We love homeed 2

Ramadan coming to a close, and au revoir!

2010-09-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

Weeks 32,33,34 and 35 have flown and Ramadan sadly is almost over!
Eid is day after tomorrow inshaALlah.

Boys mashaAllah have had an excellent Ramadan - all fasting, all racing for Quran Challenge, and all made Tarawee and night prayers most of the time, alhumdulilla.
May Allah accept all their ibadah ameen and may He SWT guide them and bless them always, ameen.

This year the baby/infant/child years have definetly gone!
They are all older now and doing so much more mashaALlah!

and because of that it's been a wonderful Ramadan - alhumdulilla.
May Allah accept all the good deeds of all believers, ameen

Islamic Studies went mainly to plan though some of the reading and workbooks will be completed over the next few weeks! Think I was a little ambitious in the planning!!

OK what else have we done?

Week 32 was the visit to the IMAX at Waterloo for Ibn Battuta -
the boys were read his stories when they were younger at bedtime!

http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_imax/film_programme /journey_to_mecca_in_the_footsteps_of_ibn_battuta_pg

Week 33 was busy for DS2 as he attended the FunTech Lego Robotics Camp.

Spent some time down some of our favourite Parks!

Ds2's exam results came in and mashaAllah alhumdulilla our 12 year old now has an A/S Level Mathematics qualification and is enroute to completing the A Level inshaAllah
plus he now has his third IGCSE (English) alhumdulilla.

Ds1, just turned 17, is mashaAllah leaving for University in a couple of days inshaAllah
- may Allah protect him always, ameen.

In some ways his leaving seems to have brung our home ed to a close because in many ways 'mum' as 'teacher/facilitator' is now redundant!
DS2 and DS3 still need that in smaller doses but I think ds2 is going to be set on his route soon alhumdulilla and ds3 is happy with the online facilities!
Quran and Islamic Studies will continue on family schedule inshaAllah.

BUT knowing home ed I know that can change within a week so we need to keep that in mind too, lol!

Alhumdulilla we have managed to get this far.
Allah SWT has blessed us in letting us find Home Education and mashaAllah also enabling us to be successful in it.

This blog may go into standby now as it's original reason for being (the Arabic in Egypt) and it's secondary reason (the EOTAS lady) are not essential any more.
The Arabic maybe a venture we return to - inshaALlah I hope we do, but this time for a minimum of 6 months preferably a year!
The record for EOTAS -- well think we've met that on all fronts, alhumdulilla.

Blog will be left here and inshaAllah people can use ideas from it but I probably won't bother with many further updates -

alhumdulilla we know home ed works!

the Muslim sisters home ed list is here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeeducatorsandukmuslims2/

and you can email if you need Home Ed info. on ummusamah09@gmail.com

Assalamualykum warah matullai wabara katuhu

Duaas and bits for Ramadan

2010-08-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

May the atmosphere of your 'Ramadan Home' be one filled with peace and love, ameen
have constructive activity, ameen
with plenty of reading - in the seeking of Islamic knowledge and Quran recitation, ameen
plus lots of giggles, fun and arts and crafts all the way! ameen

Duaa to learn / remind our little folk about inshaAllah.

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It is narrated from Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said:

I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the Night of Qadr what should I say?.' He said: 'Say: O Allah you are embodiment of forgiveness and you love to pardon so pardon me.'
[Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi]

Allahumma Innaka Afuwwan Tuhibbul 'Afwa Fa'fu Unni.

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to start the fast

Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri Ramadan
I intend to keep the fast today in the month of Ramadan
[abu Dawud]

to break the fast
Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa 'ala rizq-ika aftarthu

O Allah, I have fasted for you. In You do I believe and with your provision
do I break my fast. [abu Dawud]

When you are fasting, and someone is rude to you
Inni sa'iimu, inni sa'iimu
I am fasting, I am fasting
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Fath al-Bari of Al-Asqalani; 4:1-3, Muslim; 2:806]

Upon Sighting of the new Moon
Allahu Akbar. Allahumma ahillahu 'alayna bil-amni wal-imaani, was-salaamati,
wal-Islami, wat-tawfeeqi lima tuhibbu Rabbana wa tardha. Rabbuna wa
RabbukAllahu

(Allah is the Greatest. O Allah bring us the new moon with security and
faith, with peace and in Islam, and in harmony with what our Lord Loves and
what pleases Him. Our Lord and your Lord is Allah)
[at-Tirmidhi 5:504, ad-Darimi 1:336]

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Quranic Du'ua' s

* Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come
and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)

* Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance and make our foothold sure and give
us help against those who reject faith. (2:250)

* Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or fall into error.
(2:286) Our Lord! Lay not upon us such a burden as You did lay upon
those before us. (2:286)

* Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to
bear, grant us forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are our
Protector. Help us against those who deny the truth. (2:286)
Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate from the truth after selves, and
unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we
shall most certainly be lost! (7:23)

* Our Lord! Place us not among the people who have been guilty of
evildoing. (7:47)

* Our Lord! Lay open the truth between us and our people, for You are
the best of all to lay open the truth. (7:89) Our Lord! Pour out on us
patience and constancy, and make us die as those who have surrendered
themselves unto You. (7:126)

* Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the evildoing folk, and save as by
Your mercy from people who deny the truth (10:85-86)

* Our Lord! You truly know all that we may hide [in our hearts] as
well as all that we bring into the open, for nothing whatever, be it
on earth or in heaven, remains hidden from Allah (14:38)

* Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Your presence and dispose of our
affairs for us in the right way. (18:10)

* Our Lord! In You we have placed our trust, and to You do we turn in
repentance, for unto You is the end of all journeys. (60:4)

* Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and forgive us our sins, for
verily You have power over all things. (66:8)

* Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Sal�t (prayer), my sacrifice, my
living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alam�n (mankind,
jinns and all that exists). Our Lord! Perfect our light for us and
forgive us our sins, for verily You have power over all things. (6.162)

there are 40 Rabbanas which you can download off the net
http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/rabbana.html

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Ramadan checklist
http://english.islamway.com/bindex.php?section=article&id=241

Why do muslims fast?
http://www.sunnah.org/ibadaat/fasting/fast.html

Duaas for the last nights
http://www.duas.org/laylat.htm

Educating your children in Ramadan
http://www.angelfire.com/me4/islaam/fasting21.html

Quran was revealed in Ramadan

"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of)the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up)from other days.

Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him" (2: 185).

------------------------------

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Focus on Prayer
Reminder: Islamic night is first i.e. night comes first then day

So if the first fast is tomorrow first tarawee is tonight!
Also if eid is tomorrow there is no tarawee tonight, as it is the night of the Eid day

Allaah says, concerning the plight of the disbelievers on the Day of
Judgement, that they will be asked by the Believers: { "What led you into the Hell-fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who prayed." } (Soorah 74:42-43). Allaah also says: { Successful indeed are the Believers, those who humble themselves in their prayers } (Soorah 23:1-2), and: { And those who guard [strictly] their worship, such will be the honoured ones in the
Gardens [of Bliss] } (Soorah 70: 34-35).
Allaah has emphasized the need for humility and concentration in prayers.
There is no doubt that Satan is the most bitter enemy of man; he always tries to disturb the Believer's prayers. He (the worshipper) finds his mind suddenly engulfed with memories, problems, worries, work and his family… and he will often find himself wondering whether he has prayed three rak`ah or four. This is how Satan steals the prayer. Man was created only to worship Allaah. He says: { I created not the jinns and mankind except to worship me } (Soorah 51:56). Man is to live in this world as a worshipper of Allaah and
prayer is the best for of worship. On the Day of Judgement, man will have to answer for his deeds. Allaah says: { Then shall you be questioned about the joy [you indulged in] } (Soorah 102:8)

(1) The Dawn Prayer (Fajr in Arabic) given in 11:114, 24:58

(2) The Noon Prayer (Zuher in Arabic) , given in 17:78 and 30:18

(3) The Afternoon Prayer (Asr in Arabic), given in 2:238

(4) The sunset Prayer (Maghrib in Arabic), given in 11:114

(5) The Night Prayer (Isha in Arabic), given in 24:58

2) PRAYER
Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.
A translation of the Call to Prayer is:
God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God

Prayers in Ramadan / Tawawih

1187. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "He who observes optional prayer (Tarawih prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of Faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

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Last 10 nights and Laylatul Qadr
For Laylatul Qadr, What is it? When is it? What do we do on it?

Translation of the Qur'an, Chapter 97:
AL-QADR (POWER, FATE)
Total Verses: 5
Revealed At: MAKKA
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
97.001: Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.
97.002 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!
97.003 The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
97.004 The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of
their Lord, with all decrees.
97.005 (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.

The knowledge of the exact night of Laylatul Qadr was taken away because people argued, it was narrated by `Abdullah that the Prophet (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Allah's Apostle went out to inform the people about the (date of the) night of decree (Al-Qadr) but there happened a quarrel between two Muslim men.
The Prophet said, "I came out to inform you about (the date of) the night of Al-Qadr, but as so and so and so and so quarrelled, its knowledge was taken away (I forgot it) and maybe it was better for you. Now look for it in the last 10 nights of the month of Ramadan)."
(al-Bukhari, Volume 1:46)

