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updated 1/28/2000
(rev. 12/1/2000)
"If a child is spending 5 days a week in a Kafir school system and 1 to 2 days a week in an Islamic weekend school, it's like taking 1 to 2 steps forward and 5 steps back every week. Where is that child going to end up?"
"The only choices I see that Muslim parents have is full time Islamic school or home school."
Ama Shabazz
-former Board Secretary, Council of Islamic Schools in North America
currently with "The Message" magazine
For physical education this family belongs to the YMCA, taking advantage of swimming and Karate lessons. The children also play in league sports such as basketball, soccer (international football), American football, volleyball and baseball. Social clubs the children could belong to are Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Campfire, 4H, etc. The children of this family belong to a rocketry club (YMCA) and the community Chess club.
Steck Vaughn books, Rod & Staff, A Beka, IFANCA, IBTS, and Amana were bought directly from the publisher. MCP and Delta books were bought from The Home School. Muslim social studies may be purchased directly from Susann Douglass. Children's illustrated classics from various publishers were primarily bought at used book stores and garage sales, although some were ordered through Boarders Books, Barnes & Noble, etc. and some were found in supermarkets.
There has been a recent explosion in the literature or novels for Muslim children. It is a good idea for any Muslim family, whether home schooling or not, to have an ever expanding or up-to-date, home library of these books. After word when the children have grown these books can be kept for grandchildren or donated to a masjid or Islamic school.
Some Muslim parents may have trouble with Rod & Staff and A Beka books, for they lean very heavily on Biblical verse within the lessons. However, the lessons are sound and are progressive in scope. For the average price of $14.75 per math text and $7.93 per science text (as opposed to an average of $30.00 per text from secular publishing houses) grade 1 to 4 do quite well. And for the cost of a 79¢ black marker, possible discomfort of the Biblical verses and references can be removed.
For unit studies Greenleaf Press and Usborne Books. Usborne books can be purchased through Great Christian Books or Quality Children's Books Or Cheryl Randolph.
Upper (4 - 6) and lower (K - 2) grade curriculum can be extrapolated from this 3rd grade curriculm. Classics for upper grades can be obtained from Puffin Classics. Math for these grades can either continue with MCP math or switch to Saxon math (which can be continued into high school, unlike MCP math).
Saxon is one of the most highly acclaimed publishers of math textbooks, this program has been featured by 60 Minutes, Reader's Digest, Newsweek and Time. The program also has home study kits.
Modern Curriculum Press' (MCP) Plaid Phonics program is highly regarded in both the traditional and homeschooling communities. Homeschooling parents report a very quick turn around from a child having difficulty reading and sounding out words to a reader with good skills.
Arabic studies should start whenever the student is ready. Arabic textbooks and story books can be bought from Dar Al-Fikr, IQRA, and the "Spot" series can be bought from Halalco. Also Sound Vision has magnetic Arabic letters that stick on the refrigerator and metal "chaulkless" boards, a good teaching aid.
This "piecemeal curriculum" cost around $175.00 - $250.00 per student (grades 3 and 5).
Please be aware that "one size fits all" curriculum is not possible. Allah(swt) imbued each child with his or her own learning style. One child may be an auditory learner, that is learn best by hearing. Another may be a visual learner, that is learn best by seeing. Still another may be a manipulative learner; learn best by doing. Many children are a combination of all these types of learners -- sometimes being and auditory learner for one subject and a visual learner for another. Also what works for one child may not work for another.
As a home schooling parent you have the advantage of tailoring your curriculum for each child. You don't have to make a child conform to a particular curriculum as teachers in public and private schools do. Knowing this, it is understandable why many homeschoolers have boxes full of "didn't work for this child" textbooks and curriculum. If this happens to you don't fret, there are many places to sell (and buy) used textbooks and curriculum.
There are also differences in teaching styles and geographics. What may work for one family, may not work for you. Your different, alhumdillillah, we all are! All these elements can effect your educational endeavors.
Information on publishers and discount houses. Many have found it a must to have catalogs from many different publishers, bookstores and stores.
Question: Can I use curriculum and texts from other countries?
Answer: Yes, in most cases you can. However in using texts and curriculum from other countries may invite trouble from school officials. They may ask for a text and curriculum review, and depending on the state laws, they may have that right. If your school administration is hostile to homeschooling, they may seek to harass by taking issue over your imported curriculum.
One of the biggest problems school officials will have with imported curriculum is unfamiliarity. If you wish to use imported curriculum, but want to avoid possible hassles, it is best to put in American texts whenever possible.
Some Muslim parents have thought of using the Calvert home study program, unaware that the fourth grade history text and workbook published by Calvert, contains derogatory statements regarding Islam and Muslims and reported myths about Islam as truths.
When the problem was brought to Calvert's attention by one Muslim family the response was disheartening especially considering the cost of "tuition".
To the family's surprise Calvert was already aware of the problems. The family was informed that a rewrite of the text was currently in the works. However, Calvert didn't see the need to furnish an addendum to the history text, correcting the mistakes. Having done this with another of the texts in the fourth grade curriculum the family felt it was the least that Calvert could do knowing the inaccuracies.
Not wishing to support this misinformation that family asked for their options. Calvert informed them that they could return the offending text and workbook but would not receive any money back. They were also informed that they could return the whole program and receive all their money back, or they could try to "get around the problem by omitting the chapters that were offensive. Calvert admitted, however, that this last choice would be hard as so much of their program is tied together with writing projects supporting history readings going on to support other parts of the program.
Calvert's "tuition" is around $400.00 per student and parents must agree to destroy curriculum guides at the end of every year.
Laurel Springs School is working with MHSNR.
Look here for information on self publishing.
IHSAN Home School Notebook
A "Turn-key" system for Islamic Home Schoolers
20+years of home schooling experience to develop a handbook that includes:
Using the Holy Quran as a curriculum guide; Integrated Curriculum for Islamic/Secular Studies from Kindergarten to grade 9; Lesson plan forms, report cards, suggested yearly schedule with evaluation; "Home school friendly" publishers, home schools and Islamic home school organizations.
Articles including: Islamic Education to "Choosing home school for your child."
Author, Zaynab Abdullah, Director of IHSAN, Inc.
Publisher, ILS Services
$30.00
Contact Zaynab Abdullah
user786@aol.com
for more information or to place an order.