorization, aqeedah and fikh. He did brilliant azan now where he is now allowed to do azan for friday prayer where he, AS and hubby did their Friday prayer.
History and Geography: He did several of history topic from workbook. We went for a visit to Museum last week as well with lots of history of North East and mining as we live in used to be lots of mining.

AS:
Maths: On lots of revision of addition and substraction. Lots of practise make perfect alhamdulillah. Really moving and progress and addition and subtraction is easy peasy for him now with lots of big number and he can do pages after pages in just a short time.
English: We did lots of spelling, grammar and also start to learn in depth about writing; such as stress on punctuation as capital letter, question mark, exclamation mark and full stop. Start learning about how to write a story, about paragraph and will progress further Insya Allah.
Islamic Studies: Going through couple of topic in 'We Are Muslims' book. Learn formally about azan and before we did the formal learn in the book, he can do azan properly already. Only he need to open his mouth more to get it done nice and clear. Insya Allah, lots of practise will be done. He's already do the iqamaah brilliantly since more than a year ago. He now will make sure he got proper wudu' , with his jubah and kopiah before he pray. A change he made for himself without anybody actually telling him. He will prepare and be very particular with the time for praying, Masya Allah. Lots of lots of memorization done while I was busy, one surah after another in Juz 30. Cannot wait to reach 12 at year 7 to go to Darul Ulom.
Science, History, Geography: We did several of this now and again, but not much. It's happen now and again especially science.
Lot of play of course!!!!

S:
Maths: Also on fraction topic and also we do lots of words problems solving. We will stay on the topic for sometimes.
English: Did lots of variety from grammar, spelling and writing, Also some comprehension. Just needed to practise more in writing. Will start to do letter writing as well.
Islamic studies: Do lots of Islamic History about the Prophet in details. Lots of quran reading and look after her prayer constantly since she reach ten, alhamdulillah. No question about it. This practicing is somewhat important. And to see her moved into that with eagerness when the time come and she needed is lovely.
Science, History and Geography: We did variety of this and like others, watching documentary, visit to sunderland museum and some workbook and worksheet.

PS:
Math: Progressing in Conquer maths to finish off the revision for Key stage 3.
English: Lots of variety of exercise of grammar, words, writing and comprehension in depth and GCSE style.
Islamic studies: Lots of discussion. Finish ad duha and will start to do some formal and proper tajweed learning. But, her quran reading getting better in term of tajweed and pronunciation and also reading. Not progress much in term of quantity but progress in term of quality, alhamdulillah. One book she did about aqeedah cover al topic such as khurafaat, khilafiat, jtihad and the ending with one by one topic of the day of judgement such as imaan mahdi, Prophet Isa, Yajuj and Majuj and more and this topic had create big discussion between me with four kids. I read several article about this in central mosque. Hubby is in the same room and didn't actually join the discussion and mind his own business. Hubby usually is a reference for me if it's involving the matter of fikh and Islamic history. I think me and kids was stuck with this discussion for about 2 hours.

Overall, we had been having a mix of good outside and inside that I had to juggle in between my busy-ness. I do feel at some point that if we actually do something? As my kids is on the age of formal learning. But, if I look back, it's like wow...ok..we do cover a lots in our busy time.

Today 3rd of March, alhamdulillah, we manage to start early. House is in clean and tidy and as I had guest yesterday, I had lots of left over food, therefore it was quiet relax today and by 10am, AS already done his Islamic Studies, English and Maths. Unbelievable. MS and S also start early but they had more work and they stop at around 10.30am, and go outside to play as weather is lovely. Now we waiting for zohr and MS and PS is on their study session. S will continue a bit more later.

PS now attend card making class which is meant to be for over 19, but with my writing permission, she allowed to attend once a week for 5 weeks and it's only round the corner form where we live. They also went to Youth club and library club each one a week which make us all busy round the clock.

Tagging along

We are just tagging along here and there. It has now been a busy week for me. Monday, PS and MS going to Youth centre from 3.30pm till 5pm. Tuesday all four of them went to library for investing in children club, although MS and AS not joining it anymore but go there to read the book and go on computer.