It was narrated by Nafi:
Ibn 'Umar said, "In the lifetime of the Prophet I dreamt that a piece of silk cloth was in my hand and it flew with me to whichever part of Paradise I wanted. I also saw as if two persons (i.e. angels) came to me and wanted to take me to Hell. Then an angel met us and told me not to be afraid. He then told them to leave me. Hafsa narrated one of my dreams to the Prophet and the Prophet said, 'Abdullah is a good man. Would that he offer the night prayer (Tahajjud)!' So after that day 'Abdullah (bin 'Umar) started offering Tahajjud. The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to tell him their dreams that (Lailat-ul-Qadr) was on the 27th of the month of Ramadan. The Prophet said, "I see that your dreams agree on the last ten nights of Ramadan and so whoever is in search of it should seek it in the last ten nights of Ramadan."
(al-Bukhari, Volume 1:777)
Aisha (radiyallaahu 'anhaa) said:
"Allah's Messenger (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to practice I'tikaaf in the last ten nights and say: 'Seek out Laylatul Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten of Ramadan."
(al-Bukhari)
The signs for the night of Laylatul-Qadr are
1. The sun rises early in the morning without rays. It was narrated by
Ubayy ibn Ka'b Zirr ibn Hubaysh reported: I thus asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b: Your brother (in faith) Ibn Mas'ud says: He who stands (for the night prayer) throughout the year will find Laylatul Qadr. Thereupon he said: May Allah have mercy upon him. (He said these words) with the intention that people might not rely only (on one night), whereas he knew that it (Laylatul Qadr) was in the month of Ramadan and it was the twenty-seventh night. He then took an oath (without making any exception, i.e. without saying insha'Allah) that it was the twenty-seventh night. I said to him: AbulMundhir, on what grounds do
you say that? Thereupon he said: By the indication or by the sign which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave us, and that is that on that day (the sun) would rise without having any ray in it.
(Muslim)
2. Rain may fall either during the night or during the day of that night.
It was narrated by `Abu Salama:
Once I went to Abu- Sa'id Al-Khudri and asked him, "Won't you come with us to the date-palm trees to have a talk?" So Abu Said went out and I asked him, "Tell me what you heard from the Prophet about the Night of Qadr." Abu Said replied, "Once Allah's Apostle performed Itikaf (seclusion) on the first ten days of the month of Ramadan and we did the same with him.
Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night you are looking for is ahead of you.' So the Prophet performed the Itikaf in the middle (second) ten days of the month of Ramadan and we too performed Itikaf with him. Gabriel came to him and said, 'The night which you are looking for is ahead of you.' In the morning of the 20th of Ramadan the Prophet delivered a sermon saying,
'Whoever has performed Itikaf with me should continue it. I have been shown the Night of "Qadr", but have forgotten its date, but it is in the odd nights of the last ten nights. I saw in my dream that I was prostrating in mud and water.' In those days the roof of the mosque was made of branches of date-palm trees. At that time the sky was clear and no cloud was visible, but suddenly a cloud came and it rained. The Prophet led us in the prayer and I saw the traces of mud on the forehead and on the nose of Allah's Apostle. So it was the confirmation of that dream."
(Al-Bukhari, Volume 1:777)
3. The angels and Gabriel all descend down onto earth for many purposes.
"Verily, We sent it down in the night of al-Qadr. And what will make you know what the night of al-Qadr is? The night of al-Qadr is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Spirit by their Lord's permission with all Decrees. Peace! Until the appearance of dawn."
(Al-Qadr, Verses 1-5)

Duaas for the last nights
http://www.duas.org/laylat.htm
Laylatul Qadr the Night of Power
The month of Ramadhan has been singled out for special worship (`Ibadat) and exclusive favours. It is a month unlike other months. One reason for this, as defined by the Qur'an, is because the Holy Qur'an was revealed in this month. Says Allah in Sura alBaqarah: The month of Ramadhan, that in which the Qur'an was sent down; a guidance for mankind, and clear signs of guidance and distinction (2:185). In fact, according to a hadith of the 6th Imam (a), the other holy books were also revealed in this month.
Among the nights of Ramadhan is one special night, which is better than a thousand months (HQ, 97:3). Good deeds performed on that single night are equal to those performed over a thousand months. It is the Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr), when the Qur'an was revealed. Some commentators believe it was the night when the Qur'an was brought down from Baytul M`amur (Heavenly abode), for Jibrael to reveal in parts to the Prophet (s). Others say it was the night when the Prophet received the entire Qur'an, but was asked to
transmit it as and when the occasion demanded.
Laylatul Qadr is a celebration to commemorate the arrival of the final
guidance for humans. It is a tribute to the commencement of the message revealed to mankind by their Creator, a message which shows them the way to achieve happiness in both the worlds. Just as the arrival of a child is celebrated, on its birth and then every year, as a bringer of joy and fulfilment for the family, Laylatul Qadr is celebrated as a bringer of light and guidance for mankind. Unlike the birthday which is celebrated with a feast for the senses, Laylatul Qadr includes a feast for the spirit, a feast of worship and prayers.
Some Ahadith indicate that the fate of every believer for the coming year is decreed on this night. That is why the Du`as for this night ask for special favours in the decree for the year. Believers are encouraged to stay awake the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness. It is the holiest night of the year, and it would be unwise to be heedless of the tremendous benefits of this night.

week 31 - Ramadan prep. on the fun side

2010-08-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

The final bits are the fun stuff for little man who still wants our 'Ramadan Table'.

In past years we've made shoebox mosques, date trees, Iftar goodie bag for sweets , and of course a count down to Eid.

This year these possibilities may be used again but it'll be kids decision.

This poster came through on the home ed list,
and may be the beginning of the kids doing one for themselves based on their own views.

In addition to the arts and crafts side there are some lapbook type things to try off the net -

Allah reward the sisters for sharing, ameen

http://tj-ramadan.tripod.com/ramadanlearning.htm

weeks 32,33,34 and 35 will be Ramadan and Eid so possibly no more updates till mid Sept!

week 31 - Ramadan prep.

2010-08-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

The Muslim's Character - for teens

I'm planning inshaALlah on using Ramadan as an overall reminder for the character we want them to be as they enter full adult hood inshaALlah, so the artciles below are with that end in mind

http://www.kalamullah.com/brothers.html
The Ideal Muslim

The ideal Muslim is a man of the highest moral character. In his relation with his rabb' (lord), himself, family, parents, relatives, friends, and the community at large, he has a most excellent example in the Prophet of Islam (pbuh). His idealism is further strengthened by the characters of the first generations of Muslims who excelled in all the various fields of human endeavour. He is reassured by the teachings of Islam that he also can reach these noble heights by working to improve his character daily.
In this title, the author gives a clear overview of the practical aspects of the Islamic lifestyle, as exemplified by the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (pbuh). Moving from the innermost aspect of the individual's spiritual life to his dealings with all those around him, one can see how the Muslim is expected to interact with all others in his life.

http://www.kalamullah.com/youth.html

http://www.kalamullah.com/personality.html

many of the articles here are useful for teens to focus on what they are following/their desires etc.

Books that will be Ramadan reading inshaAllah are below.

Quran completion is of course the primary target as well as choosing some surahs to completely understand the tafsir of.

Other books below -
There will be an overlap for ds2 and ds1, and for ds3 the youngest age range will be review before going into the older range ones inshaALlah. The teen reading has been used now as Ramadan mashaALlah is one of the calm months where more reading and considerably more reflection on thoughts and ideas can take place - simply because we will have slowed pace and stopped the mad rush that goes with non Ramadan living!

OLDER FOLK

Causes behind the Increase and Decrease of Eemaan by Shaykh A al-Abbaad
Overcoming Trials and Tribulations - according to the Quran and Sunnah by R Abdullah
The Soul's Journey after Death by L Mabrouk
Patience and Gratitude, translated by N al-Khattab
Ulum al-Quran by A V Denffer
Seeking Forgiveness by Shakh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah

MIDDLE FOLK

The Blessings of Ramadan by J Ali
Muslim Teens Coping by R Maqsood
The world of Teens Part 1 by Shaykh M Faruq
A Muslim Boy's guide to Life's big changes by S Khan
Intermingling of the Sexes by Sheikh As-Sabbaagh
Growing a Beard by Dr. G Mushtaaq

SMALL FOLK

IQRA texts -
Elementary level Teachings of the Quran
Upper Elementary level Teachings of the Quran
Upper Elementary/Juniour level Teachings of the Quran

Islamic Studies Book3 Dr Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

OK Food front- loved by all!

Since the last three of four months Nutrition and food has been the focus at home as two of the children and one of the adults wanted to lose weight!
MashaALlah alhumdulilla many things have worked and now we need in Ramadan not to fall back into the bad habits of over eating or even eating just because the food is there or because the fasts are so long and we feel exhausted!

Alhumdulilla we've never been into the OTT iftar mode (meaning the many many courses which someone wasted the day cooking!), but even so we are aiming for lighter meals than previous years inshaALlah.

Unbelievable as it may seem we have never been one for soups, especially in Ramadan so thats the major switch this year - also older two boys will be taking turns to cook too, again a first for Ramadan!

I've avoided giving them cooking duties while fasting until now but I think they are old enough to manage full meals now esp. if the prep is done early morning and the actual cooking left for an hour or so before Iftar.

I've been looking at an Islamic Forum which has many soups and some to catch my eye- and make the mouth drool! - r below plus link to forum!

Algerian Soup
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pound beef, cubed
1 pound chicken, cubed
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large potato, finely chopped
1 large zucchini, cubed
1 can chickpeas
salt & pepper, to taste
3 Tbs dried mint
6 cups boiling water
1/2 cup fine egg noodles, broken
1 can tomato paste
1/2 cup peas
In a saucepan, brown the meats in oil. Add onion, potato, zucchini, chickpeas and their liquid, salt, pepper, mint and boiling water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the egg noodles, cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste. Simmer for 10 minutes and serve hot.

Rice Soup With Tomatoes
Ingredients
*6 glasses of meat broth
*1/3 glass of rice
*1/2 kg. tomates
*parsley
*salt to taste
*1 tablespoon margarine

Preparation :
Wash the rice and put it into a saucepan with the margarine, salt and the meat broth. Place the saucepan on heat. Put one of the tomatoes aside and grate the rest. Add the grated tomatoes to the saucepan. Peel the remaining tomato and cube. Put the tomato in a saucepan and let the soup cook for 15 more minutes until the rice softens. Remove saucepan from heat and serve the soup after topping it with chopped parsley.

Moroccan Lentil Soup

2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
6 cups water
1 cup red lentils
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
DIRECTIONS
In large pot saute; the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes.
Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft.
Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy!

http://www.gawaher.com/lofiversion/index.php/f93.html

week 31 - Daily bits and Ramadan prep.

2010-08-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

OK another week ending so what have these kids being doing?
Not a lot has being going on academic front since last update as boys are free till Ramadan starts next week!

We've had guests, a Great Aunt and a neice visiting which was lovely mashaALlah, the extra cooking think was appreciated by all and the extra visits to Parks! lol!

Our new basket ball court was opened by the Mayor and younger two were allowed to be the first few on! (probably because they have been glued to the area since it was announced!!)

We did have the INTECH home ed trip on Tuesday, where the Planetarium show was fabulous. They covered flight into the Known Universe which matched recent building of Solar Sysytem for youngest plus added the immense amount of information on space that is now available. Subhanallah makes you realise how tiny we are in the big scheme of things!
Children also ahd the chance to 'travel' virtually to other planets eg. Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars.

some pics. below - there was a lot on hands -on activity but I won't load up the 50 odd photos! about 10 here to give an idea!
Looked the quotes as you walk in too.

Colour wheel fasination from ds3!

Flight Simulator was a big hit with ds2!

Another one which had ds3 in fits!!!!!!!!!!

younger boys day out with eldest today alhumdulilla -
which I think will be pizza, skating and perhaps ToyStory3 at cinema!

