Ummi, can I learn about plumbing?

Assalamu alaykum,
so my older boy is into building with blocks and he loves meccano. He likes anything to do with building and that's include PLUMBING! LOL!
Few days ago, he asked me if he could borrow dh plumbing book. Of course I said yes.
He started reading about plumbing in the house, including a section about 'Plumbing and domestic heating'.
He then went to his bedroom and took all the Lego blocks out and started building a house. He completed it with a flu using a meccano piece.Wow, what can I say more!
I was so impressed! He was so happy with his work that he started reading a new section in the same book about installing a water supply system. Let's pray it doesn't decide to do the real thing!

Which way now?

Assalamu alaykum,
here it goes again that time of the year when my dh asks about the kids education. 'Er...what are the kids learning now? My friend's kids they are going to the public school and they are learning blah, blah, blah....'
Why every time my dh speaks with other dads gets into those 'horrible' thoughts of sending the kids to public school??
I am now facing a dilemma. We found a lovely Montessori Muslim school for my kids. I won't be happy to register them full time as I love my kids at home learning with me. But dh likes the idea. I do like to register them part-time. Dh is not so happy about that. Hamdulillah different views!
The other option is to have them study distance learning full time with Calvert programme, dh idea!! I swear! If I could get it my way it would be unschooling all the way.
So I think we have to agree to disagree and pray our istikhara to decide what's best for our kids.
Insh'Allah.

Sisterhood!

Assalamu alaykum,
another lovely day, hamdulilah!
We went to the farm again, we really love that place. This time was very well organized by a sister. Jazak'Allahu sis! Not just we had a great day visiting the farm, doing activities with the kids, but above all we enjoyed the company of lovely homeschooling sisters and lots of children!
Mash'Allah isn't this what they called 'sisterhood'?
We shared the day together, our company, our food, our time and not forgetting our prayers!
The kids were pleased to see other homeschool peers and enjoyed their activities.
All together a really pleasant day.

Lapbooking:Spice up your learning!

Assalamu alaykum,
during our homeschooling journey, we use so many different methods and we enjoyed all of them more or less.
But the one my kids loved was lapbooking and the use of Unit Studies.
We picked a theme or Unit Study and then work around it. Using mostly the library and Internet we would find all the info about the topic we chose. We then collect all the information and make our very own lapbook. We use colourful folders (document folders). You can buy these in packs of 10 and they are very cheap. We got ours from the local pound shop.
You then collect all the work done and glued it or sellotaped it into the folder. Collect as much works as possible. You can work around the topic using the National Curriculum. E.g. topic-train.Use Maths to count Trains, use English to write about Trains, use Science to learn about speed of the Train and how the Train move using different powers.
To give you a better idea here's a good link. I will also add pics of our lapbooks once I can upload them in my pc.
http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking

Our pocket garden

Assalamu alaykum,

we received our pocket garden.

I thought they were really cute and easy for the kids to look after.

We got the chili plant. You can buy your own pocket garden from siratt.com.

As the weather is getting warmer, we like to 'awake' our garden with new plants and flowers.

Last year we bought 2 plants of tomatoes, vine tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. We had so many tomatoes from those two small plants. I couldn't believe it. The kids enjoyed picking the tomatoes, washed them and just ate them on the spot.Mash'Allah the beauty of Allah!

Also we have various different fruits and herbs including: grapes, lemongrass, lavender, rosemary, lemon and orange plant, basil, and so many different flowers.

Islamic Studies:Love and Hate for the sake of Allah

Assalamu alaykum,
Allah , says:


" And among the people are those who take [for worship] partners besides Allah; they love them as they should love Allah, but those of faith are greater in their love for Allah. If only the evil-doers could see. Behold! They would see the punishment: That to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the punishment" (Qur'an 2:165)


Today we were reading these ahadith:"It is reported on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (ra) that he said: "Whoever loved for Allah's sake and hated for Allah's sake and befriended for Allah's sake and showed enmity for Allah's sake, will achieve by this Allah's friendship and the slave will not attain the real taste of eemaan (faith), even though he may pray much and fast much, until he does all these things. Today, most of the people maintain relationships and love only for some worldly reason, but this will not profit them anything (on the Day of Judgement)." (Narrated by Ibn Jareer At-Tabari)
Also reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Anas (ra) is that he said: "Allah's Messenger said:
"Whoever possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness of faith: (i) The one to whom Allah and His Messenger are more loved than anything else; (ii) the one who loves a person purely and solely for Allah's sake; and (iii) the one who hates to return to kufr after Allah has saved him, as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire." and in another narration: "None of you will find the sweetness of faith until..."
Allah's Messenger informs us in this Hadith that faith has a sweetness, and that this sweetness will not be experienced by any except him who places his love of Allah and His Messenger before that of all others and who does not love anyone except for Allah's sake and none other, and who hates disbelief and the idea of returning to it as much as he hates the Hell-fire and as much as he would hate to be thrown into it.
Benefits Derived From This Hadith
1. Confirmation of the sweetness of faith and that it is not achieved by every Believer.
2. The obligation of placing love of Allah and His Messenger above love of all others.
3. The permissibility of referring to Allah and His Messenger together.
4. That loving a person for Allah's sake is a part of faith.
5. The obligation to hate kufr and its adherents.

