Eid Greetings for Penpal

Assalamu Alaikum

We are in the last days of the holy month Ramadan and getting ready for EId. May Allah accept all our small Ibadaths that we did in Ramadan and be the ones who got the full blessings of the Lailathul Qadr. Ameen. 

We made an Eid greeting card for $weetie's penpal. This is the first time she's sending these to her Penpal.

 

We made a butterfly on the front and a flower inside. $weety wrote "happy eid" inside the card. Alhamdulillah it looked very pretty after finishing.

We also sent her earlier work which she finger painted and couldn't send it;

 We enjoyed doing these together and hope her friend likes it too.

Ramadan Mubarak!!!

Assalamu Alaikum

I'm wishing in the middle of Ramadan, I'm sorry it's too late. I can't blame the time, It's just I couldn't find it. This is Sweetie's first Ramadan since homeschool, so we did a nice Ramadan Mubarak door hanger from AMCIB which I changed a little.

Since it's the first Ramadan at Homeschool, I was searching for some Ramadan activity packs that suits her, but everything was advance except for some crafts and coloring. I'm really worried that I couldn't arrange everything for this whole month, coz of some hard days. It's like I'm missing a big part of homeschooling here. Inshallah I will try to organize the next Ramadan for her. Here is what Umm Aamainah in Almah's journey did for Ramadan with her kids, I loved the way how she is making Ramadan important for her and kids in a fun way. 

Circle Time

Assalamu Alaikum

Finally I'm posting this. There are so much that I think to post, but finding time is the hard part.
Circle time is when children get together to learn about the weather, time, date and a lot of important lessons by listening and sitting together. They also enjoy sharing stories of their own, singing songs and learn's a lot with play.    
So, I have done a lot of browsing and searching to arrange a circle time and now it's in motion Alhamdulillah. So here are some pics for what we use for our calender time and the way we do;

This is my calender board which I made myself and some with other resources which I'll mention, details of what it includes will be given below, So let's start. 

I try to start my circle time between 9:00 am to 12:00 pm depending on $weetie's interest coz we don't have a strict schedule to follow.

So we start our circle time by reciting and revising the Surah's we learned and by reviewing small Dua's like greeting, thanking, meeting etc...

Then we talk about myself and ask questions like.Who is our God, Who is our Prophet, What is our religion etc...We also talk about the creations of Allah and the gifts that he has given. $weety has an interest talking about Jannah and Jahannam, the things in it and how to do good deeds so that we can go to Jannah. I love the way when she says Jahannam with a dreadful voice, wide eyes and scared face, and Jannah with a smiley happy face lol.  

After talking is done, we will count the date and add today's date on our calender.When I add the date for example if the date is 28, I take 28 and 29 and ask which is 28 and what number makes 28. The calender and the Hijri cards are from IBB. Sorry, I couldn't find the link for the number's. To stick the date I used Velcro both sides.

 Next we will change what day was yesterday, today and tomorrow, then we discuss about what we did yesterday, today what are we going to do and tomorrow what will you do. I also remind them what we must say when we think to do something (I mean Inshallah). This sheet was made myself.

Then the Surah of the day, as I mentioned we usually do this at the beginning of circle time, made this myself. 

Then will sing the days of the week in English and Arabic, and talk about how many days are their in a week, in what day Jumma comes, what day the school starts etc.... Made this.

And we sing the months in Islam and English months. Made this. 

Next counting upto 20 and counting backwards from 10 to 1,

Reviewing the phonics and sing the phonics song. Got this poster from Gold  Star's books 

Reviewing the Arabic Alphabet and sing the Arabic Alphabet song. I printed the Arabic alphabet's and  to get some attention I did some collage  art and craft using glitter, crayons, paint and punched color paper's.

Then we check today's weather and point it in our weather wheel. its a fun part in our circle time and discuss about the different kinds of weather Allah has made, and how he gives the weather as a blessing and sometimes as a punishment. I got this also from IBB.

You'll be thinking where's that green color sheet which was on the calender board? I'm coming to that.

The lesson of the day sheet, I always come to this at last, so that I can start my lesson right away. So as you can see there is the shape, color, animal, Dua, English letter and the Arabic letter of the day. I will take the lessons according to the sheet. Inshallah I will write a full post on how we do the lessons. I got this sheet from 1+1+1=1 and changed some to Dua of the day and Arabic letter of the day. I will also change the animal and the shape of the day to Prophets and something that I find useful as we finish the subjects.

I have kept all my all my Calender related cards in this pouch near the calender, in case of missing.