The rest of the time has been about 'Are we ready for Ramadan?'

Focus has been on our sleep routines - are they good enough for Ramadan? Taraweeh, Qiyam al Layl, Tahujjud and ofcourse Fajr - will we make it???

The answer was 'no' ALHUMDULILLA at least they could figure it out!!
so from today early nights are starting inshaALlah - well Isha is 11pm ish so still wont be that early!

Next was Quran reading and tafsir work which we are going to do as timetables again - think it's easiest for all to check off bits as we go.

Also extra reading - for older two I am focusing on a Muslims Character - male charater,
and for younger it'll be lessons from the Quran

InshaALlah will send further post for books etc. to be used.

My planning has been around the home and specifically food issue and that should follow in the next update inshaALlah.

week 30 Peace Camp

2010-07-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Spent a few days at Peace Camp again
http://peacenewscamp.info/

Home in a green field this time!

Wake up calls down to the neighbours!

Some good workshops eg. Dismantling the Ghandi myth and also Skills sharing

some cooking (helping at the kids tent)

and also Veggies - who provided the food for the camp- had a cooking workshop where we made our first Vegan ginger cake, plus carrot cake! recipe should be readable, but if not check here

http://www.veggies.org.uk/catering/veggies-recipes/cakes-desserts/

o

walking - up to the wind turbines which can be seen from the field we were camped in

In the same field as the turbine we found this odd little hut

Also did some screen painting -
cool method shared by one of the campers - to use old stockings over old cross stitch frames

and just some bat and ball and climbing fun!

week 29 Weymouth and Sea Life Park

2010-07-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Spent a day at Weymouth visiting friends plus Sea Life and beach again!
saw the White Horse of Osmington Hill - http://www.bowleazecove.co.uk/white_horse.htm

Sea Life
http://www.sealifeeurope.com/

a helicopter was just landing behind the car park as we arrived!

week 29 Camp Lulworth Castle and Cove

2010-07-27T07:37:00.000-07:00

Lulworth Castle -

Good history lesson on the persecution of the Catholics in England-
and the Chapel being the first free church for them to worship in.

and a bucket tree!!

week 29 Camp - Highcliffe Castle

2010-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

The walk up to the Castle.

Walk down behind the Castle to the beach.

week 29 Camp at Studland!

2010-07-27T06:24:00.001-07:00

Back to Studland for a week of camping, sun and fun.
Home for the week in the hot sun.

Easy wake up call - the heat did the job!
and falling out of bedroom rather than falling out of bed!

Building fires, collecting and choppiing wood at campsite.

Beeches fabulous as always in Studland- Swanage, Knoll Bay , Middle Beach and Shell Bay
One of the group had the brilliant idea to head up to Durdle Door to watch the sunrise!

Sunrise at Durdle Door.

Swanage

week 28 The Deep

2010-07-15T11:31:00.001-07:00

Natural History Museum today for the Deep - some pics. below,
Great to see lots of home edders!

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/thedeep/index.html

Plunge into the abyss at The Deep exhibition. Enter a weird and wonderful world, 11,000 metres down in the ocean, less explored than the moon's surface. See bizarre creatures, astonishing images and real specimens, some on display for the first time

It was brilliant to see so much information, not just for the weird and wonderful but also how man has impacted on the scene.

kids also had a look at some specimens - eg Blackbirds without pigment, and the cool swans you can just imagine a story about.

Some interesting bits of the Exhibition -

That was followed by lunch and play outside in the wind -for boys and friends,
two of whom have returned home with us now!
It's going to be a late night with screens galore! Alhumdulilla

week 28 - Bushcraft and cooking

2010-07-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

Ufton Court again and the group was split into two, older ones had to lay a trail for the rest of us to follow using tracking signs.
They got thoroughly carried away and led the rest of us on a looong walk!

Excellent baked potatoes and pop corn to follow!

Loved this!

Back home ds2 made the main meal for the day - chicken salen and rice
and later eldest got stuck into home made Pizza - including making the base from scratch. Topping was tobasco sauce, pasta sauce(Lloyd grossman!), added vinegar, pickled chillies, some of the chicken salen left from lunch and ofcourse cheese
Yummy!! Alhumdulilla we know he won't starve at uni!

should have taken lots of pics but content in watching - till about 11ish when I went to bed and woke up Fajr time to find

guess it was good! mashaAllah!

week 28 - Marwell Zoo

2010-07-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

Marvelous day today mashaAllah!

Fajr saw eldest and mum, small two dead to the world and then about 7ish cycle ride! Then after breakfast the morning turned into a bit of a wait as left home about 9 aiming to be at Marwell for 10ish. But the M3 was closed for J3-J4 so had a long stay for one Junction on M3 and then wonders of the Navman got it to plot a detour from there, Alhumdulilla.
The map in the boot would have worked just as well but technology is a bit more comforting.

The home ed group was great as usual, kids ranging from 2 all the way to 16.

Saw lots, learnt lots, and of course played lots!

Some photos below but can't do justice to everything we saw and read about - got to go visit!
http://www.marwell.org.uk/default.asp?css=1

This big cat was pacing up and down so rapidly, couldn't help thinking it may be because of stress?? Allah fulfil their needs, ameen

Kookobarra, Black Widow venom, Rhinos and Wallabys.

This was good to learn about why the Blue Mountains are so called!

Gorgeous Okpia!

and any space is a fun space!

week 27

2010-07-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

This week feels like a day but not sure I can remember it all!
It's been very relaxed and kids mainly doing whatever they want and mum spending more time on herself for a change!

Monday ds3 on for Science on Interhigh after which it was computer games and pool for the rest of the day.
Ds2 decided to fix up his bike and start cycling which is excellent (- all part of the keep fit routine we are entering into).
He went down to the big shopping center about 4 miles away, and though it took him a while he managed it mashaALlah!
Ds1 I suspect slept most of the day surfacing for food and prayers!
Online Quran for younger two.

Tuesday English on online school for ds2, and then everyone out for walk/bike as suited to the individual.
Ds2 decided to 'do lunch' and his yummy efforts were appreciated!
Using the pack from Morrisons below - just a case of following instructions -

and end result from ds2 below mashaAllah

Online Quran for younger two in the evening.

Wednesday had friends over we haven't seen for a while and a trip down the park for tennis and play. Online Quran for younger two in the evening.

Thursday was split between bike rides, gym for some, and computer games.
Ds2's story boards are forming a story and have to say MashaAllah I am well impressed with what he is producing! Little peek here

==================================================================================

A tall cloaked figure hovered over a large, golden goblet in a dark weary room. The room was round and lonely, its darkness dimmed you, its corners infested with misery. The figures long bony fingers delicately touched the rim of the goblet which was about half its height, they curled elegantly around cold hard jewels. Its body was not that of a human, you could tell from its fingers. They were lonely, empty and were shielded by nothing, no skin, no flesh just the dark , horrible and hard bone which seemed to infest him throughout. His face was covered by the hood of the cloak, which hung desperately off the tip of his forehead. His chin was covered by the light shade of darkness which seemed to fall of the hood and so brilliantly blend in with the room.
The only source of light was from the golden goblet. It shined almost as if it had to, with out it the room would be engulfed in complete and utter darkness, its only friend would be despair and its only enemy light. Although light did shine from the goblet, it was not the goblet itself which was the light. The goblet contained a golden gooey liquid, it glistened and glinted into the face of the figure as he watched almost mesmerized by its sparkling abilities. His bony hands lifted themselves over it, slightly blocking the light. He muttered a few words under his dark black cloak. You would expect there to be echoes, but there was not, it was almost as if the miserable corners banished sound from the circular room but the demon did not care. His task was simple, extract the information which he so disparately desired and be done with it.

===================================================================================

MashaAllah

Today has been long walks and play in the mini gym park (the name the kids have given a local park which has had some great additions like a walker, stepper, arm swirls etc. as part of the 'get fit' initiative.
Juma at mosque
and early evening back on the river for some Kayaking!
The gorgeous weather meant the place was packed - spot our lot below!

Reading going on in the house currently is for big folk:

Parenting with Love and Logic, comes recommended from the mum of another teen
http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Teens-Love-Logic-Adolescents/dp/0891096957

and the book recommended in the Idiot proof diet (well worth reading!!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0786862734/ref=oss_product

Medium folk are on
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Days-Skulduggery-Pleasant-book/dp/0007325940/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278602047&sr=1-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amazing_Maurice_and_his_Educated_Rodents

week 26

2010-07-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

Kids have discovered Jimmy’s Food Factory and learnt a variety of interesting food related facts and processes:
Milk – how to homonogise and pasteurise
Cheese – how to make it at home, and how to change normal cheese into processed cheese
Meat and reducing it into square slices!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nmt73
Science series in which farmer Jimmy Doherty asks what really goes into supermarket food.

Ds2 has returned to first love of writing and story boards are appearing around the house again!

Ds1 is FREE!!!!!!!
MashaAllah, alhumdulilla his Graphic Design course is completed with the very respectable grades of Distinction, Distinction and Merit, he now has a whole Summer to sleep and reattach to pooter before leaving for Uni.!

Exception being Islamic Studies of course!! And he’s off for this course now alhumdulilla

Art of Differing

Course Synopsis: There are so many opinions, many madhabs. Everyone claims to be on the right way. If I follow one opinion, at which point do we agree and which point do we disagree. Can someone claim anything and we have to abide by the etiquettes of differing?
Course Description: What is the Sharia perspective towards differences between people? The motivation behind differences. How differences opinions can be reconciled and when there are legitimate difference of opinions.
What you will learn
- Differing: Causes, Types and Rulings
- The Islamic outlook on differing in general
- The Sharī'ah's standpoint on differences between people
- Substantial differences are in creed and fundamental matters
- Criteria for classifying differences
- The motive behind differences
- The rank of differences
- The consequences of the differences
- Differences embodying mercy
- Differences that are not held to be merciful
- Theoretical and Practical Guidelines governing dealing with differences
- The unity of the Ummah and its importance

Ds3 has probably had the ‘toughest’ week in that it’s been exam week on online school.
His first experience of taking a timed test and it was stressful in places.
He was very good though, that when he didn’t remember something he would not look it up in the books mashaAllah and just wrote that he didn't know the answer!

