Its not working doesn't mean you are failing

In about 2 months time, I will have been "officially" home schooling for 5 years Alhamdulillah! I can still remember the very first day I sat with my eldest to "do school", absolutely clueless of what to do or where to start!
We sat at the kitchen table, deciding to make a giant poster to show the numbers up to 20....so that we would have something to show we had "done" something that day! ....we had to show we had done something, whether or not she could actually count right!?

Oh those days of naivety....I almost miss them! Like a tiny dry seed buried under the soil, not knowing when the rain will come, not knowing when it will start to grow.

Discovering right brain learning part 3: I'm starting over

Okay, so over the past couple of posts I've been looking at how my understanding of how my children learn is evolving. I mentioned that although I always thought I was pretty intuitive to my children's learning styles, I'm coming to realise that I am not quite so open minded as I had myself believe!
I begun a research journey that took me through the possibility of dyslexia, through to the differences in how we use our brain having an effect on how we learn, and on from that, I have come to accept that I forgot what it means to be a home educator.
 And this is what I will share in todays post; how I am using what I have learnt and rediscovered about home education through this new understanding of learning differences inshaAllah.

Discovering right brain learning part 2: what is the difference between left and right brainers?

Our brain is divided into 2 distinct halves. Each side being responsible for an array of different task which effect how our bodies move, how we think and feel and even how we learn.

The brain is criss-crossed to our body, with the right hemisphere controlling our body's left side, and the left hemisphere controlling the right.
So if you pick up your left hand to scratch your face; that's your right side of the brain working, and vice-versa.
Here, I want to look at how the different hemispheres effect the way we learn, to help understand how to better the way in which I'm facilitating my children's education inshaAllah.

Discovering right brain learning Part 1: Our story starts here

This is the first in a series of posts about the learning differences between left and right-brained children (well and adults...we all have a brain!).

Most of us, so I am told, live in a "left brain world"....however, there are some who are in fact right-brainers.
But what does this exactly mean, and why am I writing about it?

School Planner 2015-16 for home-educaters and teachers!

Its that time of year again....Ramadan has passed, E'id celebrations ended, our batteries have been recharged and now we are ready to refocus, energised for another "school" year bi'ithnillah...that's got to be a good enough reason for a new planner right! (...and if you are not a home educator but instead a teacher in a school or madrassa, then I've included a separate downloadable file with a "My School Planner" front cover just for you!)

The Prophet's prayer described workbook from Islamic Bedtime Stories

Just a quick re-direction, over on the Islamic Bedtime Stories blog, our dear sister has produced and uploaded a printable workbook based upon the translated work of Shiekh al-Albani "The Prophet's prayer described".

So head on over to Islamic Bedtime Stories to find out more and download the Prophet's prayer described workbook!

The conditions, pillars and requirements of prayer lapbook printable

We have been studying "An explanation of the conditions, pillars and requirements of prayer", an excellent book which helps give a depth of insight into salah, which I have found reading with my eldest child has helped to develop a greater connection and realisation of its importance beyond a series of actions and words.

Beautiful faceless dolls...

I don't know about you, but I struggle to find appropriate toys for my children. I purchased the material and stuffing to make my own rag dolls to give my girls as an E'id gift..... 3 years on, that material and stuffing still lays sat in the cupboard collecting dust, waiting for me to find the time (and energy!) to put a couple of dolls together!

Ramadan Reflections; the quick passing of time

The month of Ramadan has come and left us once again. It seems like only yesterday we were making our preparations for this blessed month and waking up at Sahur for our first fast.
It doesn't feel like 29 days have passed before us, it doesn't feel like we have fasted every one of those days or stood in prayer each night, SubhanAllah. How quickly this month has gone.

Keeping on top of home organisation...

Managing the home is something I have always personally struggled with.... from being a messy child myself; old habits die hard!
But no one wants to live in a messy environment. The home is a place of rest and a place of refuge from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
For myself, I struggle to do anything when everything at home is in a state of disorganised chaos.... and believe me, chaos is what I find too often for my liking!
But when everything is in its place, everything runs smoother, happier and a lot more productive Alhamdulillah.

So how can we get in control of managing the home when juggling all our other responsibilities and commitments? ....well, I am certainly no expert (my family will testify to that!) but I have picked up some tips and tricks which have certainly helped me a great deal, so I thought I'd share a few things which works for me (when I remember to do them that its!!!)....
Here are my 8 tips (8 is a random number I know....but 8 is what I have!)