American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Homeschooling With Confidence

Ameera Rahim — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:42:45 +0000

I was sitting at my computer updating Habeebee Homeschooling’s blog, and I was thinking about how very soon I will be registering with my state for my oldest son. While we have been homeschooling since all the children were born, our state (NY) does not officially take documents and request parents to send in their letter of intent until much later.

We are soon near that time! So why was I nervous? I have been teaching since 2003 and homeschooling my children for four years Alhamdulillah, but as I said I was nervous. I have run into many parents who are anxious and nervous about teaching their own children. They question if they can do it successfully. Well, I asked myself, “Why are you nervous?” and “Why do you doubt yourself?” Sometimes we think because all those teachers in the school system with degrees are much more qualified to teach than we are. Perhaps we feel like we aren’t smart enough, and maybe we feel like we were never good in school so we won’t be good at teaching our children.

Whatever the problem may be, we can homeschool, with confidence. We should be confident our love and caring spirit will shine through, and our dedication to our kids is stronger that any stranger’s. Here are some keys to confidence:

How to Homeschool with Confidence

PMI- Positive mental attitude: Don’t THINK you can, KNOW you can, by the permission of Allah. If your outlook is timid and worried, not positive, then chances are you will approach your homeschooling the same way. When we often tell ourselves we can’t do something, or use those not so reassuring words, we tend to live up to them–in some cases sabotaging ourselves. We are our children’s teachers, no matter if we send them to school or not, our job is to teach our children.
If you do not know- ASK: Yes, we may run into a bump in the road, but there are homeschooling parents around the world who have started forums where we can ask each other for help. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Thank Allah for our homeschooling groups because we could all use the support, and where you are just may be where another parent has been.
Homeschooling is for parents too: To get myself familiar with the children’s work for the week, I take my time to read their books and write out the lessons. I also see what other parents have done to teach the lessons and see if it fits my teaching style and my children’s learning style. We have to constantly educate ourselves and make sure that we are going about the lessons the right way. If you do this, you will approach the subjects with much more confidence! My children are young, but in order for me to feel confident about what I am teaching, I prepare in advance and read up on the subject. It’s an advantage to be a stay-at-home mom because it allows me to carefully plan my children’s subjects.

Alhamdulilah we have resources and people to whom we can reach out to get that extra boost when we need it most. The love, dedication, and time we take for our children will go towards their mental well being. Not only are we educating their minds, but we are also nurturing their hearts and souls Alhamdulillah.

Do you have any additional confidence-boosting tips to share with your fellow homeschoolers? Leave in the comments section below!

photo credit: USAG-Humphreys

Homeschooling With Confidence is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

SAT Test-Taking Tips

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:12:52 +0000

As we continue in our fun journey of SAT preparation at our home, we’re always on the lookout for any and all study tips. Whitney shares some basic ones to get you started!

Seven SAT Test-Taking Tips

Taking standardized tests are hard. One of the most important tests that high school students will take is the SAT. The SAT is very different from many other standardized tests. There are specific rules and strategies that are very specific to the SAT. Here are some quick tips to help your child study for the SAT.

Use the process of elimination. Before answering a question, make sure that you eliminate answer choices. Your best bet is to look for extremes, like “only,” “never,” or “always.” Answer choices that have these words in them are most likely not going to be correct.
Answer questions only if you can eliminate answer choices. When you take the ACT, there is no point penalization for answering with the wrong answer. However, in the SAT, there is a ¼ point penalization for every wrong answer. So, don’t go too crazy when you are guessing.
Leave a question blank when you can’t find at least one wrong answer choice. If you look at a problem and you have no idea when it comes to solving it.
Always write in the booklet. Get in the habit of writing down and figuring out your problems on paper. You will be able to catch more of your mistakes, and you will be able to do problems faster.
Slow down. Even if you think that you have mastered this test, it is designed to test if you really know what you are doing. Take time to write down and figure out math problems. Mathematically speaking, you will do better if you answer 75% of the questions and get them right, than if you answer 100% of the questions, and only get 50% right.
Remember the test gradually gets harder. When you take the test, you might want to stay away from obvious answers. However, the test is going to gradually get harder, so obvious answers might actually be right at the beginning of the test. But they probably won’t be right at the end of the test.
You can do this. Don’t second guess your ability. You can do this. It has been statistically proven that your first answer choice is usually right. Don’t get caught up and switch your answers at the last minute. It won’t usually help you.