He had a lovely long chat on the phone with Mamu one day which also turned into a cookery lesson as he mentioned he was going to go make himself a snack. Mamu gave him a recipe over the phone which he followed by putting the phone on loud speaker and asking whatever he needed as he went along :

good one for 10+ I think!

one tin tuna, open and drain
half of one red bell pepper chopped up small
half of one yellow bell pepper chopped up small
half a tomato
half an onion chopped as small as you can
quarter teaspoon of crushed ginger
quarter teaspoon of crushed garlic
boil up as much pasta as you want to eat (draining may need adult)

brown onion in a few teaspoons of oil, add peppers, tomato, ginger and garlic for about 4 minutes, add tuna and let it cook for about 7 minutes medium heat

pour onto pasta and enjoy!

and finally Dad came up trumps! well mum planned and dad paid! lol!

CAKES just to say WELL DONE - don't know the results for younger two yet and didn't think we'd know eldest's either but just to say we know how much they worked and tried!

week 25 - early summary!

2010-06-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Boys have been busy with a variety of activities again alhumdulilla.

DS1 finishing all the work for the deadlines on projects and setting up his exhibition at College - some pics below!

Ds2 catching up on reading - The last Harry Potter!

Ds3 has had revision for Exams which will run all of next week on the online school.

Apart from that they've had a session at Ufton Court for Bushcraft and different knots to build a gateway

One day was spent at the London Mosque for the following exhibition and also to collect a friend for ds3 -sleepovers!

Trip out for PYO Strawberries and bowling.

Juma at our local mosque tomorrow inshaAllah and Kayaking on the Thames with Scout group again, alhumdulilla

The rest of the time in between the bits described was nearly ALL computer related activities with a 'slice' of playing pool! Guess holidays have arrived - though weekend is planned revision for ds3 who has exams next week.

week 24 the fledglings!

2010-06-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

The nest we discovered when we cleared the garden has finally had the little birds emerging from them.
Found one this morning about 10 feet away from the nest having hopped and sort of flown across the space!

Ds3 and I spent some time just watching them and it made me realise the benefits of home ed again!
He can sit around the garden for a couple of hours watching birds hop and learn to fly and there's no rush to go anywhere, alhumdulilla.

Peaceful morning!

week 24 Solar System

2010-06-17T04:43:00.000-07:00

ds3 has been engrossed in Planets!
Science project was to build a model of the solar system.

These links were useful for us:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4710124_make-solar-system-school-project.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/activities/label/labelsolarsystemanswers.shtml

Final Project:

and the process : (had to give up on the coat hanger as had no cuters strong enough to cut it, so switched to straws selotaped to the backs-
also didnt have green but google used to find primary colours and get green from blue and yellow!)

Hiking

2010-06-16T00:41:00.001-07:00

Boys went off for a Hike - 7 miles plus planned incident
(requiring the need to build a make shift stretcher to carry the injured one)

Lead on H!!

Lions and caterpillars.

2010-06-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

weeks 19 - 24! 6 weeks of ....??!

2010-06-15T15:07:00.000-07:00

Ummmmmm been a while again and no real reason for not blogging except had more urgent things to do!

Kids have been busy:
ds1 finishing off Final Year Projects for the last bit of the BTEC
Also climbing in Wales again with the Scout leaders - scrambling and climbing!

ds2 revising for exams - last one this Friday inshaAllah- (in between sessions of WarCraft games!)

May Allah grant them success in all their endeavors, ameen

ds3 bike riding, gardening and Interhigh with about a fortnight 'off' due to mumps
also HE trip to Woburn Safari Park
Quran sessions have continued intermittenly online - as and when the tutor appears!!
they r probably doing more on their own now alhumdulilla

Some pics. from ds3 from the Safari Park and also a batch of caterpillars 'hatching' he found on a tree locally.
We also discovered a nest when cleaning up the garden with newly hatched chicks- will try to get photos up on that- and the discusson stemming from that have included how birds build nests, safety aspect, and also nurturing role and protection role that the mother has in all families!

Totem pole!

2010-05-10T00:09:00.001-07:00

This was from the Native Americans and white settlers work for ds3!
(research on internet was his - mashaAllah getting good at finding what he needs, reading, writing, computer use too!)

I have chosen the following for my family –

For my eldest brother I have chosen the Dogfish because it has persistence and strength as well as innate leadership. Mum says that’s my brother!

For my next brother I have chosen the Eagle because he has a broad perspective of everything which is just like him!

My mum is the Killer Whale because she is a traveller and a Guardian. Also because she kills us when we do something naughty and she is cuddly and large!

My dad is the Salmon because he is dependable and a provider, and because he likes salmon!

For myself there is the Wolf because I am good at teaching other people and he is intelligent like me! (hee hee)

week 18 ending Friday May 7th

2010-05-09T21:57:00.000-07:00

Haven't got round to the blog since mid April?! so quick update before end of May arrives!

nothing spectacular has been happening and each child is following what he wants to do:

DS3 has been following his chosen set of structured work with additions from me for
Islamic Studies - this has moved to the Junior High level of the Iqra books alhumdulilla , plus Quran online with Ustaza in Egypt and reading with brothers and myself where we correct each other alhumdulilla

Interhigh has continued - and in the last few weeks they have covered
Science: Floating and Friction, Forces
English:Designing a leaflet for a Theme Park advert, setting up a possible website for the class magazine
Mathematics: Graphs and Functions, review of negative numbers, Inverses
Surface areas of cubes and cuboids
Geography: Changes in Agriculture methods in UK, Amazon and it's tribal people
History: Lakotan Beliefs, Totem Poles, Native Americans and the new white settlers

Home ed meet ups have been at our place and trips out - two mentioned in last post
and a great of cycling has been squashed into most days!

Ds2 is also the same for Quran and Islamic studies but he has been logged into the net for much of the rest of his time - latest 'research' project is Weightlifting! This has led off on a tangent onto nutrition and the benefits of natural items such as Flaxseed and daily amounts of spinach!
Never having bought, or indeed eaten, flaxseed before it has made us realise that we tend to think quite narrowly about food because of the way the supermarkets are organised.

He is also into semi revision mode for exams which start in a couple of weeks-
a huge difference in attitude to our 'pressurised school sessions' - alhumdulilla

Telly 'education' has continued from the How's it made programmes, as well as the Natural History channel and Discovery ones - they've spend a fair bit of time on the Cobra and snake related ones as well as Ants and Planet Earth
small clips on here too -

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/time-warp-spitting-cobra.html
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html

that's all i can remember for now-
really must write down what they do at the time!!

Bushcraft, Archery and Animals

2010-05-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

Boys have a Bushcraft and Archery day at Camp Mohawk.
They visited here about six years ago but we never attended again -
seemed too far for them when they were that much younger!

Had to take a pic. of this drum- ds3 there for size!!

Archery

Fire skills - starting small

Building something to hold cans/pots

so finally - Tea and toast!

The week before was a trip to Chessington and Animals.
Had a interesting workshop on the many animals there including the meercats and hedgehogs, and ofcourse the new baby gorilla attracted a lot of interest.
Children learnt about animal diets, habitat as well as conservation programme.

Those photos finally!!

2010-04-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

Wales trip -
Brecon Beacons Railway, Brecon Beacons National Park, the Iron Age Village, Caves, oldest lake in this part of Wales plus school we stayed at.

Little man's favourite bridge

'Home' for the weekend.

Receiving award!!

weeks 13 and 14!!

2010-04-10T00:48:00.001-07:00

Holidays have mixed in with some learning but best news has to be:

Ed Balls’s plans for home educators in England are all washed up thanks to unrelenting pressure from the Tories and Lib Dems during the dying days of the UK Parliament in the period known as wash-up when deals are struck by the government to get important pieces of legislation through prior to dissolution.

http://www.home-education.biz/news/24/60/Balls-Bill-shrunk-in-the-wash-up/

Alhumdulilla!

now onto the more important business of children's actual home education and life!

Ds3 had his first weekend at the Interhigh get together with ds2 and myself in tow and it was brilliant alhumdulilla.

The place we stayed in is a school in the Brecon Beacons, Wales and very nice it was too!
Also had some trips for the History of the Local area, all the way back to Iron Age man, a trip to the Caves and their history plus some work on the geology of the land.

highlights for kids were ds3's favourite bridge - Severn -
Llamgrose Lake - oldest natural lake in S. Wales, and the Brecon Becon Steam Railway

This was followed by a couple of days home and then a week away in Plymouth.
Beaches, warhammer and sleep being the bulk of it,
plus the discovery in Liskerd of GoKarting!

Will upload pics inshaAllah when net is cooperating instead on working at a snail's pace!!

week 13 In his own kayak mashaAllah!

2010-03-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

First time out on his own for ds3 mashaAllah!

week 10, 11 and 12- catch up!

2010-03-19T02:32:00.001-07:00

Ok things got a bit hectic again and THREE weeks have hurtled past!

Kids have been busy with their normal activities - mentioning the ones I remember here

The first day of 'proper' sun, as ds3 would put it, was a re-visit to Osterley Park.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-osterleypark
Apart from noticing the new animals there was sword fighting!!

Had a Museum trip for the Great Debate at the Natural History Museum.

This was a summarised version of the positions taken by Garwin, Owen and their supporters, plus some History on the construction of the NHM -
interesting info. was the monkeys on the main arch were given human like faces for some of the politicians of that time- and a beared one represented you know who!!

They also received a behind a the scences tour of their storage facilities and a look at the stores specimens from the time of Drawin, as well as items such as a giant squid- the only one to have been caught alive.

Interesting to watch were the flesh eating beetles they use to have their specimen bones stripped neatly! there are webcames people can watch them on too

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/naturecams/beetlecam/

Some sections they discovered on a walk round

Another Museum trip - this time Science to see the 1001 Muslim Inventions
They visited the smaller version of this when the exhibition was in Croydon a few years ago, but this one was worth going to.

They got stuck in at the Launch pad too, and amongst other experiments finally manged to build the Arch to hold their own and Mums weight!!

Weve had a visit to the new Leisure center near us that has opened it's doors for 'Junior Gym', and also swimming. Residents have special rates which I'm very pleased about as the cost of home ed is sometimes high, alhumdulilla!
Youngest is trying for the Atheletics Team which should keep him active enough and so happy!

http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=11050

On the book/secular front:

DS3 has covered Ratio, Proportions, Units/Conversion and Algebra for Maths.
Descriptive poetry for English - one of his efforts below
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeffery is a bouncing ball,
he is an orange bouncing ball.

He likes to bounce and he likes to pounce,
he is very happy when he falls.

Every day he goes to boing all around the room,
up the walls and on the ceiling,
he is a very bouncy ball.

