Islamic Homeschooling

Ummshareef said:
:sl:

It's really interesting reading about everyone's experience with homeschooling. We're going down the Islamic boarding school route with my kids, but I often wonder if homeschooling might have worked out for them. I guess I did not feel I had enough knowledge, Islamic and secular, to take it on myself at home and there didn't seem sufficient resources available to help, though that may have changed. Also, I was keen for them to be surrounded by other motivated young Muslims in a strong Islamic learning environment.
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:wasalam:

You don't really need much experience yourself. All the courses come as a full package on their own and as ummLayth said, the material is there for the kids to manage it on their own. At a young age they may need guidance and direction starting those programs out but after that it's the program and them. Regarding islamic schools so called "islamic " learning environment. I"ve observed teaching at isalmic school and secular schools as a student teacher and did not see much difference. The islamic school had majority non-Muslim teachers anyways. and the boys/girls were hanging out together at school and after school outside. With the high dating and fornication in the youth of the ummah, islamic schools are helping somewhat but no where near as they should and how can they when all teachers hired are non-Muslims, besides the quran and arabic teacher. whose teaching them islamic values? I believe homeschooling is the optimal choice these days, especially given the times we live in and the state of the ummah and the youth. And not everyone can afford islamic schools.
 
I have a friend from the UK she do homeschooling her daughter and mashallah put a lot of things in her site homeschooling curriculum " ihsan academy"
I send the link above and it have free books to download for free and she put also the book to buy if you want
I hope that can help you sister
 
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Assalaamu alaikum,


(smile) A lot of new homeschoolers feel they need curricula. But over time, many find that they prefer to tailor life experiences and offer good books to read instead. The core subjects (language and math) need some work (and a bit of discipline from the parents), especially in the earlier grades (before your children are sufficiently literate and numerate to be able to continue by themselves), but other topics are a lot more flexible. Offer your children opportunities and resources.. and lots of time to think and play... and support what they feel drawn to as a vocation. (smile) And they will work at whatever is needed for them to fulfil this inner calling.

Someone mentioned StudioArabiya... (smile) I have recently had some experience with this resource, and so far, so good. It was recommended to me by a reliable person, and it has been a pleasure discovering it. There may be some bumpy patches (such as technical issues), but the StudioArabiya team is very helpful and responds quickly to any issues.


May Allah, the Kind, Reward all those who strive hard to please Him through service to their families.
 
Ummshareef said:
:sl:

It's really interesting reading about everyone's experience with homeschooling. We're going down the Islamic boarding school route with my kids, but I often wonder if homeschooling might have worked out for them. I guess I did not feel I had enough knowledge, Islamic and secular, to take it on myself at home and there didn't seem sufficient resources available to help, though that may have changed. Also, I was keen for them to be surrounded by other motivated young Muslims in a strong Islamic learning environment.
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MuslimInshallah said:
Assalaamu alaikum,


(smile) A lot of new homeschoolers feel they need curricula. But over time, many find that they prefer to tailor life experiences and offer good books to read instead. The core subjects (language and math) need some work (and a bit of discipline from the parents), especially in the earlier grades (before your children are sufficiently literate and numerate to be able to continue by themselves), but other topics are a lot more flexible. Offer your children opportunities and resources.. and lots of time to think and play... and support what they feel drawn to as a vocation. (smile) And they will work at whatever is needed for them to fulfil this inner calling.

Someone mentioned StudioArabiya... (smile) I have recently had some experience with this resource, and so far, so good. It was recommended to me by a reliable person, and it has been a pleasure discovering it. There may be some bumpy patches (such as technical issues), but the StudioArabiya team is very helpful and responds quickly to any issues.


May Allah, the Kind, Reward all those who strive hard to please Him through service to their families.
Click to expand...
Yes! I was going to say something similar but was in a hurry when I posted. Choosing a curriculum gives parents more confidence to jump into the homeschooling wagon, but in the last year I have found that a curriculum isn't really necessary and can actually be used as a guide rather than a stand alone. For example, I am not pleased with the history section, US history is very deceptive so what I'm doing this coming school year is replacing that section with world history of my choice and I'm using stories of the prophets as a guide so it is also Islamic studies. Alhamdullilah.

If allowed, kids will gravitate towards their interests and start blooming rather quickly. As parents, that's where we step in. We're supposed to feed their natural inclinations by providing the materials and guidance they need to develop and learn. The first step is to just jump in! You'll gain confidence with time insha'Allah.
 
Definitely, in my first year of homeschooling we did use the curriculum, but my mother soon decided we didn't need the National Curriculum and we began organising our own lessons from then.

I have been studying Arabic calligraphy for three years now alhamdulillah. My parents decided to include that as a subject in my studies, and brought the necessary materials and books. They also decided that to understand nature is important, so we got a flock of lovely chickens and they've been so educational, :D. I chose whatever I wanted to do and gravitated to what I was interested in, and my parents guided me along the way.

When my parents started out with homeschooling, they were really nervous and unsure - but with time it just becomes a daily routine. And it is definitely a commitment and a long-term journey - but if your circumstances allow it and you think it would be good for your family, just go for it.
 
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Thank you for sharing your perspective! I really treasure it as I've never spoken to a person who has been home schooled before. How did you enroll in college/uni? Can you explain the process?
 
Umm♥Layth said:
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I really treasure it as I've never spoken to a person who has been home schooled before. How did you enroll in college/uni? Can you explain the process?
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I haven't really spoken to anyone who is doing homeschooling, there aren't many us around, lol.

