“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela
I come from a country that places a lot of emphasis on learning a foreign language. When I was 8 years old , my parents enrolled me in an English class for two hours once a week and two years later I started learning German too. I have always loved being able to speak other languages. When I was in University, I decided for the duration of my three years there, to take Spanish as one of my modules, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It truly is a blessing knowing another language and you never know when it will become useful. As Frank Smith says “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language.”
Now as I mother myself, I place a lot of emphasis on my children being able to speak another foreign language. I decided to go with Spanish, as it is the second most common language with an estimated 442 million speakers and as it is a phonetic language ,it is also relatively easy to learn. My children have been having private Spanish lessons for nearly two years , once a week with a native Spanish tutor which have been extremely beneficial.
I am also always on the lookout for products that will help my children with improving their Spanish Skills. I was recently asked by WordUnited to review some of their ‘Learning Spanish for kids resources .
They offer great quality children’s educational toys, books and learning resources. From alphabet toys to number toys, “we believe that learning can be a fun experience and provide a vast collection of kids learning toys, including nursery resources and primary resources, to support this, with a selection of resource categories that promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. We unite learning with playing and stock a large variety resources to cater for every need. We aim to inspire educational play by providing a wide range of kids’ learning toys to choose from for children up to 11 years of age. “
I first heard about Wordunited three years ago and I decided to buy their Actions in Spanish ” Write and Wipe” Flashcards Kit, as it was the first time I have seen a product like this. I was also very impressed with the whole design and the quality of the cards.
The Numbers in Spanish “Write and Wipe ” Kit contains the flashcards with numbers from 0 to 20 and then 10x to 100 . Your child will be able to write/trace not only the numerals but also the words , which is really important too.They are great as they promote not only writing but also reading . I liked that the text on the flashcards was clear with minimal distractions, which is very vital as it truly helps the child to focus. One side of the card is for the writing and on the other side , there is an engaging real life photo. I love the fact they have included little arrows on each flashcard that show how to write the strokes in the correct order.
The cards are very sturdy and a great size too with lots of space to write . My children thoroughly enjoy writing on these Flashcards and they often do them independently too. The cards are also brilliant for visual learners and are for children aged 3 and above . They can also be used by teachers in their classrooms as they do support the National Curriculum. Even if you yourself, do not know the pronunciation of a particular word, WordUnited have clearly thought about this too and have also included a link on their website , where you can listen to the sounds of the words in this kit. What I absolutely love about these cards, is the fact that they come in a very sturdy box and your child can do them while in the car or while waiting for an activity. My 6 year old has used them a few times outside while waiting for her siblings to finish their swimming class.
The Colours and Shapes in Spanish is another great “Write and Wipe” Kit. This fantastic kit will help your child to recognise a wide range of colours in Spanish including gold and silver. They will also be able to trace and draw 2D shapes and recognise 3D shapes in Spanish. My 6 year old really enjoyed doing these and she has learned a few other shapes which she did not know before.
I also asked my children’s Spanish tutor about her opinion on the Spanish “Write and Wipe” Flashcards Kit Sets. Ms Noelia Sanchez Blanco says enthusiastically : ” Wow, I love the design of these cards! I like that they come in a box, which is very sturdy and I love the size of the cards- there is so much space to write. This is the first time I have seen cards like these. ” When asked , if this is a product that she will use in her lessons, she gave a resounding ” YES !”
The ‘Spanish Flashcards‘Kits come in a very sturdy and durable box and at the moment they are sold for £6.99 , instead of £9.99, which is a fantastic price.Alternatively, you can buy all 4 Kits for £20.00- https://wordunited.com/product/write-wipe-spanish-pack-flashcards/. The Word United flashcards are available also in English, Arabic, French and German; teaching the alphabet, numbers, colours, shapes and actions in each of these languages.
There is also a fantastic and varied selection of Spanish resources on their website , ranging from books, dictionaries , toys and games, that will make Learning Spanish for kids fun. In addition there are lots of worksheets for children to practice reading and writing in Spanish. You can download and print worksheets in Spanish for free here. Do have a look at their Free Resources Hub , where you can also find free resources for English, Maths , languages including German, Arabic and French, geography, science and history , arts and crafts and many resources for children with special needs.
Learning a language can sometimes be a challenging and frustrating experience. However, Wordunited have truly created enjoyable and at the same educational products that will make learning a foreign language a breeze !
“We can best help children learn, not by deciding what we think they should learn and thinking of ingenious ways to teach it to them, but by making the world, as far as we can, accessible to them, paying serious attention to what they do, answering their questions — if they have any — and helping them explore the things they are most interested in.” John Holt
Today’s Homeschool Chat brings you Liane Collins , a mother of a two year old boy, from England. When I first approached Liane, she was a bit surprised that I asked her to participate because of the age of her son. As for me, one of the main reasons I messaged her about the series was because of the age of her son. It reminded me of my own start of home educating my eldest daughter. I knew from she was a newborn that me and my husband will home educate her. I have been blessed to live in a city with a huge homeschooling community, that welcomes parents of young children and babies, in homeschool meet ups. In fact, one of my first “official” homeschooling meeting was when my eldest was 6 months old, in a baby carrier. I think its extremely important for parents, who know that they want to home educate their child from the beginning, to have that opportunity and be welcomed by their homeschooling community, regardless of how old their child is.
Without a further ado, here is my interview with the lovely Liane, who can also be found on Instagram @devon_monti_mum.
1)Tell us a bit about your family and your child/ children
My small family unit consists of myself, my husband and our 2 year old son Oliver. .We enjoy the outdoors, having fun and making memories together. Myself and our son have a heart condition called Long QT Syndrome, which is linked to sudden cardiac arrest, so we really like to make every day count as much as we possibly can. Our son is such a gentle soul, of course we get occasional hitting, slapping in moments where he is emotionally overwhelmed, but generally he is sensitive, caring, loving and so unbelievably affectionate. He is also cheeky, has a wicked sense of humour, a flare for risk and passion for exploring and being outside. Our family ‘bubble’ may be small, but it’s perfect for us.
2)What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children ?
We are choosing to home educate because we don’t believe in the mainstream school system. We feel it is outdated and no longer supports a child’s individual needs. We are also choosing to home educate because we want our son to have freedom to learn what HE chooses, rather than what is forced upon him by a governing body. Freedom is ultimately the biggest reason we are choosing to home educate. As I’ve said, we want him to learn topics and subjects that he is interested in, but also the freedom to just be him. Be able to move around when he wants, be able to eat when he wants, be able to go to the bathroom when he wants without having to ask permission. Some people say ‘but they need to learn all of this for real life’, but I argue that’s a lie. What if our children become athletes? They will need to be moving more than sitting. I cannot think of one job where you get in trouble if you leave your seat (maybe a pilot but as long as he has a co-pilot or autopilot we’re safe), where you have to wait to be told when you can eat (everyone has a snack draw at their desk at work surely) and where you have to raise your hand to ask permission to go to the toilet (if you do, please leave your job immediately). We also want family freedom. The ‘penalty fines’ for removing kids out of school during holidays is absolutely ridiculous! I will not be dictated to by some government person when I can take my family on holiday, nor will I be fined because of it. School’s simply do not have the facilities or funding to teach each child as they need to in order to get the most out of each child. Not all kids can learn sat down with a textbook or PowerPoint presentation. This is not the fault of teachers, it is the system. A system raising children not to question, to do as they are told and to learn that one day some ‘superior adult’ will tell them what they can and cannot do e.g. When they can take annual leave, when they can have a pay rise etc. I want to raise Oliver to question everything and challenge the status quo. He may end up working for someone and be told when he can have annual leave, but he equally may end up working for himself and I want him to know that he can be successful in life without being told what to do. However, having said all of the above, if he ever said to me “Mummy I want to go to school” I would absolutely let him go around schools, find one he likes and try it. He may love it and stay but equally he will always have the option for home education. A school is not the same as education. Education happens in a building called a school. Education also happens at home, in the woods, at the beach, in the work place, looking out the window. Education happens everywhere. School is just another place where you can receive an education if you choose to. We are simply choosing the woods, beach, moors and our home for Oliver to receive his education.
3)What does a “typical” home school day look like for your family ?