He is tall and springy,
and loves to jump around the malls

I hold on tightly to his ears as he bounces me along,
We travel round the world and see many wondrous sights,
With colours aplenty and food for all.

Jeffery is a bouncing ball,
But he’s not just any old bouncing ball
He’s MY bouncing ball

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Science has focused on reactions, mixtures and compounds.
History has been great fun again - this time history of Gunpowder!
and Geography covered the five different types of Farming in the UK

Ds2 is ploughing on with M1 revision plus started on M2.
Reading for pleasure has been centered around his love of Robotics - though one of the books he's picked is more an academic text at College level - so challenging to understand, but he wants to try so why not?!!

Tajweed / Quran lessons online continued as normal alhumdulilla.

In between all of this has been the packing and shifting of furniture etc. for the next round of 'fixing up the house', plus kids 'requests' eg. watching films with them, playing board games and out to the park, and of course visitors in the form of other home ed kids -- no wonder 3 weeks zoomed by!

we are behind schedule on the Umrah lapbooks but as hubby says we wont have enough dosh for this year - it's OK to slow up on that and spread it our more over the next few months.

Islamic Studies have been covered but not text book style-
eg. AS issue with ds3 of constantly apologising and remembering we are all equal and none is better than the other except in deeds so no need to elevate another human to anything above you and anyone else. and with siblings to try and follow the hadith of making 70 odd excuses for your brother BEFORE losing it with them!

eg. The Dispatches programme on the Gaza kids was heart breaking and think it shocked ds2 esp. and again the battle to balance - there is good and bad in each race- and to blanket hate is incorrect-
also from Islamic view point we know the Ummah of Musa alais salaam is small - so we must view the trangressors as not from them.

eg. Charity - money and their pocket money etc. still an active topic as ds3 is looking into saving for a water pump for some part of Africa so the children who walk for miles now won't have to- Allah enable him to see it through, ameen

and think last one- just remembered Cabinet War Rooms visit - only from yesterday!
http://cwr.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.579

They had a session to explain what the rooms were used for, a wander round to find clues as to how the building had been strengthened to meet a possible bomb blast, as well as a session on Arch building and testing their own 'house creations' after a bomb (tennis ball) hits!

ds1 has also got the bags sorted for Feesabililla site alhumdulilla

much more but no time to type and upload anything else for now!
I'm done for a week or so!!

Education or brainwashing?

2010-03-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

week 9 Umrah book

2010-02-28T05:53:00.000-08:00

Section 6 is a looooong section for the Ettiquette of Umrah - in total 35 parts mentioned in the book!

We covered this via reading and discussion and then ds2 chose to simply list about 11 reasons!

we got some photos off Google to show a few combined reasons eg. hug family and friends when you return, bring gifts on your return and feed the people.
Also simple drawings for some eg. saying Allah u Akbar as you to higher ground and saying SubhanaAllah as you come to lower ground.

ds3 made a branches with fruit idea and each fruit shows one of the Ettiquettes

Duaas, eg. for travel and when stopping are being added to the flipper notebook with some line of explanation or translation as to when to say it.

Final Page looked a bit of a mix but alhumdulilla it's all in there!

ending week 8 Friday 25th February

2010-02-27T15:08:00.001-08:00

Week 8 was kind of blurred as we had coughs, colds and asthma attacks to deal with so automatically on ‘go slow’ mode. Alhumdulilla.

Ds3 asked if he could try the online sessions without help mashaALlah. He tried Monday for Science and Tuesday for English by himself and is confident he has understood it all. His homework marks came in to confirm what he said Alhumdulilla!

Thursday was Mathematics and Friday History and Geography. He asked if I could come for these three as in Maths – decimals and division by decimals – the teacher’s explanation needed a second explanation and it’s not an easy topic anyway.
With the History and Geog. it’s the amount of note taking that is required – and the speed needed to write it all down before the class moves onto the next slide.
(they are on Vikings, Sagas and Runes for History, and Reasons for Floods in Geog.)
I’m pleased he’s firstly feeling ready to work on his own and secondly he knows he can ask for help when he is unsure – it’s been worth waiting for him to take this step on his own alhumdulilla.

Home ed in the style we have been following has allowed him to set the pace and also decide what level he is comfortable with.
I’m trusting some time in the future inshaAllah his writing skills will catch up to the rest inshaAllah.

We’ve continued with lectures from the Fiqs site and the Ummrah lapbook work –alhumdulilla – duaas are filling up the flippers cards mentioned in last post and continued a section form the Umrah book which we'll finish tomorrow inshaALlah.

Ds2 has started on exam papers for Mechanics 1, some of it is a struggle and some is getting manageable alhumdulilla.

He's also been reading through the book he has on Dantes Inferno -
and the play station game for it was finally bought and about ten minutes into play
ds2 broke it and threw it out as it was a load of shirk - something about making
a deal with the Angel of Death and possibility of killing the angel of death too
so yes his hard saved save twenty odd quid has been wasted
but Allah reward him,

alhumdulilla he realises the limits of what he should allow himself to be
involved in. Alhumdulilla!

sometimes letting them be works just as well as demanding they not do things which is excellent!

Other than the kids chosen bits this was also the week a lot of discussion started with the Ishaq case and again the children’s question about was home ed going to be stopped?

Anyone reading the notes here

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2009/B36.html

will be horrified and saddened by the events but hopefully realise there was plenty of time for those who could do something to have got on and done it.
Unfortunately they didn’t.

week 8 Flippers for Umrah duaas

2010-02-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in last weeks work the flipper cards are to hold all the duaas the kids will need inshaALlah.

Much of this may need to be done only by older children, or mum, as the pages are small and little kids, or those frustrated by AS hands, may find it too stressful to fit everything in!

Ds3 also completed his cover page and got the gluing done for Lollies handout alhumdulilla

ending week 7 Friday 19th February

2010-02-20T10:07:00.001-08:00

We've used the handout from Lollies place and mashaAllah it was very good!
Allah reward the sister, ameen.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13832763/Umrah-Guidelines-for-the-Young-Ones

Boys added their own title pages, and we adjusted the location for meeqat as we would be coming from a different direction!
We covered the whole handout alhumdulilla slowly over a few days - reading, questions and discussions -

The duaas we are planning on putting onto Flippers - which can be carried around on a key ring inshaAllah
(we got some from WHSmiths - there are different cards under Revision Index card section these days, http://www.pinkporcupine.com/pp/flippers.php . Then inshaALlah in all the time which can be wasted eg. waiting for a sibling to finish class, picking eldest up from College etc. could turn int 10-15 minute quick flip through. Hoping that just by many readings over the next few weeks that will enable them to memorise the duaas and then inshaALlah the keyrings are still there for review)

Monday was heavy duty on the Mechanics front for ds2 - Resolve, resolve, resolve!
Alhumdulilla he seems to be getting to grips with the six principles involved.
I've been having a bash too - as someone who passed exams more on memory/ability to regugitate rather than understanding it's been fabulous to understand some of the concepts I had assumed were 'too difficult'!

Little man checked in on online tutors and found some HW for half term which we completed together - weapons from Greek and Roman times plus his Water Aid poster,
latter pasted below:

Tajweed sessions online as normal and we've also been listening for Islamic Studies to the Fiqh for Children Series.

Ds1 was also on Half Term but spent some of the week back in College adding more pieces to his portfolio ready for Interview at the next Uni. inshaAllah.

Thursday Bournemouth for eldest's interview and younger two down to beach and the Aquarium.

Late Thursday we left older two to get the coach home, so they wouldn't miss Juma and
Ds3 and myself headed down to Drayton for a Woodland Challenge.
Although the age is specified at 12, they allowed 10 yr old in!

Woodland Challenge
Date & time:Friday 19th February 10.30-3.30pm
Age Range:12 -16 years
Fee:£5/4 concessions (as above)
Activities:Children & young people will work in groups or pairs to achieve 4 of the following 6 Challenges and WIN the campfire cooked sausages!
1.Tree Identification,
2. Fire lighting with fire steel;
3.Sheltermaking,
4.Woodcraft ;
5. Woodland Sculpture,
6. Peg Loom Weaving
Refreshments: Hot chocolate, fruit juice, digestive biscuits, popcorn, SAUSAGES
Bring: Wet weather coat/trousers; Pack lunch: No sweets/ MP3 players etc

They covered tree identification, by smell, touch and even taste in some cases!
Games, wood chopping - use of tools : saw, seceters, axe and pen knives.
Fire building too and some shelter building.

Hectic week but alhumdulilla a lot covered and learnt -
lots more to add re: general chat and its value but no time to type it all in so I do want to mention that most weeks I am only managing to put up about 20-30 percent of what I would call 'learning /educational opportunites and studies'. Kids are learning much more from the people we meet and the groups they are with as well as new sites and activities. Discussion with me, sibings, and other adults/kids they meet are adding to their knowledge bases and showing them different points of view.

Long live Home Ed.!

ending week 6 Friday 12th February

2010-02-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

This week has kind of zoomed again.
Ds2’s MudBalls already mentioned, plus his website work and free writing. In addition to that, mashaAllah, alhumdulilla syllabus for Mechanics1 was completed.
Trying exam papers now!
Ds3 has worked on Equations, Fractions, Percentages and Decimals, plus Migration and Adaptation of Animals for Science. Cooking is back - yeah from me!!
Cake and 'special choc sauce' from youngest 'secret' recipies, delicious!!
Both have continued with Umrah lapbook, Tajweed online and Quran at home.
We're also going through some lectures off this website:
http://thefiks.org/elearning/?cat=430

Swinley Forest for cycling, and long walks and a bit of bushcraft skills.

and rest of the week has been ......... free as eldest had an Interview at Uni.which kind of turned into a little break for all of us too! Alhumdulilla.
Pics. of bits and bobs below if blogger co-operates!:
Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Gorleston on Sea.
Ghost town in some parts and beach was deserted - too cold!!
The Wind farm out at sea led to some discussions on renewable energy, also the Historic Docks on the South Quay made for excellent watching and discussions on Trade, Imports Exports etc.

week 6 - Balls!

2010-02-09T08:21:00.001-08:00

Dorodango! Mud Balls that is!! lol! ds2 has been bitten by a mud bug!

He's using sites like this one,
http://www.dorodango.com/create.html

after watching the Myth Busters make some from mud and dung!!
(Alhumdulilla he only asked for the mud out the garden!)
Videos on this site,

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/2009/03/25/shiny-mud-balls/

First few attempts below but they were abandoned as cracks develop - which ds3 is now experimenting with the amount of water to put in in the first place

week 6 -Umrah Lapbook continued

2010-02-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

Session 4: Merits of Umrah was planned simply as:
suggestion: Page covered with shining stars (like reward stars) chose 4-6 from
the many reasons - kids write in own words

However, after doing the reading today boys have come up with their own ideas alhumdulilla!