Yes, they go on computer there because it was very limited time used at home plus we now had only 2 lap top that operate as I had put our 2 old desk top down as it's too old and need replacement. As day time was busy and usually after our homeschool, hubby back home and will take over the lap top for his other entertainment such as go on his email and etc. He don't go on any other things while at work such as his personal email, news and etc although he are on computer most of the time at work but only for work.

Wednesday, MS and PS went to Youth centre again which usually they on art and craft session or just chatting and going on various activity around there. It was good environment as most of kids parents is working parents. Most of the kids come straight from school and they either chatting, doing art or going on various activity such as sport, on internet (which got restricted access) or just doing their course work or homework. They also do some cooking there and eat, let say big meal there before going home. It was actually a convenience place but under youth care guidance and it's free as it's belong to council.

Friday between 6pm to 8 pm is junior time which S and As went for to join various activity such as art and craft, sports, cooking activity and etc.

I was a bit sceptical before of what kind of kids, my kids will confront. But, I try to be brave inside me to let go my fear a bit and stress out to my self that there's no way I can keep them with me all the time in the future. I had to let it go bit by bit and teach them along the way. Alhamdulillah, kids that went there is kids with manners and they made all of my kids feel welcome, and not feeling any different or racial tension at all. They all made friends easily and of course some education about our culture and religion will started to come out. The youth worker saying that they will get halal food for my kids cooking lesson, but told PS that I can get them as I want them to be HMC not just halal. I might also going there to give some cooking lesson for Asian food.

At the moment I am waiting to have some informal meeting with couple of other homeschool parents and kids who had teenager kids in North East. Hopefully we can share the value we got and the problem we had to go through even though looks like we the only family who is muslim.

So, it was a busy time on week day, Subhana Allah. Plus all the cooking and cleaning. I had manage to maintain the cooking, cleaning, laundry, alhamdulillah. It was great and be able to actually maintain homeschool as well. We wasn't on schedule homeschool where I know what to teach the next day and etc. But, I am kind of tagging along and do know where kids are with their learning. They also made a record everyday on where they are.

PS had enjoy conquer maths and now on revision for Key stage 3. So, no minds printing for her all this week. MS also did maths from revision workbook. We started to cover a topic that he miss for primary school. When I first started homeschool he did not had a strong foundation in Maths and I had to go back to basic maths to strengthen his maths foundation especially timestable and division which take about a year and a half so to say. So, he is behind in most of other topic such as basic fraction, decimal and meansurement. But, as he is mature more than when he suppose to learn basic of that and because he had strong maths foundation now, it was very easy for him to cover the topic. So, we just did some basc fraction, than moved to adding fraction and some problem with fraction. It seems that not doing the other topic when he should be, not to be worry much although I did worry before.

This is similar with S. As S haven't been long in school such as PS and S, she did had more benefit to advance when she started homeschool. I had also left out mindsprinting for her all this week and we go through workbook she suppose to finish at age 9. There are some topic left out such as basic fraction, money problem, reverse operation and basic measurement and now we going through it and it was easy as she had quiet a lots of works for times table with mindsprinting and other work with mindsprinting had strenghten her basic maths and enable her to understand the problem she cannot do before quiet easily, alhamdulillah. So, quiet a lots of work progress this week, which even though not been record specifically there but we cover a lots from our work book.

S had also work with writing, comprehension and writing poem. MS also do work from workbook cover spelling and grammar. PS cover poem activity and grammar. They all did some other subject. MS finishing off topic for key stage 2 science. He shall started science for Key year 7 , probably a week after next week as I will get him to do some science SATs. They things is, my kids especially MS did not like at all topic such as Big bangs from science point of view. Lots of things that they think contradict what they learn and understand in deen, they do not like it. And I don't think I will push them to learn that in a way of conflicting both topic of science and from islamic point of view but we try to look at it from both side and what science had contradict. Because there are lots of research that actually prove what we learn from quran and hadith. Only for us to know what science contradict with to understand deeply that what Islam says is what true. But, I will leave topic that I think wasting time for them to learn just to gain a knowledge that will contradict too much with Islam such some of topic in history. Usualy kids themselves will opt out of it. Even though my kids are not have much knowledge formally or being teach formally in term of proper islamic knowledge and history, but they will opt out in their own sense that this will not suitable for them and what a waste of time for them to learn. As knowledge that is not useful is a waste.