At the moment, a lot of play, as our little boy is technically ‘pre-school’ age. We fill our days with play, experiences and time in nature. Whether that is a walk in the woods, a trip to the beach, a train ride, a trip to the zoo or trip to the local Trampoline park. I intend to keep our relaxed routine for quite sometime. Right now I find learning happens in the moment and in the environment he is surrounded by. For example, we were out for a walk in the evening and he noticed the moon, we then talked about the moon and the stars. Another example would be trains, Oliver can identify a diesel train, steam train, freight train and high speed train just because he’s watched them pass through stations or been on them. This has just come from his questions or acknowledgements which me and my husband try to answer and to help feed that inquisitiveness right now.
4 )What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc ) ?
I will be picking and choosing really. Predominantly I’d say we will be unschooling. The appeal to me is the practical side of learning, getting hands on and taking excursions to see places. For example, if my son wants to learn about Stonehenge we will go there, rather than read from a text book. I will also be tuning into Montessori and Charlotte Mason for elements of our home school as well.
5)What do you love the most about home schooling ?
The ability to not rush. No 9 am school run, 3 pm pick up. No home work to dictate how we spend our evenings. No uniform to wash. Just the ability to be who we are, as we are, in our family. It really does come down to the freedom it gives us. Even now, there are no child minder runs anymore or nursery runs and there are days we don’t get dressed till 10 am! We can simply be. Again, I hear “but they need to learn to get ready so they won’t be late for work” 🙄🤦♀️ “He is two Susan! I’m sure somewhere in the next 16 years he will learn to dress himself, put on a tie and get to a place on time, but it doesn’t have to be whilst he is age 2”. I truly feel we have lost touch to our children that are right in front of us, we always want the next thing don’t we? From birth we want them to crawl, then we want them to eat, walk, talk, read, write, take SATs, pass SATs, get A’s blah, blah, blah. What are we doing? Oh my gosh your two year old isn’t holding a pencil yet (shock), that doesn’t mean he won’t get in to Oxford University. Oh my gosh your 7 year old struggles to tie his shoe laces (shock), that doesn’t mean he won’t become an Olympic runner. We need to stop thinking that our child’s achievements right now dictate their success 16,18,20 years down the line. It’s simply ridiculous. Our children are incredible right now. They are doing all they should be doing right now.
6) Do you do morning time/ symposium / circle time ?
I have recently started to read about the ‘miracle morning’ and I have started to adapt this into our routine. Every morning now myself and my son have breakfast and we do a 10 minute yoga session. I then read for 5 minutes too.I like mornings to be as stress free as they can be if possible.
7)What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?
This is a question I need to predict as I don’t see that I teach much right now. I’d say my favourite subject will be art and my least favourite possibly history because I’m aware that isn’t my strongest subject. I am terrible at remembering dates, it takes me more than a minute to recall my wedding anniversary date!
8)What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children ?
I am sure I will find challenging the demand to find work/groups that meets his needs and interests. Possibly, also the self doubts that I know that will creep in my head about if I’m good enough, have I made the right choice etc. But I will overcome these, lots of research on my part and a supportive family will get me by.
9)How do you find time for yourself/ self care etc ?
My husband and I are a good team. I can tell him when I’m burning out and need help and he will step in to let me shower in peace or take Oliver out for an hour so I can read a book or do some cleaning.
10)What are some of your favourite homeschooling related books?
I enjoy reading John Holts work and have more books in my amazon basket to read this year.
11)How do you deal with unsupportive family , relatives and friends ?
No one has openly told me they have issues with our choice to home educate. I am sure if it does come to light that I have people in my ‘circle’ that don’t approve I will try to educate them on my choice, but ultimately I won’t push anything on anyone. If they are uncomfortable with my choice, it isn’t my problem, it’s their’s which they need to work through.
12)Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years’ time ?
Hopefully having fun and making lots of memories. I hope my son still chooses home education. I hope I have been strong enough to push past any doubts I may have had.
13)What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ? Believe in yourself. Be brave enough to go against the ‘norm’. Educate yourself, that is my biggest advice. Open your mind to see the current education system for what it truly is. Realise that you don’t have to be a teacher to teach and just take it one day at a time. There are no rules in home education, that’s the best part.
14)Imagine your children 20 years into the future , what do you want them to say about their homeschool experience ?
That he felt free. Free to learn what he wanted. Free to learn what he wanted for however long he wanted. That a curriculum or person didn’t dictate to him what he could and couldn’t learn. That he has learned to question everything around him. Ultimately, I want him to have enjoyed learning and love learning so he carries on learning and growing during adulthood.
I was kindly sent the English Comprehension KS2 Book One by Ilm Tuition in exchange for a review.However all thoughts and opinions are my own.
So What is Reading Comprehension ? “Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of what is read. To be able to accurately understand written material, children need to be able to (1) decode what they read; (2) make connections between what they read and what they already know; and (3) think deeply about what they have read. ” As Ilm Tuiton says: “Reading Comprehension is an important skill to develop and can be transferred and used in all areas of learning. This series of comprehension exercises will help your child build vocabulary and deepen their understanding via inferencing, deduction and other related skills”.
Reading Comprehension is a big part of the British National Curriculum. Although, as a home educator, I am not obliged to follow it, I personally have been doing reading comprehension with my 10.5 year old daughter in a more formal way for just over year. If she were to be in school, she would be in Year 6.
We were nearly finishing the CGP KS2 English Comprehension year 6 Targeted Question book, when Ilm Tuition asked me to review their “English Comprehension KS2 book“. It could not have come at a more perfect time.
I really like the selection of texts. It contains some great classics such as ” The wind in the willows”, ” The Railway Children as well as modern examples ranging from fiction and non-fiction. There are ten texts in total.
Each comprehension text starts with a Cloze Exercise, in which the child has to fill in the blank spaces with the appropriate word, followed by a vocab and spelling exercise. The child has to read the text and write the words that they are unfamiliar with , learn the spelling and find the definition of the words. This is a great exercise for independent work and a great opportunity for your child to use a Dictionary. I often encourage this this with my children instead of using the phone and finding the meaning. There are around 9/10 exam – style questions for each comprehension text.
What I absolutely loved about the book is that unlike other comprehension books, the answer section doesn’t just give the answers but it shows how they arrived at them with evidence from the extracts. This is brilliant as well because it truly enables children to think and develop various strategies and techniques to figure out the meaning from the context rather than memorise.
I also liked the overall layout of the book- simple and easy to to use and follow. This is definitely a challenging and very well thought book. It is geared for children aged 9 and above and will certainly be a great support for any children, who are sitting the 11+, Common Entrance and SATs preparations.
Children are, by nature and from birth, very curious about the world around them, and very energetic, resourceful and competent in exploring it, finding out about it, and master it. In short, much more eager to learn, and much better at learning than most adults.~ John Holt
Welcome to another Season of Homeschool Chat series over on my blog. Today’s interview is with Amina Mohamed, a mother to 4 little humans. She holds various qualifications, diplomas, degrees and a master. She enjoys learning and reading and her favorite past time is listening to lectures whilst sipping on coffee/tea. She is the second eldest of 8 children and “thus had to grow up before I could even enjoy my childhood. Alhamdulillah I learnt quite a lot taking care of my siblings and was able to transfer the skills coupled with my studies and experience to my own children. I enjoy being with my children as I look at them as my akhira investment. ” Amina Mohamed can be found on Instagram @thesixcards . She also has a blog https://knowledgefountainbooks.com/ .
Tell us a bit about your family and your child/ children
My family consists of me and my husband and our four children. Our eldest is 8, then 5.5, 3.5 and a 2 year old. I do all the teaching and signing children up to extra curricular activities and my husband helps with the driving the children to places and planning surprise days out which I’m grateful for as the children learn so much from the outings.
2.What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children?
When I was in college my mum gave birth to our youngest sibling. This sister of mine at age 2-3 was diagnosed with severe eczema. Her face was unrecognizable due to it. Me and my oldest sister would take great care in researching what we could do to help. As we were busy trying to care for her face, we realized our parents forgot to sign her up to nursery. We just naturally taught her at home as we got quite a lot of time off college, she became confident and was very wise in her thinking. She reasoned extremely well about her surroundings and engaged well with adults and children of all ages. We homeschooled her using whatever resources were available to us and by age 6 she was 2 years ahead of her peers. Sadly, our parents got a lot of negative talk from friends and they persuaded them that our sister will become anti-social! (Eye roll!)