The hadith where it is related the Black Stone- Hajra Al Aswad - will have eyes and a tongue and bear witness has caught their imagination, as well as the fact that each step taken equates to 10 rewards earned and 10 sins wiped- alhumdulilla.
The Jihaad for women being one where no killing is done i.e. Umrah and Hajj was also chosen. And lastly 7 circuits of the Ancient House plus 2 rakats is the same reward as freeing a slave.

ending week 5 Friday 5 February

2010-02-06T06:10:00.000-08:00

ok bit late this week so doing a quick- as I remember- recap!!

Ds3 has been working on a bunch of stuff alhumdulilla
Maths - Equations and Coordinates
English - Research on the internet for organisations who support people around the world who need clean water (run off from the Millions book and Water Aid reseach)
Science - more on elctrical circuits, Parallel and Serial circuits.
History has been a continuation on weaponry - now into Greek machines for warfare.
Geography has moved onto Rivers and Tributaries, watershed etc.

His Weapons timeline was recorded as a video too:
here for a few days I think before it gets deleted,

http://www.box.net/shared/y2lj3qmxoy

few pics of work below - His AS handwriting issues are slowly becoming less important alhumdulilla - as he is enjoying the work he seems not to mind about the difficulty and mashaALlah carries on.
Alhumdulilla, mashaAllah I'm really pleased at him minding less about appearance too.

Ds3 has continued with Core 3 and Mechanics 1

Outside of the secular bits they've been working on the Umrah Lapbook which was the section on Intentions but was extended to include the idea of a 'Wakeel'.

Also a whole chapter from the Seerah- The Sealed Nectar - from a children's version of the book which another sister made and shared - Allah reward her ameen.
Good research for looking in Quran mashaALlah - a first for ds3 mashaALlah,
also good for revision for mum!

Tajweed review courses continue online alhumdulilla.

They've also been to Ice Skating:

For their own bits ds2 has been reading up on Dante's Inferno - interest sparked by the new psp/xbox game that is due out!
Having looked it up and covered some discussion work on it with him I found it's actually part of a number of Classical Curriculums for Grade 6+.
Another lead led us off in a different direction in the Islamic influence he may have been under - though that's still controversial.

Not somethig I covered at school but I've enjoyed learning this with him!

Also he is making a website for his hoping-not-too-distant-in-the-future-sales-empire!

Ds2 has been mainly on computer games this week - nothing new there, plus the normal madness with the BMX and skateboarding.

Bigger folk reading this week- recommedation from Peace Gathering

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Adventures-Margins-Wasteful-Society/dp/0091932734

week 4 - Umrah Lapbook

2010-01-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

Umrah Plan was completed alhumdulilla – pasting below, along with a few sites that may prove useful plus the start of the lapbook, alhumdulilla

Book we are using as a base is 'A manual on the Rites of Umrah'
In the Light of the Noble Quran and the authentic Sunnah
http://www.thechildrensislamicbookstore.co.uk/A_manual_on_the_rites_of_umrah/p23\\2147_459098.aspx

Make Title page on choice of child

Session 1: Linguistic Meaning and Shareeah meaning of Umrah
suggestion: using card cut out a circle in two colours-
use semi circle for each meaning and glue to one page

Session 2: Obligatory conditions of Umrah
Islam, sanity, puberty (add about under age), freedom, and capability, 6th for
women- have a mehram
suggestion: cut out two circles, one with a pie slice missing
6 sections to each. on the circle to go on the bottom write out the 6 conditions
and the slice cut circle pin on top

Session 3:Niyah
decide why you are going for Pilgrimage
suggestion: heart shape cut from coloured card/paper
Kaba cut from card/paper, road between the two
and around the heart all the possible reasons to go

Session 4: Merits of Umrah
suggestion: Page covered with shining stars (like reward stars) chose 4-6 from
the many reasons - kids write in own words

Session 5: Who can obtain these merits?
suggestion: folded over page like a window - from left and right flaps coming
in- when you open the flaps one condition on each half

Session 6: Etiquettes of Umrah and Journey
these are numerous! Istikarah, seeking Allah's pleasure, learning Rules of Umrah
and travel, Repentance of sins, Lawfully gained wealth, Writing a waseeya,
Advising family duaas at various stages, gifts/hugs/feeding people on return
suggestion: make small drawings of some of these (eg. istikhara show someone
wrapped in blanket sleeping with a book saying 'Istikhara Prayer' on their
bedside table, OR show a tick by a man labouring in the fields and a cross on
the back of a man sitting in a bank for 'lawful wealth') and write some of these
in cloud bubbles and fix onto one sheet of A4, or two for older kids

Session 7: Mawaqeet of Umrah
Suggestion: Map of the area marking each meeqat and who can use it, Short
paragraphs, or bullet points for what to do at meeqat.

Session 8: What you can't do in Ihram
Suggestion: again maybe by picture mode for younger ones, or summarised for
slightly older ones on the rules on what's not allowed

Session 9: Penalties
Suggestion: arrange in order – ACTION leading to CONSEQUENCE

Session 10: What you can do in Ihram
Suggestion: kill harmful insects/animals, wear leather socks, trousers if no
izaar, Wear watch, specs, seek shade, use belt- any permissible clothes for
women

Session11: the Pillars and Obligations of Umrah
Suggestion: drawings of ihram, saaee, tawaaf, shaving hair

Session12: Visit to the Prophet's PBUH mosque
Suggestion: photo/drawing of mosque, reward of praying there, impermissibility
of heading out to visit grave as niyah,

Session 13: Supplications
Suggestion: Mini books of

few links I found - but haven't got round to making use of
http://lolliesplace.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/the-children-going-for-umrah/

http://talibiddeenjr.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/the-first-10-days-of-dhul-hijjah-learning-unit-and-lapbook-kit/

http://www.freewebs.com/hajjlessons/forparents.htm

http://livinghalal.com/blog/archives/66

ending week 4 Friday 29 January

2010-01-29T11:03:00.000-08:00

Got some photos through of eldest at the Peace Protest from 2 weeks back - very calm!

Keith for the 'Food not Bombs' programme.

Umrah reading and lapbook has been started for younger two, which i'll post up as a sepearte post in a bit inshaALlah

Saturday the three of them spent over at another sisters house - her 3 boys have known mine for about 13 years now alhumdulilla but as Home ed and school goes off in different directions they haven't been meeting up that often recently!

Sunday Scouts and more Model Building, plus Ds2 had more online Mechanics

Weekdays have a kind of blur!
DS2 has concentrated on Mechanic and Core and not much else!
Did attent the Robotics Lecture at Hatfield on Wednesday:

*************************************************************************************

The lecture Robot Companions in Social and Healthcare Robotics will be given by Kerstin Dautenhahn.

Robots in the role of assistants and companions are becoming increasingly popular. Such robots can be beneficial in a variety of areas where they may provide physical or cognitive assistance, or serve as therapeutic or educational “toys”.

The talk will provide two examples of robot companions, namely in the fields of robot assisted play for children with autism and home assistance for elderly and other users.

Examples will include research as part of the European project LIREC where UH develops robot companions for the UH “Robot House”. Research challenges as well as ethical issues involved in this research will be discussed.

Professor Dr. Kerstin Dautenhahn is in the Adaptive Systems Research Group, School of Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire.

This lecture is being held on Wednesday January 27th in the Lindop Building on the College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL10 9AB at 7.00pm.
**********************************************************************************

Thursday was visitors over and a lot of ps3 again, plus Warhammer and Rough Trader!!!
Squeezed in was a visit to the tentist and ds's two teeth having to be removed.
First experience of injection and teeth extraction- he was very brave!

ds3 has been working on Function Machines and Algebra, History of Weapons (which was a brilliant idea to do a time line for WEAPONS from the first Yew shaft found in an Elephants side from 250,000 years ago to about 800 BC).

a couple of pic's for the type of info. he decided to put. Also video, if it shows up, of the talk through for the Timeline.

AS Language work has continued with Grammatical Analogies, Fixing the sentense (tenses incorrect) and Contractions.
Geog. was more work on Rocks and quarries.

Juma at msoque and Quran online as normal.

ending week 3 Friday 22 January

2010-01-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

Ds3 has been having Pea races for Science - using a silver, steel, plastic and wooden spoon - then stick a dried pea on the top with a bit of butter. Put all spoons in a jug and add boiling water. Now, which pea falls off first? or starts sliding down the spoon first?( It’s to do with how well they conduct heat).
Also an experiemnt to re-inforce the ideas of particles moving in air-

Maths has focused on Rotations, Translations, Reflections, Brackets in Algebra and Co-ordinate axis - all of which he has enjoyed thoroughly.

For English they covered synonyms and antonyms and were asked to write an essay on a topic they felt strongly about.
Ds3 started off with Hijab and democracy, (this is from the news items of there being a need for a burka ban, which is basically a lot of silly politicians trying to raise their profiles and ‘status’. He was quite passionate about the fact that they can’t claim to be a democracy if they insist on telling people what to wear!
He got himself quite worked up and then switched topics!! Final draft below:

===================================================================================

Answer: My subject is ‘Home Education should not be banned.’

Home Education should be allowed freely because it’s better for the children to be in a one to one environment. You make more friends, you go to more activities, you have more fun and you are freer to learn whatever you want.
It would also mean that you learn at your exact level, whereas in school the teacher must teach at one level to the whole class so if you are very smart or very dumb school will not suit you.

Home education is very flexible as you get to be with your family, you learn more you experience more, you feel better because normally there is less bullying.
You will have more options to meet many children from different places, for example you can have lots of trips to workshops, Museums, Camps etc. as there aren’t set times for anything so YOU HAVE IT ALL!

Most children who have been tutored at home in my experience turn out to be smarter and kinder kids, they are also more social. I think they do see the bigger picture and they don’t only look at one point of view and one point of view alone.

Home educated children don’t just study by books but they get more chances to see, touch and be involved in what they learn.

Home education gets you closer to your family, it will make a child happy as you have many options and there is no set times or set curriculum, you play and you work to suit you.

Banning home education I think is a big mistake because most of the school children I have met I feel aren’t as nice as most of the home educated children I have met.
I also think that the kids are happier being around their families and I think they are better off too.

Being at home definitely makes a child happier.
=================================================================================

History has been great fun, the Black Death and the Peasants Revolt!
Ditto on the fun for Geography (types of Rocks and their formation).

