We experienced the most beautiful atmosphere this weekend while learning to appreciate the divine speech that is with us. Oh, if only we would look for it, how are life would change. You can never feel lonely, you can never feel hungry, you can never feel bored when you know you have such a treasure with you to be opened. So many important points he mentioned. One of them...
Someone asked him how we can make our kids interested in Sunday School. We don't seem to be teaching them anything..
He told her: 'stop teaching'. There has never been any institution that has been able to teach a language in a few hours a week. The first thing we have to do with these kids is become their friend. Play with them, talk to them. Let them get comfortable with you. Let them come to you for their problems. They are not even in the stage where they believe truly in Islam. They don't even have the basic tenets. So first we have to develop their Islamic character.Only after the character, knowledge will come.

It's so true, Murat has the same beliefs. He started having the Turkish brothers spend time with our kids in the masjid just playing with them. Then we have to slowly and wisely put in knowledge, maybe 10% and then 15% to build up.

We can truly be successful as educators after we develop some kind of relationship with our students. May Allah help us teach with wisdom.

Subhanallah! I must write about this before I forget. There are so many ways to teach. Nur was trying to make the first graders review their science lessons before their test. She had recorded a skit they had performed about the subject. Now she was watching it with them and had made them reporters. So they were acting like reporters writing down notes about what the video they themselves had produced! She had accomplished quite a few things by using this procedure.

• She had made her teaching period fun for herself
• She had encouraged them to write which is very hard for first graders.
• She had made them interested in learning their subject and reviewing it.
• The kids had a lot of fun while learning.
  

May Allah grant her more imagination to benefit others and spread knowledge in the best of manners inshallah.

Being the Eldest by Nur Kose

Being the eldest kid in a family of seven,
Is a very tough job for someone who’s eleven.

Two sisters and two brothers whom I need a lot,
To live with and to play with and with each other to be rude not.

Being the eldest, it’s hard not to get,
(when they are misbehaving) angry or upset.

When they beg too much and make me lose control,
I must cool down and get some self-control.

Changing diapers is, of course, something I would love to miss,
But until my sister is potty trained, I will have to wait for that bliss.

Keeping me up in the night when I'm only trying to sleep,
My siblings can make lots of noise and onto my bed they can leap.

Messing up my room after I had just cleaned it up,
I find my sisters playing and I feel like I'm going to erupt.

But having so many kids depending on me,
Makes me feel special for who I may be.

Joking with my siblings in the darkness of night,
Brings happiness and laughter as well as dreams that are bright.

And with so many playmates, I always have something to do,
Whether it be playing or laughing or just saying, 'BOO!'.


Being the eldest in a family of seven,
Can sometimes be fun for someone who's eleven!

Remind them and Yourself of the most blessed Prophet

I find Br. Yasir Qadhi's lecture series on Muhammad(s) so beautiful and beneficial for our little ones. I wish every one of us would let our kids hear one series once a day.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlGCkuFeJE0&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=09F7478734CE32E7

Kids as young as 7 years old are able to comprehend his lectures. He goes slow, repeats his sentences and summarizes his topic. Also he puts the Prophet's life(SAW) in clear distinguishing parts to make it easier for the children to digest.

Try it and inshallah you will see beautiful results.
Oh, and do not let them listen to more than one part(about 20min). Let them wait eagerly for the next one.

Insecurities of Toilet Training

I have to write about this before it is erased from my memory! And how easily things get forgotten in mine! How many times do we remember to thank our Rabb for our children to be able to go to the restroom and relieve themselves easily? We can't take it for granted. I remember a time when one my kids had such a hard time to go. We had to take him to the hospital and I met someone there who had to bring her child every other week to the hospital due to a kidney problem.
Meryem was not easy to toilet train and after four kids, I still had my doubts: "Would I be able to do it?" Really it is thru the mercy of Allah she learned to go and tell me. Just a month ago, she was not able to do that. So Thank you Allah for this great blessing! May I always remember each and every blessing you have granted me.