AS had not done mindsprinting as well and we going through workbook this week. We did some easy work to finish off workbook such as subtraction, addition, world of animal and easy measuring work. Also we did some Islamic studies which cover geography, science and english together. Some day we just so this Iqra book, we are muslim 2 for his Islamic studies as well as English as there are lots of vocab, nouns and writing involved. Also reading. Usually I did some reading about the topic to him and than he will get on with his workbook that come together with the text book. He had been on memorisation programme on imaan star every morning and sometimes night. He don't actually care about what others do. And he will just on with it. He done one surah for this week and getting onwith the next one now. Enjoying it so much without any of my effort. Alhamdulillah. I can hear it as soon as he wake up and now and again during week day. He said that he got new surah that he can says in his prayer now. His step alos follow by MS without my effort. I believe in teaching kids the benefit of the knowledge, and the benefit of the effort and why we should made effort and what kind of effort we should made. And of course for deen, we need to constantly let them know that deen is not just about knowing, so do memorisation of the quran. Memorize now and forget about it later or burn out later is no good. It is important for them to know why they doing it, and to make sure that they feel good about doing it from their own point of view. My kids will not memorise quran because I want to make them hifd or alim. They had to had this responsibility and their own self belief in what they doing. Especially with deen now a days that easily been play up with.

So, as before we just tagging along this week with plenty of work been done, alhamdulillah. Next week we probably looking to join some activity around or taking some fresh air as it is half term for school. Probably look around for a 'homeschool' trip as PS suggest!

I am probably going to try to sit and make a plan for next week this weekend. As house seem fine and we not yet having any phone call of anybody coming. Also I don't intend to go anywhere except probably getting some halal meat to store up as our ration is actually finish. We will have some busy weekend for the next two week, so I think probably getting on with ironing and my new online shop for muslim in UK especially and other part of western country to be done, Insya Allah.

Learning review

What we been learn all these time?

AS:

Getting on with adding. Adding thousand and hundreds thousand and also regrouping and no regrouping. Now is on rewrite horizontal adding to vertical adding. Also started on times table from workbook. He did not memorise timetable but from experience I got from MS and now S, just to get them do times table even if they write down time table and get the answer from there. Just not from calculator. AS is doing times table by using times table 'table' for the answer. I don't mind at all because after hundreds and thousand times table they will do along the way, they 'accidentally' memorise it without they realising it!! And that is like a magic to them. They only thing is they will whinge along the way as they will have to do hundreds and thousand of the timetable but is suddenly we ask what time what is what, they just 'accidentally' answer from their mind. (this is what happen to MS and S and make them laugh to themselves and realise the reward).

English is on mindsprinting worksheet also workbook. Also did some writing stories and lots of reading as usual. Yesterday he did some colouring and also reading and comprehension about volcano.

S:

Will be still on times table in mindsprinting. She did some maths from workbook as a break from mindsprinting times table. And now back on mindsprinting times table.

Did English from workbook and yesterday I started to print out form ed helper which she did about fact and opinion. Also done lots of comprehension from mindspriting and lots of reading a usual.

Yesterday she did learn about volcano also form ed helper and today will be the same. She had been doing science and history before. History from Galore Park book.

Islamic studies had been on ad duha, alos on iqra foundation with MS which topic now on Zakah. Also doing lots of revision on prayer supplication on her own and with MS as she's now 10. She also had look after her prayer on her own account and pretty much responsible on it by her self as she says that she don't want to get smack.

So, alhamdulillah, seems the magic wand had workout well as soon as they reach ten. She not been told to pray between 7 and before 10. And with reading the hadith of benefit of prayer form fazail amal and also the torment from hell fire of neglecting salat, automatically create their responsibility and create the zeal of looking after their prayer.

The tips is to teach them to pray but I didn't actually pray together with them on every prayer unless hubby is at home and we pray in jamaah as we don't have local masjeed nearby. It is very important for us to look after our prayer and to get the kids every time to stay with us with prayer when they small at this time of the fitnah age can lead to easily burn out later. We pray together when hubby at home and they all did, but I am not waking them up for fajr unless in ramadhan before they reach 10 and sometimes they do miss some prayer here and there and I am not that bother. But, very important to sit and read from the hadith especially the hadith with the benefit of amal which automatically motivate them.