I think the Humanaties are just 'calmer' subjects as they are topics that are interesting in themselves to ds3 - so class time flies past and learning is hapenning for him, alhumdulilla

We spent one morning at the Natural History Museum with a few other home edders for the Earth Science Fair.

Spent one afternoon at Great Windsor Park where the Lake was still frozen.
Walking, riding or skating!

blogger is taking too long to load photos so may do these another day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quran online has started for them both – review Tajweed course for ds2 and just refining for ds3.

Ustaza recommends just listening to Hossary as the sound is clear per letter

TV / iPlayers education has included

Nature Watch – Cheetahs
How stuff is made.
Forensic Science

Discs-
Lives of the Prophets - Disc 1 from Adam alas salaam

Ds2 has had a couple of tutor sessions on Mechanics during which time ds1 has worked on the Alive book (language work).Also Core 3 started at home.
We’ve also covered some of Core 3 at home and for his English he has worked on Reading and writing for Poetry.
Free time has been taken up with skating, free style writing and play station!

What else?! probably loads more but think that's all I can remember for now-

Juma at mosque of course!

Older crew reading has been the start of the following:

The Umrah one will inshaALlah be the basis for the planned Umrah lapbooks for ds2 and ds3.
Also eldest has put in his applications for Universities so inshaALlah all will go well for that.

ending week 2 Friday 15th

2010-01-15T10:29:00.001-08:00

ds3 got round to reading a bunch of books we found in the B&B,
think I enjoyed 'Smith' more this time round than when we read it in school many many years ago!

Online school started for ds3 -
History -Black Death,
Geography -Lava, Volcanoes and Types of Rocks
English - reading of Millions and worksheets on spending money!

Ds2 sat his Core exams, alhumdulilla.

Took the boys up to Reading Central Library for the Gaza Children's ART work.
The Israeli and American war machine have done untold damage.

a

eldest away for the Peace Gathering

http://peacenewsgathering.info/

ending Week 1 - Friday 8th

2010-01-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

DS3 snow, snow and snow!

DS2 Revision for Core1 and Core2 and snow!

2010 Spring Term Planning for booky stuff!

2010-01-15T08:35:00.000-08:00

Plans for Spring Term 2010 have begun Alhumdulilla-

On the Islamic Studies front we are going mainly with Lectures on the following for 12 and 10 year old, so a reduction on booky front!

Understanding the Seerah
Children Around the Prophet
Umar Ibn Al Khattaab
Mothers of the Believers
Lives of the Prophets

This will be added to with preparation for Umrah inshaAllah-
maybe more than just reading a book on, perhaps a LapBook, and of course committed to memory much of what they can use whenever inshaAllah we do get to go.

Also reading of the Sealed Nectar inshaAllah.

Quran has been planned with
a review of Tajweed Rules and regulations for ds2 - with online tutor,
and similar plus some correction on habit to add ghunnas where you don't need them for ds3 inshaAllah!!
He is also interested in Hifz which we will attempt again the old fashioned way to maintain momentum inshaALlah ( old fashioned way being bribery!)

Tajweed Books I'm looking to use are

http://www.tajweedbooks.com/

Easy Quran Reading by Elgindy

Online School continues for ds3 -
so English, Mathematics, History, Geography and Science covered in that

Extra reading - by choice will be via library books inshaALlah

AS related :
review of 'No more stinking thinking' and 'Practical Solutions'

http://www.autismbookstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=ASNC&Product_Code=BPRA04&Category_Code=FLS

completion of the Practical Language Activities book
and starting these two inshaALlah - i expect them to be used till Summer - so still 20 minute slots inshaAllah

http://www.acadcom.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=173

http://www.acadcom.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=230

Ds2 is keen as ever on writing so we're planning on finding another writing course to attend inshaAllah
Exams are continuing!
Core1 and Core2 were sat last Monday alhumdulilla, results due in April I think.

Now preparation is underway for Core3 and core4, as well as Mechanics 1 and Mechanics 2 for May/June 2010 and IGCSE English is also planned for the summer inshaALlah.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also blog updaes are going to be weekly inshaALlah,
to save wasting time online and also getting distracted with other bits once here!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bits and bobs!

2009-12-30T23:49:00.000-08:00

Boys have been doing self motivated deeds!

ds2 had his whittling/wood knife arrive - and he had decided to try and make a spoon from a lump of wood (following activities with the Scout master!)

he has also been hard it for Mathematics revision mashaALlah- may Allah help him succeed, ameen. The Mechanics online site is proving to be excellent - videos for explaining the work and also games for them to try out the rules for Friction, Momentum and Focrces:

http://www.mechanics-online.com/

They have included OpenCourseWare lectures from MIT and Prof. Walter Lewin is proving a favourite with ds2.
morning Quran sessions continue alhumdulilla.

ds3 has beecome semi-glued to the BMX and is out every hour he can get!
Playstaion and Wii consume most of the rest of the time but he has managed to squeeze in Quran lessons alhumdulilla and some reading:

A Little Boy Not Too Far Away
Book2 Islam for kids

A Wicked Wazir
J Simpsoon

The Adventures of Zulqarnain
S Akbar

The Wise Rabbit
B Gent

The Emir and the Verse of the Throne
F Gilani-Williams

He has also learnt how to remove the skin from the chicken and prepare pieces for cooking - his request mashaAllah and something he got very giggly about!!

Retreat for older crew coming up tomorrow inshaAllah

2009-12-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Iijma_residential upcoming5 Day retreat
Residential Retreat: Principles Related to Ijma and Qiyas
Date: Thursday 24th (21:00) - Monday 28th December 09 (21:00)

Lecturers: Sheikh Haitham al-Haddad, Fraz Farhat, Abu Rumaysah, Shaqur Rehman, Wasim Kempson, Farid Haibatan

Topics: At this retreat there will be an indepth study of the non textual sources of the Shariah - Ijma and Qiyas

Maths, maths and even more Maths!

2009-12-23T09:22:00.001-08:00

ds2 has been busy mashaALlah working through

Sequences and Series
Trigonometry
Exponentials and Logarithms
Differentiation and
Integration

as part of Core 2 Unit.

And making a start on Mechnaics1 using this site -
http://www.mechanics-online.com

just Vectors at the moment

Scouts update

2009-12-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

Last couple of sessions:

Rope and wooden sword cut, and carved, from old bedstead!

Rifle shooting- massive improvement after Scout Teacher hired in an expert to teach the kids!

Award (binoculars) for 'Most Improved Scout' this term mashaALlah!

Ottamans History!

2009-12-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

Older Two spent the day on this course -
originally booked for October but due to main speaker being ill had to be postposned and finally took place today!

Let it Snow!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

lost in the errie light!!!!!!

Pirates!!!!!!

2009-12-18T00:34:00.000-08:00

The Pirates project is finally complete!

From character, and ship, to other pirates, map and message in a bottle, and pirate lore!

Aaaarrrrr!!!!!!!!

der="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416492448041608226" />

Centre of the Cell Visit

2009-12-16T10:47:00.001-08:00

Organised a visit to the 'Centre of the Cell' space,
we had 10 adults and 27 children attend mashaAllah

the Cell centre they were in was build to match the 16cell stage of the embryo, and the underground sections were visible through the glass either side of the pod - where scientists could be seen doing their research.

Games were brilliant - some of the ones ds2 and ds3 tried:

top trumps (like the card version) of the Human Body, and types of cells,

twins and how eating habits, job , activity level etc. would all factor into how long and how healthy a person can be!

Fatty foods and heart attacks game.

Burns and skin grafts game.

Flu epidemic game.

some links and photos below:

http://www.centreofthecell.org/

http://www.centreofthecell.org/centre/?page_id=1&ks=3

Golden Hinde

2009-12-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Joined in with a local Home Ed Group for the Golden Hinde Visit to let ds3 get more experience and imagination to finish off his pirates project.

Francis Drake info. ( and additions from Mum
eg.just because the Queen of the time made him a 'privateer' -as opposed to just a plain old pirate - it doesn't change the fact he was a thief and a murderer!)

his original chair with FD carved into it

Children got to see, touch and sit with the canons,
also watch the way they would have been pulled out for firing and pulled in again

Somerset and Stonehenge

2009-12-11T10:24:00.000-08:00

Spent a day in Somerset with a home ed family we'd met at the Peace Camp and on the drive down ds3 spotted signposts for Stonehenge and wanted to stop - so we did!

He found a painting along one edge at the entrance that perectly matched the scene from Stig of the Dump - a favourite book of his!

Some discussion on Druids and also as always coming back to worshipping other than Allah and Islam, alhumdulilla

Also spotted the best poster on road signs:

Padding Bear and 'MIGRATION IS NOT A CRIME' caption. This went off into lost of discussion on Immigration patterns, why people choose to move, idea of Hijra in Islam and of course Racism.

The Last Month?!

2009-12-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Ok it's been about 30 days since the last post!
Alhumdulilla about 3 weeks of that for me has been sleep and sleep as I had a bout of cold, chest infection and asthma related issues- alhumdulilla.

What about the kids?

Eldest came to the rescue in the beginning with shopping after College and cooking when he got in mashaALlah - and alhumdulilla I credit home ed with that one!
Ds2 has sort of kept himself on task with Core 1 and some of Core2 work though the timetable long ago went out of the window - whether it can be salvaged remains to be seen but exam dates are fixed so inshaALlah it'll be possible.
Ds3 has been most helpful mashaAllah in work round the house and also Interhigh has kept him more or less on task for the secular stuff.

Quran reading has slipped a little and a few online tutor sessions have also been missed but nothing that can't be caught up on.

Bits of November:

Telly Education!

Montezuma (BBC 2)
Dan Snow travels to Mexico to investigate the history, character and legacy of Montezuma, the last great ruler of the Aztecs of Central America.
-there are 4 days left on replay of u want to watch!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mzrnp

MythBusters

http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/mythbusters.html

liquids and overheating - sugar and gobstoppers
rocket designs from 1800 - medieval canons
defeating the polygraph machine

Nature Programmes and Animal Cops
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnnh

also coming into Politics coming through with Whale Wars and who do governments really support!!
http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/

Eid time - Zahiba slaughter observed and chicken anatomy lesson courtesy of Dad!
Digestive - before and after cleaning, intesines, heart and liver

/s320/intestines.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410670199662744018" />

Scout Camp - Eldest and Youngest braved the 55 mph winds and rain in Reading and camped out! They went up by train and were collected by the Scout Leader. Also got a lift back, as I was in sleep mode still alhumdulilla
Ds3 choose warm house and computer - sensible lad!