I have just begun university this year, it isn't all too hard once you've done your research. In the UK, everyone needs to have 3 passing A-level grades in order to get into a university. So I did A-levels in Religious Studies, Psychology and Sociology - I basically enrolled with a secondary school as a private candidate (that way you can still study at home while being able to take exams there) and then using the curriculums for those subjects from an exam board, I just took those exams. You just have to pay the school exam fees, show up on exam day and then they send you the results.

And then we enrolled with an online university, they obviously need ID and evidence of your grades, but then I just study online and whenever there are exams I have to physically go the university and take them there. If you chose a local university, it would be exactly the same only you wouldn't have to do it online. I've heard universities actually do give preference to home-educated students.

I hope I make sense, if you want to know anything else or clear anything just ask, I'd love to help if I can inshaAllah.
 
I'm pro-homeschooling too and I think it would have been highly beneficial for me but I was enrolled into public school. Alhamdulillah, I was one of those naturally smart kids I didn't even have to try to get good grades I would've easily got A's in my GCSE's in year 8 but then because there was no real focus on the smart kids alot of potential was wasted and I wasted most of my time either bunking or just messing around because of that(yr 8,9,10+11). I still got a bunch of A's alot of people we're shocked but it doesn't matter because now, being totally honest, I have a complete disinterest in secular education but it IS something you neeeeeeed alot
 
Umm♥Layth said:
How did you enroll in college/uni? Can you explain the process?
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Assalaamu alaikum Umm Layth,


(smile) Getting into university tends to be pretty easy (much easier than getting a high school diploma for a homeschooler, we discovered!), but you need to approach the universities you are interested in and find out their particular policies. There are many possible routes you can go. The ones we investigated were:

1) Taking standardized tests such as SAT's.

2) Enrolling in an online accredited university (be careful to make sure that the institution is recognized by other institutions), then after successfully taking a certain number of courses, transfer into your local university (find out the local university's particular requirements).

3) Submitting a request to become a special student, based on your homeschooling activities (again, ask the university what they require). After you successfully pass a certain amount of classes, then apply to become a regular student. This is useful for younger teens who are not ready for full-time university anyway, but who have the capacity to take one or two classes per semester.

4) Apply as a mature student (for somewhat (not much) older people who have homeschooled).

I have more experience with universities, as none of my children have gone to specialized colleges, but I have seen some openness by some colleges to accept homeschoolers. Again, you need to contact whichever institutions you are interested in and ask them how to proceed. (smile) And don't be discouraged if some institutions are closed-minded... others will be very happy to accept homeschoolers. Indeed, some institutions actively try to recruit homeschoolers.

It is also helpful to connect with other homeschoolers for tips and support. If you have a homeschool advocacy or legal defence organisation in your locality, then contact it for help and information. Here in Canada, we have the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defence Association). There is a related organization in the US. Don't wait till you have an urgent need for help, or a deadline for a submission to contact these groups. It is best to contact them as soon as you start considering homeschooling; they have resources that can inform your decisions, and they may have policies to only defend previously-registered members. And if you did not do so yet, Umm Layth, I would encourage you to contact them now. You never know when problems might turn up...

One final note: many homeschoolers worry that their child needs a High School Diploma, before being able to access College or University. This is often not true. Universities in particular tend to be flexible and much easier to approach than school authorities (in my experience- but each local area has it's own realities... so investigate what your own local realities are).

(smile) Anyway, I pray all will go well for you and your family.


May God, the the Compassionate, Guide us to that which is Pleasing to Him.
 
MuslimInshallah said:
Assalaamu alaikum Umm Layth,


(smile) Getting into university tends to be pretty easy (much easier than getting a high school diploma for a homeschooler, we discovered!), but you need to approach the universities you are interested in and find out their particular policies. There are many possible routes you can go. The ones we investigated were:

1) Taking standardized tests such as SAT's.

2) Enrolling in an online accredited university (be careful to make sure that the institution is recognized by other institutions), then after successfully taking a certain number of courses, transfer into your local university (find out the local university's particular requirements).

3) Submitting a request to become a special student, based on your homeschooling activities (again, ask the university what they require). After you successfully pass a certain amount of classes, then apply to become a regular student. This is useful for younger teens who are not ready for full-time university anyway, but who have the capacity to take one or two classes per semester.

4) Apply as a mature student (for somewhat (not much) older people who have homeschooled).

I have more experience with universities, as none of my children have gone to specialized colleges, but I have seen some openness by some colleges to accept homeschoolers. Again, you need to contact whichever institutions you are interested in and ask them how to proceed. (smile) And don't be discouraged if some institutions are closed-minded... others will be very happy to accept homeschoolers. Indeed, some institutions actively try to recruit homeschoolers.

It is also helpful to connect with other homeschoolers for tips and support. If you have a homeschool advocacy or legal defence organisation in your locality, then contact it for help and information. Here in Canada, we have the HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defence Association). There is a related organization in the US. Don't wait till you have an urgent need for help, or a deadline for a submission to contact these groups. It is best to contact them as soon as you start considering homeschooling; they have resources that can inform your decisions, and they may have policies to only defend previously-registered members. And if you did not do so yet, Umm Layth, I would encourage you to contact them now. You never know when problems might turn up...

One final note: many homeschoolers worry that their child needs a High School Diploma, before being able to access College or University. This is often not true. Universities in particular tend to be flexible and much easier to approach than school authorities (in my experience- but each local area has it's own realities... so investigate what your own local realities are).

(smile) Anyway, I pray all will go well for you and your family.


May God, the the Compassionate, Guide us to that which is Pleasing to Him.
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This. A wonderful explanation ma'sha'Allah.

More or less it is exactly the same here in the UK as well.
 

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