That experience taught me two things; one – to teach a child doesn’t require much resources and two – it’s possible!
That was it – fast forward 10 years later and I’m holding my first born and I now have a PGCE and a Masters in education and have been teaching for 5 years in different schools and settings. I was determined to teach my own child as I felt it was extremely possible. My other reason for homeschooling is because I look to my children as an Amanah (trust from God) and I need to teach and guide them on certain matters that I feel only I am able to do a good job of. I’m their mother and I know them better than anyone. I have no issue with the school system and if my circumstance was to change, I wouldn’t mind putting them there but as for now I’d like to have my children close and grow with them and expose them to things I feel will add to their life experience. Homeschooling is for everyone but not everyone is able to homeschool. I see homeschooling as an extension of my parenting.
3.What does a “typical” home school day look like for your family ?
We wake up for Fajr and then return to bed for a quick nap before waking again at 8am. Breakfast is served and we get on straight to revising our Surahs, learning a new ayah, reading the qaidah for my second child and setting up the legos or another hands on activities for the younger two. The kids take mini breaks and we get on with spelling or reading, another mini break and it’s maths for 15-20 minutes. I usually finish teaching by 12/1 pm. I like to finish before dhuhr so we can spend that time cooking and cleaning up, catching up on read aloud or just playing. On some days I fit in painting or baking but most days the children have access to water paint and colors and lots of plain paper to do as they please. This is the ideal model, but most days we get Quran and Arabic and some maths and that’s it! Everyday is different but everyday has to have Quran!
4.What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc ) ?
With Islamic studies we are classical in that we memorize a lot of what we learn. As for normal studies we don’t have a particular method or idea that we follow. I’m quite open to whatever I find suits our family routine.
5) What do you love the most about home schooling ?
I’m not rushing around the clock. I take it easy, there’s always going to be time to learn. There’s no need for the rushing element that we find in schooling system and many organization. Children learn so much from just being around you.
6)Do you do morning time/ symposium / circle time ?
Morning time is always duahs recitation and Quran. We use to do circle time before the arrival of my rather energetic two year old, but at the moment it’s been paused.
7)What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?
I enjoy all subjects even mathematics , which I used to absolutely hate in school. I’m actually enjoying it as I’ve found ways to teach my children without pressuring them against the clock! I do enjoy teaching Quran the most and I’m most passionate about it but it can be hard most days as I sometimes forget my children are still young and fairly new on the journey. I have to recall how I viewed Quran when I was young so to take a step back, because the aim is to help them love to read for life.
8) What do you find challenging when it comes to home schooling your children ?
I find preparing the materials and finding easy to follow resources challenging. When you have more than one child time is against you and are only left with squeezing in reading time and planning time when the baby is napping or when the kids have gone to bed. It’s really easy to just browse around all day and flick through different books and purchase too many books before you realize or find the one or two simple books to use. Alhamdulillah , we learn as time progresses but I must admit a lot of finance and time is wasted and because of the amount of information there is online, it is so easy to get diverted and sucked into buying things you don’t need or will never use.
9)How do you find time for yourself/ self care etc ?
Trying to really get a balance on this one, but for now when the kids are in bed I do as I please. To be honest my self care really consists of drinking a beverage in complete silence – I’m happy with that. When you home school – the house is full of energy and noise so if I’m able to sit and just be able to hear my own thoughts whilst drinking my coffee – I’m happy. On days like that I am very productive the next day because I would have had my cup refilled the night before. Other times I get the husband to take the kids out whilst I enjoy my own company, and other times spend it with friends who will allow for adult conversations to be had!
10) What are some of your favourite homeschooling related books?
John Taylor Gato – ” Weapons of mass distraction ”
The Well Trained Mind by Susan Bauer– allows me to plan or look at how to plan
“Fun start “ by June Oberlander ( I like this book because I don’t have to think about ideas to do with my under 5, I just open the stage/age they are at and there’s a simple activity to do with them)
“Language and thinking for young people ” BY Ruth Beechick – again another excellent resource filled book to use with under 5
“Daring greatly “ – Brene brown
“Today is their name “ – Christoph Arnold
11 )How do you deal with unsupportive family , relatives and friends ?
I’ll be very honest here, I don’t waste my time explaining anymore. Most of my family and relatives have never gone to school and have been traditionally taught (homeschooled style) and in the beginning they were cheering me on about homeschooling but now some have started hinting that the kids should go school for whatever reason. I listen and just kindly respond ‘inshallah, whatever Allah wills’. Alhamdulillah I have had very supportive friends so no problem there.
12)Where do you see your home schooling journey in 5 years’ time ?
I would hope to see my homeschooling journey become efficient and my children acquiring the foundations I set out during their early years. Because I follow the classical Islamic method of memorization I would hope that they can recall the information memorized and start putting it into action. Inshallah I pray we continue homeschooling and moving forward.
13) What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?
Look at homeschooling as an extension of your parenting and you would be able to find some ease in the heavy task ahead. You are your child’s first role model and you are the best teacher because you know them better than anyone. Believe me, homeschooling ain’t easy but it’s worth it. You are gonna have horrible green monster days but you learn and the kids learn to. You are building relationships and creating memories. And the best of all… you can do the absolutely minimal and your child will still learn. Children are natural learners as you will come to find out.
14 )Imagine your children 20 years into the future , what do you want them to say about their homeschool experience ?
I want them to be able to appreciate the time, energy and sacrifice we (me and my husband) did for them. I would love to hear them thank me for the experience, skills and knowledge they had attained. I would be so happy to see them blossom into beautiful adults.
I am super pleased with myself ( if I may write/say so lol) because we are half way through the month of January and I have managed to read two books so far. This really never happens! I really want this year to concentrate a bit more on my blog too and write more reviews on here rather than Instagram.
One of my January reads was Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erikson.
” Quiet the voices of “not good enough” and step courageously into guilt-free homeschooling
Many homeschool parents have a long-term relationship with self-doubt. “Did I make the right decision?” “Could someone else do this better?” “Am I robbing my kids of something by not sending them to ‘regular school’?”
What if there’s a better way?
Not a 3-step technique or a shiny, new curriculum, but a change in perspective that transforms the way you plan, teach, and homeschool?
Homeschool Bravely teaches you to see homeschooling as a calling, helps you overthrow the tyranny of impossible expectations, and guides you through the common bumps in the road, including how to:
juggle school and parenting with toddlers at home
teach a struggling learner
plan with the end in mind
accept your own limitations without feeling guilty
stay the course even in the face of criticism
Reclaim your hope, renew your purpose, and transform your homeschool. Because the truth is: God will use every part of your homeschool, even your fears, faults, and failures, to weave good plans for your kids. “
“Jamie Erikson taught elementary school before becoming a mother . When her first child turned five, she made the decision to homeschool her daughter. Four more children followed and she homeschools all five. Jamie is the founder of the Unlikely Homeschool and a popular education blogger. “
One of the first things , I want to mention is that this is Christian homeschooling guide. If you are not a follower of the Christian faith ( such as myself), but believe in God, you will find quite a lot of similarities and in my opinion find the book useful. There were a few pages here and there that I skipped as I did not find them applicable. If you are a secular homeschooler, I think it is really important to know that there are scripture references throughout the book and mentioning of God, as Jamie Erickson weaves her faith through every aspect of homeschooling that she addresses
Having said all of that , let’s start with the review. “Homeschool Bravely” is divided into three Parts
Part 1- The Fear ” Fear will be a threat whenever you set out to pursue a desire that means something to you. ” Emily Freeman.
I really enjoyed this part. Jamie gives her wisdom on how to have anxiety free homeschool. Let’s face it, whether you are new to homeschooling or have been homeschooling for many years, we are all prone to fears and worries , in regards to whether we are failing our children by taking this unconventional and less trodden path- Home Schooling. Jamie reminds us that ” the real challenge is finding your own vision and passion and then firmly grabbing hold so the shaky days don’t break you !”
I really loved reading the chapter “Watch your own Dice “. Jamie writes beautifully on the dangers of social-media-fueled pressure , that can feel particularly pronounced in the realm of homeschooling and the danger of comparison.
