Nurturing Learning: March 10 Meeting

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Rahim

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About eight moms and a huge pack of children ranging in age from five months to 13 years, gathered at a local community centre on Tuesday morning. It was the first meeting of the reinvigorated Ottawa Muslim Homeschooling Network - full of the "new generation" of homeschooling mommies, receiving much needed advice and guidance from the veterans amongst us. Here's the rundown of what went on. Special thanks to the young gentlemen and ladies who took care of the little kids in the room next door, and did a great job - providing lollipops and crafts. Also, a thank you to the bakers amongst us who supplied both kids and moms with delicious treats, masha'Allah.

Start of the meeting

Introductions kicked off the gathering - most moms who were present listed their children as being under about six years old, however two moms also have teenagers - a subject that deserves a whole session of its own, joked our presenter, Sakina.

The super-busy mother of six then began sharing her experiences with getting organized for the school year. Sakina is currently homeschooling four children (including a friend's), while her eldest opted for school a few years ago, in grade 5 (which, although with its own set of challenges, is a mercy says Sakina because it would have been otherwise too difficult to keep up with her daughter's studies, while homeschooling the littler ones.)

Sakina's TOP TIPS

1- Name your homeschool: This will help give homeschooled children a sense of place, and a confident answer when inquiring minds want to know exactly where they go to school. Sakina's was called 'Flowering Hearts', though now that her learners are mainly boys, it may have to change to something a little more manly.

2- Decide what to teach - Moms - figure out your abilities and resources. Don't teach Slovackian if you don't know it.

3- Be flexible - let children follow their interests. Sakina's five-year-old loves to draw so she just lets him go and he is teaching himself how to write with very little guidance - simply because he wants to be able to describe the pictures he draws.

4- Look at where you live, where you hope to live. Check homeschooling laws.

5 - Plan subject by subject, level by level. Assess your children's abilities through gentle ways - no exams, please : ) .

6- Be fluid. Children will grasp information at their own pace, so work with them at their own level with a general outline of where you want the child to get to.

7- Figure out ways to teach a subject to varied age groups, eg. water wheels - teaches one child about renewable energy, other children about water sources & energy, etc. Simultaneous learning would make it easier for moms teaching multiple ages.

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How to plan for Learning: Sakina's method

Plans for 3 semesters each year, each consisting of 8 weeks.
Roughly plans the entire year - in a very basic way, based on Ontario curriculum
Then breaks it down by semester goals
Then by weekly goals and schedule
Then daily -- where creativity comes in to prepare lesson plans/ resources to use

Related points

Languages : Combines oral, written elements of a particular language in the same day, ie. Arabic Day will have conversation in the morning, later on there will be written work in Arabic, etc., to keep it together, and in the minds of children instead of spreading out subjects in the same language throughout the week.

Setting Goals: Children are different in what they can achieve. Think of different ways of imparting knowledge. For example, Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, would touch people when he wanted them to listen well. It works wonders on children to get them to pay attention. (One sister mentioned a study on touch therapy and its positive effects.)

Use affection to help teach, esp. when a child is struggling.

Let go: Sometimes it is important to remind yourself of your own hang-ups on a subject and figure out how to teach it without letting your own feelings about it creep into the experience. Sakina had to pretend to love math, when she didn't at all - and now, masha'Allah, math is her daughter's favourite subject!! Make it fun!

Flexibility: Do what you can, but don't force anyone to do what they don't like. Leave a lesson for a few weeks, let the child enjoy the experience. Don't make them dislike it.

When to start teaching: Whenever kids are ready.

Thoughts & Reflections

Sakina mentioned the saddest thing she heard from her school-going daughter was when she replied that "I don't need to know it", about learning more on Canadian government. Sakina wants kids to LOVE learning and want to know more, not to think about education as a list of items to be checked off, one by one, to meet school requirements.

"My goal is to have children ENJOY learning."

Quick tips for The Learning Day

- Start with Quran - lots of blessings, helps children retain / receive information, improves memory

- Be prepared at least the day before

- Teach subjects that are relevant to their lives, like social studies/ French

- And, most important of all, build relationships with your children.

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To all of you

Jazak'Allahu Kheiran to everyone who was able to attend, and to those who were with us, without being physically present : )

Next meeting will be at the same location, on April 14, Rabee'ath thaani, from 10 a.m. to one p.m. The subject will be Resources - how to plan lessons, and a closer look at curricula options.

Housekeeping

El Hamdullilah, we were also able to start a lending library of books, so please bring your borrowed materials to next meeting, and anything you would like to share with other Moms & their children.

Future plans include a meeting about the differences between girls and boys when it comes to learning; and a plan to organize a community conference related to homeschooling. Sugar Bush visit also in the works, Insha'Allah.

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All goodness is from our Most Merciful Lord; It is He Who Taught Humanity by the pen, what we knew not. We praise Him and Thank Him for His Kindness, that is immeasurable.


اللَّهُمَّ انْفَعْنِي بِمَا عَلَّمْـتَنِي وَ عَلِّمْنِي مَا يَنْفَعُنِي
"Allâhumma infa‘nî bimâ ‘allamtanî wa ‘allimnî ma yanfa‘unî" {Oh Allah! Make useful for me what You taught me and teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.}