At the end of circle time we will sing poems and Islamic songs as well. Alhamdulillah this routine is working right now for us. To make circle time more interest Inshallah, I'm thinking to add a calender notebook for $weety. After it's done I'll give a post on the notebook and about our lesson sheet If I could spare time, Inshallah.

Keeping the name of our Prophet (SAL)

Assalamu Alaikum

The Holy Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him has two personal names. He is known as Ahmad in the past scriptures and Muhammad in the Holy Qur'an. There are countless attributive names of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him. He is known by a distinct name in different areas. Every area (skies, earth, oceans, mountains, etc.) knows him by a special name and he is addressed accordingly.

There are numerous Fadha'il (Excellence and Benefits) of keeping the names "AHMAD" and "MUHAMMAD" as mentioned in many sayings (Ahadith) of the best of the Creation; the Master of Mankind Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him. Few of them are given below:

1. It is stated in Tibrani that the Holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, "Keep the names (of your children) on my name and not on my Kunniyat (Title)." 

2. Ibn Asakir and Hussain Ibn Ahmad has stated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, "If a son is born to you and out of love and respect for me and to obtain the blessings of my name, you keep the child's name 'Muhammad', then the father and child will both enter Jannah." 

3. Hafidh Abu Tahir and Hafidh Ibn Bakeer narrates on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, "On the day of Qiyamah two persons will be summoned to the Court of ALLAH. The verdict would be - 'take them both to Jannah!' They would say, 'O Almighty ALLAH! We have performed no good deed to entitle us to enter Jannah!' ALLAH will command again, 'Take them to Jannah because I have taken an oath that I will not put any person in Jahannam (Hell) whose name is Ahmad or Muhammad.'" 

NOTE: Elaborating on the above Hadith, A'laHadrat Imam Ahmad Rida (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anhu) states: "That person is a Mu'min (Believer) and according to the Quran, the Hadith and the Sahaba, a Mu'min is he who has sound and correct beliefs of the Ahle Sunnah Wa Jama'ah, that is, 'Sunni Sahih-ul-Aqida'. On the contrary, as for those who are misled and possess incorrect Aqaid are, according to Hadith Shareef, dogs of Jahannam whose deeds are rejected, and even if they are innocently murdered between Hajre Aswad and Makame Ibraheem and have Sabr and hopes for reward from ALLAH, then too ALLAH will not show any mercy towards them but sentence them to Hell. These Ahadith have been narrated by Daarqutni, Ibn Majah, Baihaqi and Ibn Jawzi etc from Hadrat Abu Umaama and Hadrat Huzaifa and Hadrat Anas (Radi Allahu Ra'aala Anhum Ajma'een) and this faqeer (AlaHadrat) has quoted these narrations in numerous of his Fatawa. Now, it must be noted that there is no glad tidings in this Hadith (about those whose names are Muhammad and Ahmad), for kuffaar like Muhammed bin Abdul Wahab Najdi or Sayid Ahmed Khan whose maslak is clearly kufr, since even the fragrance of Jannat is definitely haraam upon the kaafirs." [Ahkaam-e-Shariat]

4. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: "My Lord has mentioned to me, 'I swear by My Sight and greatness that whosoever is named after you shall never be destroyed by the Fire of Hell.'" [Hilyah Abu Nu'aym]

5. Ameer al-Mu'mineen Sayyiduna Ali (Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anhu) narrates that Rasoollulah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: "Those who sit in a company and eat food, and if there is a person amongst them by the name of Ahmad or Muhammad, then that entire group would receive the blessing of ALLAH twice daily." [Hafidh Ibne Bakeer, Waylami, Musnad Abi Saeed Naqqash, Ibn Adi Kaamil]

Shortly, in homes where persons with these sacred names live, ALLAH blesses that home twice daily.

6. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: "What would you lose if in your homes there is one, two or three Muhammad's." [Tabaqat Ibne Sa'ad]

7. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: "When a group sit in consultation and if a person by the name of Muhammad is amongst them, but is not included in such a meeting, ALLAH does not bestow Barakah in such a meeting." [Taraifi, Ibne Jawzi]

8. The Glorious Prophet of ALLAH Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said: "He who is blessed with three sons and does not name one Muhammad is indeed a Jahil (Ignorant)."[Tibrani, Mau'jam al-Kabeer]

9. The Holy Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said: "When you name the child Muhammad, respect him, make place and accommodate him in a gathering and do not accuse or curse him." [Hakim, Musnad al-Firdous, etc.]

10. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said: "When you name your son Muhammad, do not hit him, deprive him or rob him." [Musnad, Bazar]

It is preferable (MustaHsan) to keep the child's name "Muhammad" alone and not to add any name to it because the excellence of the sacred name alone has been mentioned in the aHadith. [An Nooru Wad Diya, pages 18 to 24]

11. Imam Sakhaawi narrated on the authority of Imam Ataa (Radi Allahu Anhu) [Taabi’ee, who is the distinguished Teacher of Imam al-A’ima Sayyidina Imam al-Azam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Anhuma] as follows: “One who wishes for his pregnant wife to have a boy baby, he should place his hand on her stomach and say,

 إن كان هذا الحمل ذكراً فقد سميته محمداً
If it is a boy, then I have named him Muhammad.

Insha Allah a boy will be born.”

Article taken from Alhazrat.net

Puzzle Fun.

Assalamu Alaikum:)

My mother bought this floor foam letter puzzle for $weetie when she was 2 years. Then she wasn't interested at all just for the colors. Last week when I took it out she saw this as a new toy and was very excited. This puzzle was great for $weetie's visual skill and hand coordination. 

So the fun we had together playing and learning...

Getting ready

Set the puzzle

Trying to set it perfectly

Finish doing the puzzle

Inserting the letters

Mashallah she recognized all the outlines at ones and inserted without my help

While inserting a letter, she asks the sound of the letter by asking
"wat this ummi"

Finished with the letters

After inserting the letters, I gave her these little foam which came with the puzzle
that covers the letter's holes.







Mashallah I didn't say her what is that or what she's supposed to do, she just took them looked it and then looked at the puzzle, she understood what she should do.


 
Showing her thumb telling Alhamdulillah all is finished.
She loved this so much that we did it thrice, when its play time this will be the first one to play.

This puzzle can be easy, but I didn't expect her to do all this, thought I should help her, but Mashallah when she did all this by herself I got to know she is improving her visual skill and hand coordination. Then I realized that my baby is growing.

Ya Allah make her as a righteous child that we intend her to be and give her the best of knowledge. Aameen.

Fun with Writing

Assalamu Alaikum:)

Alhamdulillah got some time to Blog.
$weetie started to hold her pencil when she's 2 years old, I loved the way she writes (exactly scribbles lol) and names it. So on that day on wards I made her some worksheets and some learning papers (only on writing and drawing coz I didn't know there was worksheet available).

Activity sheets done by me for $weetie

Learning sheets done by her method of learning

So now a days (after knowing the available worksheets) I print a worksheet and give to her, after she's done with it, she ask again and again. Her favorite is matching, and now Mashallah tracing has joined in her favorite list. So the problem is i'm printing a huge amount of worksheets everyday, I thought to do it myself like earlier and realized the waste of time and my $weetie's patience till I finish. So I was searching for a solution and something clicked me, I have seen a binder book in a blog which the blogger has bought for her kid which has a lot of activity in it and the best thing is, it can be written and erased with a marker and a duster, I think some of you know this but this was very new to me. So with that idea i did something like this;

Bought markers, duster and some display books, made sure to see the size fit A4 sheet papers. Printed a lot of activity worksheets. Put them in the display book and that's it, after writing as much as your kids want, erase it and get ready to write again.

These are my display books which $weetie calls "marker books".The green display books holds all the activity sheets in it and i'm filling it with new ones too, and also $weetie's favorite.

Sizes and matching long and short

 Tracing ( $weetie's sweet writing)

 Counting

 Tracing and identifying short and long

Shapes and identifying red color

Tracing and identifying same

The black display book contains Arabic worksheets that I make according to our lesson. So far we had done uptil Tha, and the Alif letter is taken out for $weety to do. 

And the blue display book contains our English alphabet worksheets which I also fill according to our lesson so far we had done uptil C

Letter A was taken out for $weetie.

I did this single display cover for $weetie to write a worksheet that I need her to concentrate for writing practice. For this I took off a page from the display book and sealed its vertical side with a sealer so I could change sheets in it.

After $weetie writes I'll make sure that she does erase before closing, coz if we erase after one day the ink will be a little visible, when its visible i'll put a drop of cologne onto duster and wipe the pages so it turns like a new one. 

Alhamdulillah these books make $weetie to sit and write and a great way for writing practice and I also see this as a worth time pass for my $weety. All praise is due to Allah for the idea and a solution he gave me to save ink from the printer (I really mean it) and for everything he provided us.