” When you begin to homeschool, you might start out rolling your own dice with intensity, but then you get distracted and take your eyes off whats right in front of you. You look at how everyone else is homeschooling- you see their picturesque success and assume that if you just followed their magic formula, your homeschool would turn out exactly like theirs. You invest in yet another pricey new curricculum you can’t afford beacuse that one blog post has you beliveing the shlevs of books you already own just wont cut it… My homeschool is not supposed to look like yours and yours isnt supposed to look like mine .”
Part 2 – The Struggle
” For every little part of your child’s lifeyou try to own and fix for them , you are taking away something from the work snf worth of God in their lives ” September Mccarthy
I found this part really very useful and practical. Erikson looks at the importance if establishing routines for your family, how to foster togetherness and encourage personal responsibility in your children Her Chapter ” Struggling to teach a struggler ” would be really beneficial for anyone who has a struggling learner ( whether they are home educated or not ) . She reminds us that ” Education is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Just keep moving forward ” I enjoyed the section on documenting improvement through recorded reading and on the importance of including other non traditional passion driven extras in our homeschools, and not just concentrating on the the 3 Rs- going beyond Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic.
I absolutely loved the chapter on ” Little People and Big Messes “- lots of advice in there on how to include your toddler in your homeschool and how to create a Tot School . Jamie gives lots of Handwork activities for your toddler depending on how old they are. The activities are split in ages 1-2, 2-3,3-4,4-5. She reminds us once again that the toddler years are temporary and to remember that ” homeschool means everyone in the home plays a special part in the grand plan. “
We all know how difficult it can be to homeschool your older children , when you have a toddler in the mix, who also craves your attention all the times and has his needs and wants. Jamie emphasises that during this struggle-filled season , parents should consider trying a more interest led education , through strewing or project based learning. She gives a great list of simple ideas and activities that you can suggest to your child in order to sneak learning into even the craziest of days.
Part 3 -The Solution
“Our society has made an idol of getting things done, making that our top cultural priority. But instead of asking , “Am I doing enough ?” why not ask , ” Am I doing what’s mine ?”
In this Part, Jamie reminds us that truly the world is our classroom and we should not restrict our children’s work only in the homeschool room ( if you have one ), because “a classroom can inadvertently shape a lazy learner. If his learning always happens in a certain space , as a certain time , and with certain tools, your child will begin to think that learning can only ever happen that way. “
Jamie also gives ten discussion questions for any book , that you can have with your child. One of my favourite parts of this book was the chapter ” It’s Homeschool, Not Homeschool at Home. Erickson reminds that by fastening your success to your children’s , you are giving yourself far too much credit and far too much blame. ” In assuming, you are the key ingredient in the recipe for success , you are implying that you have to be an expert at absolutely everything in order to impart all of that everything to your child,lest he end up with an irreparable gap in his education “.
At the end of the book, there are two Appendices -Appendix A will be brilliant for anyone who is considering home education . Jamie includes over 15 questions to ask before you start homeschooling. In Appendix B, there is a list of homeschool book recommendations for further reading. As Charlotte Mason wrote : ” education is an atmosphere, discipline and life”. As with any vocational calling, to homeschool well, you need to engross yourself in it, ” continually learning, honing your craft, and gathering the necessary tool to help you build a sturdy foundation. “
The book also contains lots of uplifting quotes from other inspirational homeschooling authors and bloggers such as Pam Barnhill, Jamie Martin, Jessica Smart, Julie Bogart and many more. Overall, ” Homeschool Bravely is encouraging, uplifting and inspiring. It is like sitting down with a homeschooling friend and having share her wisdom and courage to you as you visit. As Jessica Smart says: “the books is brimming with fresh, doable ideas to transform bad days, occupy toddlers and refresh your mama soul!””
“Homeschool Bravely ” by Jamie Erickson can be bought from Amazon- https://amzn.to/2FSwdEM ( affiliated link)
My first read of the New Year, was a homeschooling book – surprise, surprise !!! I Discovered Pam Barnhill a year ago while reading Sarah Mackenzie’s book ” The Read Aloud Family”. And since then , I have been reading a lot of her content ( on her blog ), as well as reading her Book ” Better Together ” ( a must read if you want some morning basket inspiration ).Better Together: Strengthen Your Family, Simplify Your Homeschool, and Savor the Subjects that Matter Most can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/2NrGDj0 ( affiliated link )
Pam Barnhill is a mom and former secondary teacher. When she’s not homeschooling her three kids, she can be found helping and encouraging homeschool moms at pambarnhill.com. She is the host of Your Morning Basket, a podcast devoted to helping families contemplate truth, goodness, and beauty in Morning Time, and The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast where she interviews homeschooling parents, providing a peek into their days. She lives with her husband, children, and a passel of dogs in beautiful Alabama.
End of last year, I found out, while searching on Amazon, that Pam Barnhill has written another book , called the Confident Homeschooler: How to thrive in the day to day “. I was not able to get it as a Paperback , so it had to be on Kindle. It is free at the moment if you have a Kindle membership.
I have to say I am not the biggest fan of Kindle- I am very old school and juts love reading a physical book, but I did not mind reading this on Kindle and I think part of the reason was because it was a short read ( only 22 pages ).
So here is my review, if you are looking for something new to read this Year:
“Stop making homeschooling more difficult than it has to be.
As a homeschool mom there is a good chance that you are your own worst enemy. Unrealistic expectations, your public school past, and worry combine to sabotage the peace in your homeschool day.
In order to take charge of your efforts and your results, you needs ideas that allow you to step outside your old paradigms. This ebook presents five simple ones that will do just that.
Discover: • The single shift that will maximize learning in your homeschool. • The most important, and most overlooked, step to homeschooling successfully. • Two simple ideas that will create smooth-running days… for good. • Ideas for creating a schedule that works for you instead of you working for it. • How to take charge of those pesky mornings that often get you off track.
In the end, you’ll be able to create a homeschool for your family that brings you confidence, peace, and kids who learn. “
There are 4 chapters in this book:
Chapter 1 “Don’t work harder than your kids”- this was a gem, absolutely loved reading this one. Pam reminds us that it should not be only us putting effort and finding amazing projects to do with our children. Instead allocate responsibility and allow your children to put effort too in their own studies. As Barnhill writes, ” allow your children ,especially those 8 and above, to create their own questions, games and acctivities. “
Chapter 2 ” Be True to your… family”– this chapter is all about your homeschool vision and it is really very thought prvoking. Pam reminds us to look towards the end goal too and ask ourselves, in 20 years down the line, what do we want our children to say about their homeschool experience and about you as a homeschool mum.am
Chapter 3- “Eliminate decision fatigue “- I found this chapter really very interesting and useful. Pam explains what decision fatigue is and how we can reduce it. I loved her recommendation on using spiral notebooks for student checklists, especially good for older children, aged 8 and above.
Chapter 4 ” Love your Schedule”- This is a really very practical Chapter and it looks at the various schooling schedules that you can have, whether it is year round homescholing or alighning your acdemic year with the calendar year.
Chapter 5 -” Make the most of your mornings“- this is a short chapter on morning time and tips on how to be consistent.
Overall, this is a great little guide on home education. If you are new to homeschooling or someone who just wants their homeschool to run smoother ( don’t we all ), you would truly find this book super helpful. It is jam packed with so many useful tips, practical advice, links to many other blog posts and articles. I only wished it was longer!!
The Confident Homeschooler: How to Thrive in the Day-to-Day can be bought from Amazonhttps://amzn.to/2QTPH2n. ( Affiliated link )
What a year 2019 has been! 2019 was the year that I finally decided to pluck up the courage and start my own blog. Without exaggeration, I have been contemplating starting a blog for over an ENTIRE DECADE , ever since my eldest was born , but I never did. I guess it was not meant to be for me. But I am a true believer in that things happen, when God wants them to happen. So here I am with my own little “baby” and my own little space , my own corner of this online world for me to write. If I am entirely honest, I wish I wrote more last year, but I am still happy with what I achieved .
My big obstacle to blogging more has been truly finding the physical time to do this. Juggling motherhood , domestic duties and homeschooling my five children , it is diffciult to find the time to write. I often try to blog when my children are asleep, but most of the time I am so tired, especially if I have had an early start ( think 6 am and interrupted sleep- my nearly 2 year old still wakes up ), that I end up just browsing on Instgram for 30 min before going to bed myself. But I am trying to change this and I intend to blog a bit more this year 2020. Do not want to make some big promises to myself though hahaha.