MS will always pray jamaah together with AS at home if hubby not at home as it's important for boys to learn that they need to pray in jamaah where azan is being call. As we are far away from the local masjeed, usually MS will azan for zohr, asr, magrib and insya prayer as the azan in the masjeed. alhamdulillah his azan now had improve a lots since hubby emphasize on that nearly two years now. He also don't mind doing azan while we had guest at home when it's time. So, it's also had build up his confident on that. Hubby can do very nice azan and now it's MS turn. Hubby's dad is local imam in his hometown in Malaysia and so do my grandfather on my dad side. Hubby also always been imam anywhere he went and also had been an imam for jumaah khutbah probably more than a hundred time.

MS:

On math he is on 'area'/perimeter topic at the moment. Before he had been on temperature as well as finishing of advance topic on 'time' and calendar such as world time and problem.

English he had been doing from CGP workbook and also ed helper. With all sort of topic of grammar and comprehension. He need to build up his writing skill a lots and I am looking to find a way that suitable for him.

Also did on volcano topic from ed helper form geography. History with galore park book.

Also on ad duha and iqra foundation workbook with zakah topic at the moment.

PS:

Is getting on well on all revision topic on key stage 3 at the moment from conquer maths. Also on mindsprinting worksheet as well. She getting well on maths and I do hope that we been able to finish all topic for GCSE by end of this year and revision for couple month and will register her for GCSE maths on July 2011 exam, Insya Allah. Not sure about other subject yet, but Maths will be definitely by looking at it and probably trial on English as it will be IGCSE English and also ICT. She should be able to take science by that time or may be we bring that forward for Nov exam to take the stress out plus she's only in year 10 this September which usually GCSE been taken at 16 although some school started early for half of subject now in year 10.

She is yet to decide weather she will take child development or not and I am not so much worry to decide at last minute as she probably need just a year to complete that. She wanted to take product design but I am not sure about this as this course will acquired course work. So, I put that aside for a while.

I had register all kids to get involved with local kids in children club. I was keep thinking about his and I think it's about time. S and As had been to junior club lst Friday. Only two of them for 2 hours. They are the only muslim and asian and alhamdulillah had getting on well with other kids. I was really wanted to do this as I think it's a need for the kids to interact with other kids especially local non muslim. We had been learning too much islamic studies and about non believer and it can easily create a distance between us and local non muslim which is no good. We need to interact but not follow their way and kids need to learn this now before it's too late. Keeping them too far from outsider will not be good for their future.

MS and PS had started on Monday with art class. MS make friends and will go again today with senior club just to play sport there or chat with other kids his age. He was not so confident before and keep thinking how this non muslim kids will be. But all kids that go to youth centre is a good kids and been getting involve in lots of good activities under youth worker. So, he was happy after first session. PS had found out about girls club and will start join them on Monday from 6pm to 8 pm. It's a good start for them and my local HE which is mostly non muslim or probably all of them, is started HE teen group and we ow looking for our first meeting to set up activities for our Teens. One of activities that we looking for is a Duke of Edinburgh which involving surviving skill which I love my kids to join. We will hopefully also discuss on to get a tutor for some subject and share the course which I probably need is for English subject for secondary.

So, a lots had been going on around and had gone quiet well despite my busyness. Feel like still need to keep my head straight into proper homeschool schedule as in early Dec that had happen but not just yet. Just too much going on here and there with this cold weather winter and winter blues that come and go....

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.

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 2th December 2009

PS:

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


MS:

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

S:

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

AS:

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

Lesson 1st December

AS:

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


S:

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


MS:

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


PS:

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

Lesson 30th December 2009

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

PS:

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


MS:

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


S:

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


AS:

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

Today lesson 26th Novenber 2009

PS lesson:

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


MS lesson:

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

S lesson:

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

AS lesson;

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

Alhamdulillah..

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


eid mubarak to everybody..

25th November 2009

AS lesson;

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


S lesson:

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


MS lesson;

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


PS lesson:

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

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