Ds3 has worked on online and in Homework sessions:

Mathematics:
Missing Angle in 90, 180 and 360 degree sitations.
Tricky word problems.
Probability.
Fractions - equivalent forms
Fractions - addition/subtraction/division/multiplication of them

English: Pirates project detailed below has come to an end and he is learning to use Power Point to present it to the rest of the class. Paint programme has been used to make the Title page and also Google Images search engine to find the 'right' photos of the 'right' pirates! Search engines were also useful in researching the myths that go with Pirate stories.
Also covered Comparative and Superlative forms of words.
Spelling tests.

Science:
Research and debate on whether Wind Turbines should be banned.
The 7 Life Processes -
Reproduction, Movement, Sensitivity, Nutrition, Excrement, Respiration and Growth.

History:
Knights and their training.
Punishments and the Courts in Medievil England.
The Witch Hunts.

Geography:
Developments from rural to urban areas - reasons and progress

Islamic Studies for all-
10 days of Hajj discussion and plans for each to increase their own level of Quran reading and dhikr.
also watching online sessions eg. talk by Sheikh Haitham on making the most of The 10 Days of Dhul-Hijja -mp3 download:
http://filestore.mrdfmail.co.uk/zad/mp3/The 10 Days of Dhul-Hijjah 17-11-09.mp3

Quran - each on own timetables

Ds2
Mathematics work:
Factor Theorem,
Remainder Theorem
Algebraic Division
Equation of a circle
Coordinate Geometry of a Circle
Tangents and Normals to the circle
Geometic Series

English: - section 2 and 3 from course
Creating the atmosphere for your story.
Character development as plot ofr story develops.
Vocabulary and spellings.
Reading and comprehension work.

ok can't remember more but there was! alhumdulilla!

Gruffalo and some bits!

2009-11-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

ds3 has spent much of today dossing about as he is still on Half Term!
Quran was done alhumdulilla and some catching up with the online school for work before half term as he is missing chunks of it due to our normal style of home ed! Alhumdulilla he doesn't seem to mind and knuckles down to watching the stored lessons and doing the homework.

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Recent English homework was to write a story based on a painting of two children on a windy beach: his effort below, (had some help with spelling etc.).

English Homework

Two children on a beach.

It’s a cold day in winter, two children have just moved in near the beach and while their mother and father are unpacking they go for a walk along the beach. They leave the house and as it is so cold the younger one is shivering. They head to the beach and walk along for twenty minutes then they get tired and start to head back home but they realise this isn’t the way they came! They get frightened and look around them selves. They see a sign saying Pearl Lane and they know they have never seen this road before. It is a narrow long lane, with shops around them, a fish and chips one, some charity shops and a few toyshops.
There is a person selling newspapers in the distance, they walk over and ask if he knows where number 23 Echo Lane is. The man laughs and says, “that’s about five miles away kids! How did you get here?” The children get worried and say, “well we are new around here and we went for a walk. We got lost!” The man is silent for a minute and thinks for a while and then he asks, “Did you go down into a tunnel?” The children say ‘yes’ and the man asks, “Long, narrow and called First Person Bridge?”
The children reply ‘yes’ and the man explains that the tunnel is a short cut that takes about three miles off the journey. He tells them to go back down the beach and through the tunnel, and not to worry as they will find their way. The children thank him and head back to the tunnel feeling a bit safer. On the other side they recognise where they are and they decide to stay on the beach a little longer as after all it is fun being on the beech.
As they walk along the tide snatches the younger brother and the big brother just about caught his hand. The younger one is crying in terror and the elder is shouting for help.
Meanwhile their parents are getting worried saying to each other that the children have been gone for around a whole forty minutes. They both agree the children are still on the beach.
On the beach someone hears the screaming and spots them. He runs down to the beach and helps the elder one to pull his brother back onto shore. The children both thank the man and are very grateful to him. He offers to walk them home but they just says ‘no thank you, thank you very much for your help though’. The man smiles and says ‘don’t think any thing of it. Hey, I couldn’t have left you!’. They smile and say ‘Goodbye’. The man waves goodbye and they both walk away.
As the children are walking back the younger one carries on thanking his elder brother and the older one says ‘it is ok just snuggle up into your coat and we will walk home’.
Younger brother: OK, and they walk on. He starts to hum a tune.
Older brother: what are you humming?
Younger one: my favourite song, dumbbells!
The elder one giggles and replies with a okay. They carry on walking, its getting very cold and the elder one gives his brother his coat. The younger one puts it on top of his own coat all the while shivering. The elder one asks if he would you like to stop for a break and the younger agrees as he says his legs are hurting him.
The older one asks if he wants chocolate and smiles when the younger one grins and says ‘yes please!’. They walk on to a shop, buy chocolates and as they walk home they meet their parents who were coming out to find them.

They all return home to sit down and eat chocolates while watching a movie.

The End.

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and recent History homwwork example - they had to decide who should be King after the 1066 battle - and were given sentences with blanks to fill in names and reasons:

Unit: 2A Title: Who should be king?
Please explain who you voted for and why you made that decison

I think Harald Hardraa should be the next King of England.
My reasons for voting for Harald are as follows:
Firstly, I think he was first in line anyway to the Kings before and King Cnut.
Secondly, _Harald would make a good king because he was an experienced warrior.

Finally, he gets my vote because
I wouldn’t vote for Edgar because he was 14 and didn’t have any experience and was not a warrior yet.
In addition, I don’t think William would be a very good king because he wasn’t from the line of Kings, he wasn’t even related.

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Also today- trip out in late afternoon:

Ds3 spotted this back in Oct. and alhumdulilla we went back to Worthing for it today - it did have a few songs in it though!!! but really good fun for the most part!

Gruffola has been a favourite with ds3 since he could read mashaAllah-
and must admit I have a soft spot for him too!

The Gruffalo is coming to Worthing!
Join Mouse on an adventurous journey through the deep dark wood in this magical
“A modern classic” - The Observer
Songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 to 300!

Also we got there a little early and even the freezing cold didn't stop a small someone from trying to race in!!

20 great reasons for HE

2009-10-26T16:11:00.001-07:00

Found this online!!

and have decided to shut off blog again, thanks to advice from sis Khadija!!!!!!!!!!!

Curves!

2009-10-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

ds2, and myself, got stuck on y=(x+3)(x+4)(x-2)
which looks pretty straight forward - he found all the places graph will cut the axis and differentiate to find turning points, but the curve we were coming up with was not a cubic - 3 turning points!!

Remembering back to when we were working on these- yes many many many years ago!!- the graphic calculators we had were very useful for quick checks!

so we've found a freebie off the net alhumdulilla
http://www.coolmath.com/graphit/
which showed clearly that it was just a missing negative

Fun with cars!

2009-10-26T02:43:00.000-07:00

Week 2 Sun 25th Oct 2009
Scout Mechanics Workshop-
Build a working Model Motor Car & Race them

Games

2009-10-23T01:02:00.000-07:00

Youngest has been playing some of the Language and AS games again.

These were very useful a couple of years ago for getting a lead in to a lot of the problems with language and some facial/sensory issues.

He commented he still couldn't make the embarrased and sad faces but he was pretty good at spotting all of them! Alhumdulilla!

Diseases at Natural History Museum

2009-10-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

Boys were booked in for 'Diseases Outbreak' workshop at the Natural History Museum today and having arrived a little early they actually had time to see the stuff we normally whizz by!
Few bits below.

Gold, with quartz melted off with strong acid.

A fish that originally had been thought to have been extinct 80 million years ago, but one was found in the 30's and this particular one was caught in the 1960s.

Tree turned to stone!

The workshop:

Trip finished off with a wander round

Pirates and Parkour!

2009-10-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

A long, long day!

DS3 had English online which was 'smashing good fun' as PIRATES are the next half terms project and class was into discussion and research for it.

Ds3 rendered his version of 'A Pirate's Life for Me' over the internet to the whole group and was promptly enrolled for the End of Term Talent Show -
which he was happy enough about, alhumdulilla.

The next 6 weeks work, after Half term holidays next week, will be based on the following:

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This is a six week homework project.
There are six tasks in total, one for each week’s homework!
For each task you must complete at least one of the bullet points.
You should hand in your finished project on the last lesson of this term.

Your task is to imagine that you are a pirate and write a journal that gives an insight into your swashbuckling lifestyle. You may use the computer to present your project if you wish.

1.Use this homework time to research everything you can about pirates. Use the internet and books from the library. The more you read and research, the better your homework project will be. Bullet point or make notes on your findings.

2.Open your journal with an introduction: My Pirate Self. You can include:
·your name and a portrait (or detailed description) of yourself
·a labelled picture of the pirate outfit that you wear
·some of your favourite pirate sayings
·information about your background, including where you are from and how you became a pirate.

3.Describe your pirate ship and its crew. You can include:
·a labelled drawing of your ship (or a detailed written description)
·a labelled drawing of up to three members of your crew (or written description) explaining their names, what they do on the ship and some interesting things about them
·a labelled drawing (or detailed description) of any animals living on your ship
·a typical menu for an evening’s meal on your ship.

4.Explain your fascination with treasure. You can include:
·a treasure map for an island which has a key and instructions for anyone in search of treasure
·a ‘treasure legend’ explaining how the treasure came to be on the island, who it
belonged to and any curses attached to it
·a message in a bottle from someone stranded on the island after a failed treasure finding attempt.

5.Tell all about ‘pirate lore’. You can include:
·a pirate song all about a pirate’s life
·swashbuckling tales from the deep blue sea (stories of pirate battles, stories about famous pirates and how they got their fame, accounts of making enemies walk the plank – be imaginative!).

6.Use this homework time to write up your project and make it look attractive. Make sure you produce a front cover with your name on it. Within your project, use:
·sub-headings, drawings, diagrams, maps, bullet points
·correct spelling, punctuation and grammar!

from teachit.co.uk

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ds2 spent the morning working towards the second assignment in his English pack - mainly reading and comprehension work and at some point went off for 'drawing sessions' or watching the workmen trying to sort out the ariels on the roof tops!

After lunch and dhur library trip to sort some books for said project and reading currently underway is

After Asr was race down for swimming session, back home for break, Maghrib and wait for eldest to get in from College so we can head back to the sports center we couldn't find on Friday for their first session on Parkour (free running).

Having found it this time, ds2 decided he'd sit it out and only youngest and eldest had a go. Short clips below - it was quite crowded but both came out wowed and yes inshaAllah we make this a regular!