So , to celebrate the end of an amazing year, I would like to share my top five posts of 2019 with you. Here they are :
1 )Homeschool Chat with Sarah Javed– in 2019 I decided to start The Homeschool Chat series , in which homeducators /unschoolers from various nationalities, race, religion answered questions related to the way they home educate. The main intention behind these series was to give those who do not homeschool and or those who are interested in home education, but not sure where to start , a little glimpse into the beautiful world of homeschooling. I did two seasons of the homeschool Chat series last year and there will be new ones in 2020 too, which I hope you also find inspirational and beneficial.The most read interview from these series was with the lovely Sarah, a homeschooling mama of three children and an author from the UK. You can read my interview with her here-https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/06/25/home-school-chat-with-sarah-javed/
2) 12 Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha books for children – Throughout the years, I have always found it a struggle to find books on Hajj and Eid ul -Adha. There are so many more books for Ramadan in comparison to the blessed month of Dhul Hijjah. However, I made it a bit of a mission for myself to find more books related to Hajj in 2019. So this blog post will give you a selection of the various books. I have separated them in two sections – books on Hajj and books on Eid-ul Adha. You can read my blog post here-https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/07/28/12-hajj-and-eid-ul-adha-books-for-children/
4) My Top 20 Children’s Islamic Books for 2019- This year, without a shadow of doubt, I purchased the most children’s Islamic books that I have ever done in recent years. I think part of the reason is that unlike ten years ago, when there wasn’t that much on the market , now the publishing industry for Islamic books is truly booming. We are truly blessed and spoilt to have so many new and exciting titles coming up every year. This blog post contains a list of our favourite Children’s Islamic books that we read in 2019. I have tried to include books for various age ranges- 0-5, 5-9, 9-12, so hopefully there will be something that will cater for your children. To read the full blog post, click here- https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/12/21/my-top-20-childrens-islamic-books-for-2019/
5 )Homeschool Advice Part 1 This blog post is little compilation of all the 16 answers from the homeschool parents, that took part in the Homeschool Chat series Season 1, to the question : ” What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their child/children?” And if you know anyone , who is about to embark on their first year of home schooling and can do with a bit of re assurance and support , why not forward the link to them. I am sure they will be grateful to you ! Here is the blog post- https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/08/28/homeschool-advice-part-1/
So there you have it, my top five posts of 2019. I wanted to say a big ” Thank you ” to all of you who read my blog posts, for all the likes and comments . It has not been unnoticed and it is truly what keeps me going to write more. I hope you find my content in 2020 useful too and you follow me along this journey!
Discover the best posts from around the web!
This blog post is in collaboration with a few other lovely and inspirational bloggers
The second part of the Homeschool Chat series is over . 15 inspirational homeschooling parents from various walks of lives, religions and countries, took part in the second series. A big thank you to all of them for shedding light on what homeschooling means for them and how they do it. The interviews have been truly inspirational and full of so many tips, wisdom and advice. I hope you enjoyed reading them and found them beneficial just as much as I did.
To conclude these series, I decided to include the answers to all the 15 homeschooling parents to the question ” What do you love about homeschooling ? ” It was wonderful to see the different responses and motivations for the different parents and their reasons for home education. It has proven very inspirational and insightful and I hope it will help those who are already homeschooling and may be encourage those who want to home educate too.
Freedom to customize education and give them a quality education.
Making memories.
Being able to provide healthy atmosphere.
Preserving and nurturing their innate innocence and curiosity.
2) Reja, a homeschool mama of 4 children from the UK @razandrej , writes
“There’s so much I love about it! It really is a pleasure (most days!) and a privilege to be able to spend so much time with my children. I love being around them to nurture them at a tender age and give them a solid Islamic foundation. We can integrate Islam into everything we do alhamdulillah; for example while studying the fall of Rome in History, we discussed what made some Roman leaders fail, and how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him ) was the best example of great leadership. If reading a novel which mentions orphans, we can discuss the Islamic approach to orphans and the reward for looking after them. Quranic ayahs and hadith can be intertwined into every aspect of our day, without Islam being imposed on the kids; this way it’s something natural for them, simply the way they live their life. The children are also memorising Quran alhamdulillah and so I love that homeschooling allows us to incorporate this into our daily routine.
I also love the fact that they can develop at their own pace without having to conform to any arbitrary school rules or standards. We don’t need to be seated at a desk with a pencil and paper to learn; instead we can explore topics like Vikings by having a Viking feast where we eat foods typical in that era, whilst reading Viking mythology and literature. Reading aloud to my children and bonding over books is probably one of the most enjoyable aspects of homeschooling for me.
Finally, I really love that I’m able to learn alongside my kids. I grew up in Saudi Arabia where we didn’t really have much exposure to nature or art, so now doing things like nature study with my children is a totally new experience for me and I love it as much as they do! “
3) Habiba Anwar, (@eatwritebe) a British homeschooling mama of 2 , residing in Pakistan. gives her reasons on what she loves about home education below :
“I love that it allows me to spend so much time with my daughters, and the flexibility it gives us as family; flexibility not just to travel whenever we need to, but also on a day-to-day level: to wake up late and stay in our PJs, or to do our learning over a plate of dinner, or to do nothing at all if that’s what it seems is best for all of us that day! “
4) @silkroadkeepsakes, a Muslim mama of 4 , residing in Scotland – ” I love that I get to spend so much time with my children in their formative years. Home educating enables me to embed a love of learning into my children, without the added pressure of tests and homework. “
5) Brooke Benoit @br00kebenoit- unschooling mama of 7 childres, residing in Morocco – “Mmmaybe having a very family-focused lifestyle. I don’t know how that would have been different if my children were in school, but I definitely love having access to each other all day even though sometimes that can be overwhelming. “
6) Hina Malik, @rainsbows_of_learning – a homeschooling mama of 4 from the UK- “I enjoy teaching varied subjects and I do like the challenge of creating activities for subjects that are also new to me. Some topics I haven’t covered since I was in school so its lovely to share fascinating information with my children through the activities I set up. “
7) Leslie Monroe @besimplybetter- An American homeschool mama of 2 says :
“Freedom. That one word, means so much. We have the freedom to adjust, relax, shift focus if we need to. When husband takes a week off we don’t have to check with anyone’s schedule. (We often take a vacation the week after Labor day….and we always have the place to ourselves.) If we get sick we can rest, recharge and recover. We get to choose the format and subjects that we like!
Time. We enjoy the luxury of being responsible for how we spend our days. We teach to mastery NOT to a clock. If it takes longer to master a skill that’s fine. (We have 18 years to get our kids college ready….to pass a college entry test they need to know how to write and essay and do some algebra…that’s it.) “
8) Umm Hajar @homeedder, a homeschooling mother of 2 from the UK writes : ” The one thing I love the most, is the fact that I have had the opportunity and continue to have the opportunity to spend time with my children. I firmly believe home educating has allowed me to really get to know these little people, and enabled me to watch them grow and develop. Being with them more has also meant we have a beautiful and strong bond MashaAllah. Home educating also means I can ensure they aren’t stressed by matters that shouldn’t bother them, or pressurised by exams and targets. “
9 Umm Affan , an Australian homeschooling mother of two children https://www.instagram.com/the_odd_muslimah/ – ” The flexibility! And also no school runs because Allah knows I wouldn’t have been able to take that stress! Huge respect for those mamas. “
10) Jessica @threerivershomestead – an American homeschool mom of 6 says – “What I love most about homeschooling is the way it unites our family. Other educational options can run the risk of fracturing the family unit, but home education seems to deepen both the parent-child bond and sibling bonds. Creating an environment , where my children feel like an essential part of the family unit and where we are working and making memories together builds character and a bond that will benefit them in so many ways as they grow. These are things the public school system cannot replicate. “
11 Hana, @gardensofarabic -a homeschooling mama of 5, who resides in Saudi Arabia says: “The fact that you can go at the pace of the child and not feel he needs to understand certain concepts at certain times or to be able to do certain skills at certain phases of his life just because everyone else is or because the curriculum dictates it. “
12) Sabah, @sabah.homeschool – a homeschooling mama of one girl – “ I love the quality time I spend with my daughter and I couldn’t imagine it any other way! I love being involved in her learning and getting to know her learning styles as we continue in this journey. “
13) Umm Ameerah,@bilingualhomeschooler – a homeschooling mother of two girls who resides in Saudi Arabia writes : ” The best thing about homeschooling is the flexibility and going at the pace of our children, knowing their strengths and weakness we can push or slow down as needed. “
14 ) Shannen (@middlewaymom) , a homeschooling mother of 4 girls : ” What I absolutely love about home schooling and why I hold on to it even when it is extremely hard and I think I’m not doing a great job at it, is I love learning with my kids and I truly believe that my love of learning is a gift to them to see that learning does not end when you graduate. I joke sometimes that the one good thing I’ve done as a parent is instill the love of books in all my kids (I know I’ve done more than that, mashaAllah). It is just a part of our culture at home, and with homeschooling, we get to dig into books together and discuss them. A really close second to what I love about homeschooling, though I do think it is connected, is being able to take my kids to museums and plays numerous times each year. Again, we get to learn and explore together and it is just such a joy . “
15 ) Faryal– @life.of.faryal , a homeschooling Mom of 4 children, from New Jersey, USA gives her reasons on what she loves about home education – ” I love the flexibility and the relaxed nature. As my kids are getting older, I can see how their personalities have shaped for the good by spending so much time with us, their parents. There are definitely many things to love about homeschooling. “
I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. If you are home educating your children, I would love to hear from you and what you love about taking this unconventional path.