Our day at the Transport Museum!

First riding of the year!

Assalamu alaykum, today I took the boys for a good bike ride in the park.
The weather was exceptionally good for it to be February! Mash'Allah. It was really a nice warm day. The park was full.
The kids had their first bike ride of the Year!
We saw squirrels searching for nuts, climbing up the trees and playing on the field.
Fresh daffodils were everywhere.
My boys also noticed that few trees started to have flowers.

Give thanks to Allah

Assalamu alaykum,
how many times have you heard your kids complaining about the e.g. the food - ' i don't like what you cook today!' or about their toys - 'My toys are boring, can we buy new ones?!'
My kids are no different than other children. I always remind them that it is Allah who gives and it is Allah who takes.
They tought it was Tesco's until the age of about 3/4 years. Well it's NOT!!!!
We were watching Islam Channel and saw the children in Palestine, Gaza strip, suffering. Those poor kids were wondering around empty streets, hiding in the dark with no food and no light. My kids asked why.
Insh'Allah the question came on the right time as I was about to start a new 'sermon' about the importance of thanking Allah for what we have.
"Therefore remember Me, I will remember you, And be thankful to Me, and do not be ungrateful to Me." [Qur'an 2:152]
The problem we all face now days, including our kids, is that we have way too much and keep on thinking in our heads 'If only...' Astafirullah! ' If I had a new car I could...If I had a new toy...If I had more money...'
It is narrated by al-Mughira that the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, used to stand in the salaah or performs salaah until both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable salaah) he said, "Should I not be a thankful slave?" [Bukhari]
As the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, advised us, the best way to stay thankful to Allah is to count His Favors in our lives everyday. For Allah says,
"And He gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the favors of Allah, never will you be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude." [Qur'an 14:34]
This statement of Allah is so true, yet we put so little value on it, and do not take heed.
Thankfulness makes us closer to Allah, better servants, humble our hearts and purify us from the shaytans whispers.
So our Islamic Lesson today was about the importance of understating that It is Allah who gives and it is Allah who takes.

Alif, Baa, Taa nasheed

Teach kids how to cook!

Assalamu alaykum

CHORES- WE ALL HAVE TO DO THEM!

Chores for kids. There is nothing wrong with everyone, kids included, helping out around the house. After all, everyone lives there! There is no reason why the responsibilites that go with a home need to fall on one or two people, even if you have small children. There are many things that kids can do, and not only does it help you somewhat, but it teaches them responsibility, and gives them a sense of pride also. Start small and simple. Kids can help with easy tasks, like setting the table. Have the plates, cutlery (leave the sharp knives out of the picture until you know they are old enough to handle these), napkins, and cups set out for them to take to the dinner table. Salt and pepper shakers, as well as any condiments like ketchup, mustard, and salad dressings can be retreived from the refrigerator with a little direction. They can also carry their plates after all meals to the counter top.

Most importantly they will learn hygiene, how to keep clean why cleanliness is so important, what are the bactery and germs, how to count and use the scale in the kitchen, science etc

So today my boys helped making a salad.

Here's the recipe for our italian salad, my favourite!

Insalata Caprese is one of the simplest and most delicious of salads.

3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices 1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices 20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling Coarse salt and pepper
Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Recycle Crayons

Assalamu alaykum,
we had so many broken crayons around and kept on putting them aside. I thought maybe one day we could recycle them in same way.
Here it's how we recycle ours.

Gather up all of your broken crayons.
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.
Fill the muffin tin with an inch-thick layer of crayon pieces.
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the wax is melted.
Allow the tin to cool; then pop out the crayons, and they're ready for use.
Tips:
If you don't have a muffin tin to use to crayon making, you can line your regular muffin tin with foil cups. Or use some nice cup cakes or different shaped metal rings.
Recycled crayons make a great no-cost gift and kids love them!

Waldorf Homeschooling Curriculum

Assalamu alaykum,
I am so fascinated about the Waldorf method of teaching.
I am just looking into it now.
What fascinating me about Waldorf Method?
Waldorf schooling method look at the whole child 'heart,head and hands'.
The aim is to create a genuine love of learning in the child by freely using arts and activities! It looks to me like if the base of Waldorf teaching is 'unschooling'., No school, no grades, no exams, no copmpetitions between children, just pure love for learning.
[Consistent with his philosophy called Anthroposophy, Steiner designed a curriculum responsive to the developmental phases in childhood and nurturing of children's imagination. He thought that schools should cater to the needs of children rather than the demands of the government or economic forces, so he developed schools that encourage creativity and free-thinking.]http://www.steiner-australia.org/other/Wald_faq.html

I am also looking into Oak Meadow and the possibility to register my older one.
I think my boys would benefit from the method of teaching as it allowed them to explore in a tactile way.
Insh'Allah.
Here are some links:
http://www.oakmeadow.com/school.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldorf_Education
http://www.steinerwaldorf.org.uk/curriculum.htm

Anyone out there using Waldorf?