“Think less about how to shape your kids into world changers and more about how to bring a wide world to your family to shape them. Think more about how much energy your children invest in what they love and less about what they fail to do. Think more about each child’s natural aptitudes and less about each child’s deficiencies. Think less about the future and more about today-this moment… Allow yourself to be in awe: disallow anxiety. ” Julie Bogart
Today’s homeschool chat series is with Faryal. She’s a homeschooling Mom of 4, from New Jersey, USA. She spent a number of years working in the Islamic school setting.
When she’s not teaching, blogging or driving her kids from one sport/class to the next, you can find her having a cup of coffee or trying to squeeze in a run/walk. She enjoys reading, reflecting, and snuggling on the couch.
Faryal can be found on Instagram at her personal account @life.of.faryal. She blogs her musings on homeschooling, books and more at Cup of Home. (You can also find homeschooling specific resources on Instagram at @cup.of.home)
Tell us a bit about your family and your child/ children
Assalamu alaikum all!
We are a family of 6. Two boys ages 15 and 14 and Two girls ages 11 and 5, MashaAllah. I was born and raised in New Jersey, USA and attended public schools my entire life.
What was your main reason for choosing to home educate your children ?
I have always been very involved in my children’s education. When my oldest was 3 years old, I decided to go into teaching so I could work the same hours he was in school (it ended up being the same school). When he was 4, I took a year off and homeschooled him because I had a newborn and the school was 1.5 hours away. It seems crazy now to drive 3 hours a day, but at that time, it seemed like getting my son into a good school would ensure the best future for him.
We returned to the school the following year. I had one child in Kindergarten, one in Pre-Kindergarten, and one in the daycare. Juggling school and home was always stressful, leaving little time for myself. We stayed at the school for 5 years.
After working as Vice Principal, Allah swt (God) chose for me to have one more child. When she was born, the school was moving into another building, causing a delayed start to the school year. This gave us time to ponder on the idea of Home Education. The daycare for the school was going to be at another location, so I decided to take a year off. Another family close to us was homeschooling, and my kids really liked the idea. So we stayed home, agreeing to try it out, for just one year. The rest is history. We never ruled out a brick and mortar school as an option. This is our 7th year of homeschooling.
What does a “typical” homeschool day look like for your family ?
I love how homeschooling allows tailoring education to each individual child. We have always taken it one year at a time. This year, two of my kids, the 14 and 5 year olds, attend a brick and mortar school. I truly believe each child is a different person with a variety of needs, so we tap into the best resources available. The 14 year old was homeschooled the last 5 years, so this is something new for him. The 5 year old has always been passionate about books, lessons, and sitting at a desk and chair; so she naturally gravitated toward her school. Both are happy, as well as academically and socially stimulated. But having kids in a school really changes the typical homeschool day (if there is any typical day).
Having two teens, schedules are not as set as when the kids are younger. They have their own ideas and needs, at their own timing. But if I had to try to give one typical day, here it is:
6am Pray and Coffee while reading morning supplications 6:30 Quran 7am Wake up Kids, Get them dressed, jBreakfast, Lunches, Backpacks 7:40 Drop #2 and #4 to school 7:55 Back home (it’s a mile away) and BREATHE! (really don’t like the morning rush but it’s what is working for our family right now: but I need to come back after the rush and just relax a bit) 8am Eat Breakfast while reminding #3 to get ready and start day 8:30 Drop #1 to Class at community college 9am Math with #3 and the read aloud 10:30 Leave to Pick up #1 from class 11:15 Back home and early lunch for kids; I might try to squeeze in a workout, laundry, or meal prep 12pm Language Arts (Brave Writer Arrow) with #3 12:45 Pray then Remind #3 to get ready for Quran class, and drop her off at 1pm. 1pm THE GOLDEN HOUR (this is the hour that I may have the house all to myself) #1 goes to the Masjid for Duhr Salah (noon prayer) and #3 is at Quran class; lately I’ve been kicking my feet up with lunch on the couch while watching a cooking show; Most days I DO NOT get this time bc I’ll end up running errands that need to get done (library returns, bank, pharmacy, dropping son to masjid because of poor weather). But when I do get this time, it’s beautiful! 2pm More academics with #1 and #3 2:50pm Leave to pick up school kids 3:15 Now it gets crazy. School kids need attention and are tired from school. Might try to squeeze in a Poetry Tea Time. Also, after school activities and sports kick in. Some days #2 has Model UN at school, so he might need to get picked up later. Probably, #1 would like me to drive him to the soccer field to get in some practice about now. 4:15 Time to leave to pick up #2 from Model UN and pick up from Soccer field. The day goes on with various activities. This fall my boys were on a soccer or basketball team and the girls had gymnastics. Some practices finish at 9:30pm, so I’m still driving around until pretty late. Yeah. But that’s the season of life right now and I embrace it because I can see how fleeting it is.
What type of a home educator are you ( structured , semi structured , unschooling , classical , Charlotte Mason , Steiner , Montessori etc )
I started off homeschooling with The Well Trained Mind (classical). That approach did NOT work for all my children (as hard as I tried). So, right now, we try to be somewhat structured. I would say I am eclectic, a mix elements of most types of homeschooling. This year we really got into The Bravewriter Lifestyle and absolutely love it!
What do you love the most about homeschooling ?
I love the flexibility and the relaxed nature. As my kids are getting older, I can see how their personalities have shaped for the good by spending so much time with us, their parents. There are definitely many things to love about homeschooling.
What is your favourite subject to teach and what is your least one ?
I love teaching almost any subject. I feel really blessed with my educational background, as I took a diverse variety of subjects, so am pretty good at them. There is one exception: High school geometry. My kids know this, as I have not tried to relearn it to teach them. I never got the hang of it in High School and never needed it after.
What do you find challenging when it comes to homeschooling your children
Finding time to learn HOW to teach children with learning differences can be so hard as a home educator. There are so many excellent resources (books, podcasts, blogs, etc). But finding the time to sit alone and read can be difficult. We often get caught up in the day to day.
How do you deal with unsupportive family , relatives and friends ?
Honestly, I have not had to deal with anyone abrasively unsupportive. As a former school teacher, many of my teacher friends have wondered if I am doing a disservice to my children by “keeping them home”. Of course they don’t realize how little we are home. I allow people to express their opinions but also assert mine. Our job is not to convince others, but to whole-heartedly execute our dreams.
Where do you see your homeschooling journey in 5 years time ?
We have always taken one year at a time, never committing to home education forever. But we love it and it has given us a lot of opportunities we would not have had otherwise. There are many kids who could benefit from homeschooling. I see myself helping people be able to take the chance on home education and see if it’s a good fit for them. And my door is always open for my kids if they wish to continue home education.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start home educating their children ?
I would say start slow, and don’t be overwhelmed with what others are doing and how their homeschooling space looks. The most important thing is to love your children deeply and be present. Hug them, kiss them, read aloud snuggled up on the couch. Take chances even if you feel scared. Let the fear power your bravery.
Even if all you have is a bare room with books from the library, that is good enough. Just add paper and pencils. And please don’t compare yourself with what you see online. Everyone’s journey is unique.
“A book can’t change the world on its own. But a book can change readers. And readers? They can change the world….. We read with our children because it gives both them and us an education of the heart and mind. Of intellect and empathy. We read together and learn because stories teach us how to love.” ― Sarah Mackenzie, The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids
This year, without a shadow of doubt, I purchased the most children’s Islamic books that I have ever done in recent years. I think part of the reason is that unlike ten years ago, when there wasn’t that much on the market , now the publishing industry for Islamic books is truly booming. We are truly blessed and spoilt to have so many new and exciting titles coming up every year. I have compiled a list of our favourite Children’s Islamic books that we read in 2019. I have tried to include books for various age ranges- 0-5, 5-9, 9-12, so hopefully there will be something that will cater for your children. Please note this post may contain affiliate links and some books mentioned may be books we were initially sent for review. However , I have included them because we genuinely loved reading them.
1)Where is my prayer Mat
Board book
Age range- 2-5
Author- Ruhana Begum
Illustrator- Lera Moniz
This truly is an adorable and sweet lift-the flap board book. There aren’t that many of these on the market, which is a shame, because I do think that young children are always excited to find out what’s hiding behind the flaps , as they love the element of surprise.
The story is about a little boy called Musa, who “realizes it is time to pray his Zuhr salah (prayer) , but after making wudu (ablution) he could not find his prayer mat. He starts to look for his prayer mat in different places around the house, so that he could pray on time. ” I actually really loved the whole story because this is something that happens in my own house too ( and I am pretty sure in most Muslim households). My son or daughter often ask or scream : ” Muuuuuuum, where’s my prayer mat, where’s my kufi /hijab ….?”. To read my full review of the book , check my blog post –https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/11/17/review-wheres-my-prayer-mat-by-ruhana-begum/ . The book can be bought from Amazon –https://amzn.to/2rUprLC
2) My Book About Prophet Muhammad
Author: Sara Khan Illustrator: Ali Lodge Publisher: Kube Publishing Age: 0-5 BoardBook RRP: £4.99
I am a big fan of Sara Khan , ever since I bought her first book ” My first book about the Quran”, so was really very excited when I found out this year that she has published her second book ” My first book about Prophet Muhammad “.
The book is perfect for toddlers and young children. It is a board book , so it is very sturdy and little hands will easily be able to flick through the pages. The text is simple but concise with 2/3 sentences per page. The illustrations are stunning , colourful and vibrant without overhwelming the child.
It truly is a perfect first book to introduce your children to the inspirational life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)- “his unshakable love for Allah and some of his amazing characteristics: his bravery, determination and kindness. At the end of the book Sara Khan has included a few facts about the Prophet Muhammad ( peace and blessings be upon him) and his life. The book can be bought from Kube Publishing-https://www.kubepublishing.com/collections/books-by-age-0-5-years/products/my-first-book-about-the-prophet-muhammad
3)Ramadan around the world”
Writer- NDAA Hassan
Illustrator- Azra Momin
Hardback
Age Range- 6 and above
This book is definitely one of the most expensive ones, retailing at £19.99. However , as cheesy as it may sound, it is definitely worth every single penny. It shows children of various nationalities and how they celebrate Ramadan with their own families and communities from Mexico , Palestine, Senegal to all the way in Australia. But what I absolutely love about this book is that Ndaa Hassan not only includes families from various backgrounds( single mother, two-parents home, children raised only by grandparents) but also children who have different abilities and disabilities such as autism. hearing-impairment, diabetes etc. This is one of the first Ramadan books for children which I have seen that focuses not only on inclusion but also acceptance of diverse abilities and family types. The illustrations are done by the talented Azra Momin. We have a few books which have been illustrated by her ( Allah made everything by Zain Bhika, The Missing socks by Elizabeth Lymer and many more) and they are certainly stunning to say the least, full of colours , beautifully depicting the scenes of Ramadan festivities around the world. At the end of the book, there is a glossary and also a page with more information about Ramadan. The book can be purchased from Anafiya Gifts- Ramadan Around the World
4)Planet Omar
Author- Zanib Mian
Paperback
Age Range-6-13
RRP- Around £5.00
Illustrator- Nasaya Mafaridik
We are big fans of Zanib Mian and love all her books. I think we more or less have her entire collection .I love her style of writing too and we find her stories super fun to read. ” Welcome, readers, to the imaginative brain of Omar! You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you’ll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie – what more could you want?).My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. What’s worse, the class bully seems to think I’m the perfect target. At least Eid’s around the corner which means a feast (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY). Well, as long as I can stay in Mum and Dad’s good books long enough… ” The book can be bought from Amazon –Planet Omar. We are also really looking forward to the second series of Planet Omar, which will be released in February next year.
5) A race to prayer
Author -Aliyah Vaughan
Paperback
Age Range 7 and above
RRP- £3.00
“Nothing is going right for Sulaiman. He just wants to have fun but something always stops him. First it’s the prayer, then it’s the rain and then the car breaks down just as he is leaving to watch the quad bike races. He eventually gets to the stadium but then prayer time comes back around. When he is finally ready to settle back into his seat something frightening happens and Sulaiman soon realises the blessings of a perfectly-timed prayer “. The book can be bought from Kube Publishing-https://www.kubepublishing.com/products/a-race-to-prayer-salah-1?_pos=1&_sid=daee3f007&_ss=r
6) Who will help me make iftar
Author- Asmaa Hussein
Illustrator- Saliha Caliskan
Paperback
Age Range- 4 and over
RRP- £9.99
” Mustafa Amca and his wife have a yearly tradition- they cook iftar for their friends and neighbours on the first day of Ramadan. This year, Mustafa Amca’s wife is sick and can’t help him to cook! Will he be able to find others to pitch in and create a meal for everyone to enjoy”. The story is really lovely with stunning illustrations. I bought it from Anafiya Gifts , retailed at £9.99- Who will help me make iftar
7) The Best Eid Ever
Hardback
Age -Range 2-5
Author- Asma Mobin-Uddin
Illustrator- Laura Jacobsen
“Young readers can learn about Eid, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslim families every year, as well as the Hajj pilgrimage, when Muslims travel back to Mecca for the Eid, in this picture book about Muslim culture and traditions written by Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin and illustrated by Laura Jacobsen. This Eid, Aneesa should be happy. But, her parents are thousands of miles away for the Hajj pilgrimage. To cheer her up, her Nonni gives her a gift of beautiful clothes, one outfit for each of the three days of Eid. At the prayer hall, Aneesa meets two sisters who are dressed in ill-fitting clothes for the holiday. She soon discovers that the girls are refugees – they had to leave everything behind when they left their native country to live in America. Aneesa, who can’t stop thinking about what Eid must be like for them, comes up with a plan – a plan to help make it the best Eid holiday ever. School Library Journalsays: “[A] beautifully composed story. . . . This is a welcome contribution, giving much-needed visibility to a celebration observed by over ten million people in North America.” And Library Media Connection says: “After reading this book, children will have a greater appreciation for the Muslim culture and will have no problem realising that love is an action word.”
This is not the first book, which we have by Dr Asma Uddin. A few months ago, I bought ” A party In Ramadan ” to include in my eldest Ramadan’s basket and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. And by oure coincidence , I found that she has also written a book on Eid al Adha, called ” The Best Eid Ever.” I am not entirely sure why they have given the age range as 2-5. In my opinion , this one is definitely , same like Ramadan book, geared for children aged 6 and above. This book absolutely fantastic not just for Muslims but for non Muslims too. It explains this major Islamic holiday in simple words, so anyone who is non Muslim would be able to understand what Eid means. But what I love about this book , is that it touches on the sensitive issue of refugees and their struggles to adjust to a different country. It has the beautiful message that ” sharing is caring ” and the importance of giving to those in need. Overall, this is a really touching story . The illustrations are beautiful and colourful and at the end of the book, Dr Uddin has also included detailed note on the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha. The book can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/2YkC7Wc
8)Cotton Candy Sky
Author-Zain Bhika
Hardcover: 30 pages
Age Range: 3 – 6 years Publisher: Islamic Foundation
RRP-£4.99
I am pretty sure we are one of the millions of fans of world renowned nasheed artist Zain Bhika. He is without shadow of doubt one of our favourite nasheed artists and my children absolutely love his songs. This is the second in a series of books under the Zeebee Kids level ( we absolutely love watching their videos btw) . The illustrations in the book are really beautiful and colourful with diverse charcters. The book can be bought from Kube Publishing –https://www.kubepublishing.com/products/cotton-candy-sky?_pos=1&_sid=704941d07&_ss=r
9) The Boy at the back of the class
Author- Onjali Rauf
Paperback
Age Range: 8 – 11 years Publisher:Orion Children’s Books
“Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class is a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis, highlighting the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense.There used to be an empty chair at the back of my class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it.He’s nine years old (just like me), but he’s very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn’t like sweets – not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite!But then I learned the truth: Ahmet really isn’t very strange at all. He’s a refugee who’s run away from a War. A real one. With bombs and fires and bullies that hurt people. And the more I find out about him, the more I want to help. That’s where my best friends Josie, Michael and Tom come in. Because you see, together we’ve come up with a plan. . “.
My 10 and 8 year old absolutely loved this book, including myself too. We loved the realistic nature of the characters. This is a great book for empathy and teaching acceptance. It is an amazingly constructed story about a sensitive topical issue which couldn’t be more timely. I definitely think that adult readers could get as much out of this book as children. By exploring the attitudes and assumptions surrounding refugees, through the eyes of a child protagonist, the book really takes a step back from the politics and puts compassion and heart at the very centre. In this way the story never feels preachy and is all the more powerful because of it. The book can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/34FHmTx
10) The Victory boys
Author- Jamal Orme
Age Range-9-12
Paperback
RRP £4.99
” Junayd and his friends think madrasa is a waste of time and older brother Saleem is fast becoming the black sheep of the family. That is, until the Imam oft the mosque iniaties an extra-curricular project outside his comfort zone. But can faith and football flourished side by side .”
If you have football mad children, then this one is for them. My 9 year old son really loved the book. Jamal Orme has also written another book in the series ( Team Spirit) , which we also have and he equally enjoyed reading that one too. The book can be bought from Kube publishing-https://www.kubepublishing.com/products/the-victory-boys-1?_pos=1&_sid=464c25bf3&_ss=r
11) ” We are off to pray “
Author- Sana Munshey
Hardback
Age Range – 5-9
RRP: £4.99
“A young boy prepares to pray with his family before he hears some familiar voices at the door. His friends have arrived and want to play. He must decide to pray or to play in this warm story that sees him enjoy an afternoon in the sun and please his parents and Creator. A simple yet captivating story that pits that pull of playtime against the daily requirement to pray in Muslim life. ” The book can be bought from Kube Publishing-https://www.kubepublishing.com/products/were-off-to-pray?_pos=1&_sid=9bd01b9ef&_ss=r
12 )The Green Bicycle
Paperback
Age Range 8-12
Author: Haifaa Al Mansoor
“Wadjda has one simple wish – to race her friend Abdullah on her very own bicycle. But in Saudi Arabia, it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes and her parents forbid her from having one. Sick of playing by the rules, Wadjda schemes different ways to make money and buy the bike herself. But freedom comes at a high price . . . Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart. ” The book can be purchased from Amazon –https://amzn.to/2M2dKsP.
13)Bismillah Soup
Author: Asmaa Huseein
Paperback
Age Range :4 plus
RPP: £8.99
“A spinoff of the classic “Stone Soup” folktale, Bismillah Soup is a story about Hasan, a young Somali boy who ventures out to gather his community together for a great feast at the local Mosque! His journey is full of unexpected twists and turns that lead him down a path of discovering what community, generosity and reliance on God truly mean. ” The book can be bought from Anafiya Gifts UK-https://www.anafiya.com/products/bismillah-soup.
14) Secret Recipe Box
Author: Helal Musleh
Papertback
Age Range:4 plus
RPP: £9.99
“Maha’s grandma is moving from Palestine to Canada, and Maha can’t wait! Teta travels from far away with a box full of secret recipes and special memories. Maha wants to keep them all for herself, but Teta’s kindness teaches her the value of sharing, and the joy of connecting with loved ones.
“Following the disappearance of her mum, 10-year-old Aniyah suddenly finds herself living in foster care. With her life in disarray, she knows just one thing for sure: her mum isn’t gone for ever. Because people with the brightest hearts never truly leave. They become stars.
So when a new star is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah is sure it’s her mum, and she embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to make sure everyone else knows too — an adventure that involves breaking into the Royal Observatory of London, a mischievous scurry of squirrels and the biggest star in Hollywood…
Told through the innocent voice of a child, this is a story that explores the subtle faces and endless impacts of domestic violence, and celebrates the power of hope and resilience, from Onjali Rauf, the award-winning author of The Boy at the Back of the Class. ” The book can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/2PUknyr
16) Zaid and the Gigantic Cloud
Author- Helal Musleh
Illustarator- Sabrina Pichardo
Paperback
RRP- £7.99
Age Range- 4-8
“
Zaid is excited to go on a camping trip with his cousin Ahmed. Just as he’s getting his bag ready, he receives the news that Ahmed is sick and the camping trip is cancelled. Disappointment sets in and Zaid’s day gets gloomier by the minute! What will make Zaid’s gloomy day bright again?
The book depicts a beautiful relationship between a little girl and her father. It has a nice balance in portraying the different sides of fatherhood- loving , caring, helpful around the house , playful as well as emphasising our core aspect of our beautiful Deen- Salah and praying together as a family. The book uses rhymes throughout , which definitely makes it more engaging for young children and therefore is perfect for the target audience- toddlers and preschoolers. My 2 year old son and 5 year old daughter really enjoyed listening to the book and at the end we had a little discussion of what they loved about their daddy. I absolutely loved the illustrations done by the super talented Asbah Alaena – they are beautiful , vibrant and colourful.This is a brilliant book to have in your children’s Islamic library at home and also makes a perfect gift too. To read my full review of the book, check my blog post-https://letslearnmama.home.blog/2019/03/22/i-love-my-baba-by-razaida-bahram-book-review/. The book can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/34CL403
18) If Allah Wills
Paperback
Author- Dr Oz
Illustrator- Mariya Khan
Age Range -2-6
” Faris wants to go to the Ka’ba, but it’s so far away and it’s nearly his bedtime. Can Faris get to the Ka’ba and back in time for his bedtime story? If Allah wills! This is a wonderful story of innocence and imagination. Every page has been designed with a child in mind and provides fun scenes to inspire both children and adults. Beautiful watercolour illustrations add vibrancy to the story for you to enjoy, and themes like love, kindness, and prayer are interwoven throughout, providing talking points for you and your child. The perfect addition to a young Muslim child’s life. About the author: Dr. Oz is a father of four, from London, UK. He has studied Islamic sciences for many years and has a keen interest in child development. He also has a post-graduate certificate in education and a PhD in engineering. “. The book can be bought from Amazon-https://amzn.to/2S9hWej
19) The colour Blind Boy
Hardcover
Author- Mohammed Yaseen
Illustrator- Khultum Burgess
Age Range- 9-12
” The boy at the back of the classroom was the only one not staring at Abdullah. Who was he, Abdullah thought to himself? Abdullah knew that the boy had some sort of secret that made him different from the others, something that made him stand out. But what was it?
Carefully addressing the issues of racism, bullying, and color-blindness, this book is both engaging and insightful. It highlights how the color of one’s skin should be infinitely less important than their actions in the eyes of others—and how difficult school can be for children that don’t quite fit in. ” The book can be bought from Kube Publishing-https://www.kubepublishing.com/products/the-colour-blind-boy?_pos=1&_sid=b65cc626d&_ss=r
20 ) Tayba’s Sunna Recipe
Paperback
Author- Latifah Bint Mohammed Anwar
Illustrator- Maria Rosaria Barrea
Age Range-2-5
” Join Tayba in her cookery adventure, as she explores healthy foods within the Sunnah. Just how healthy will her recipe be? Good enough to eat? Get your children excited about healthy eating with this wonderfully illustrated book! “. The book can be bought from Anafiya Gifts-https://www.anafiya.com/products/taybas-sunna-recipe
Let's learn , Mama! 