Good luck studying for the SAT. Be calm, and relax. Don’t let this standardized test get the best of you.

We’d love to hear how your SAT prep journey is going. Please share your additional tips or concerns by leaving a comment below.

Whitney S. is a writer for AspiringNurse.com. If you are interested in the nurse salary and more about becoming a pediatric nurse, take a look at this site to help you on your journey.

SAT Test-Taking Tips is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Scholastic Book Customer Appreciation Warehouse Sales – 25 – 80% Off Everything for Educators

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:57:00 +0000

I just found out that Scholastic Book hosts local Warehouse Book Sales with an incredible opportunity to Save BIG! We’re talking about 25 – 80% off. Warehouse Sales are exclusively for school employees, school district personnel, homeschoolers, and Book Fair chairpeople and volunteers.

Check out this sample brochure.

How to find a Scholastic Customer Appreciate Warehouse Sale in Your State

Click here.
Submit Your Zip Code or Find Your State from the list.
Register for the extra coupon, email reminder, and a Fast-Cart Pass to bypass the sign-in line at the sale.
When you complete your registration, you will receive a Fast-Cart Pass, which allows you to bypass the sign-in line at the sale, and a valuable coupon. One day before the sale begins, we’ll send you an email reminder.

Volunteer for Scholastic Book Credits = Free Books!

You can even register to volunteer and earn gift certificates! Volunteer and earn valuable gift certificates* for each hour worked

Work registers
Bag books
Restock and straighten books on shelves
Greet and assist customers

Not all applicants are guaranteed to be scheduled to volunteer.

*Gift certificates are redeemable toward the purchase of books at the discounted price during the warehouse sale. (Example: Work 8 hours, get $80 worth of books)

If you are interested, or need further details, please sign up and a local Scholastic representative will contact you in the near future.

If you’ve attended or volunteered at a Warehouse Sale before, I’d love to hear your feedback. What kind of awesome deals did you score? If not, aren’t you excited to find one in your area to attend soon? My girls and I are, Alhumdulillah!

Scholastic Book Customer Appreciation Warehouse Sales – 25 – 80% Off Everything for Educators is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Free AP Biology Course Online with Exercises & Tests

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:06:08 +0000

NROC: National Repository of Online Courses offers a series of high school, AP, and intro college-level courses online for free. We’re using the AP Biology curriculum right now available here and here (different layout, same curriculum).

We have a first-year college bio textbook too (not the one recommended by this course), just in case. The videos, the nice layout, and the convenience of having answers to the tests is what made me lean towards this program for the girls. However, I like holding a textbook, since we all have to take detailed notes, charts, diagrams, etc. Yes–even this oldie with a B.S. in Biology!

I’m reading alongside my 10 & 11-year-olds as they finish this course. We don’t plan on taking any AP tests. We’re just using AP for the challenging curriculum level.

What high school curriculum are you using? What are your thoughts of this program?

Free AP Biology Course Online with Exercises & Tests is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Disneynature’s Chimpanzee

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:48:22 +0000

We believe every day is Earth Day! You may remember how we promoted the Disney Nature’s African Cats documentary last year. We really loved their activity pack and educator’s guide an entire year ago (wow, SubhanAllah, time flies!). So, we’re more than happy to share with you CHIMPANZEE’s exclusive handouts and information as well!

CHIMPANZEE opened in theaters everywhere on April 20.

The CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book has really fun games, mazes, and coloring sheets that help teach kids about these amazing animals God has created. You can find it here. The educator’s guide is wonderful for homeschooling parents. Check that out here.

Have you seen Disneynature’s Chimpanzee yet? Have you downloaded the activity pack and/or educator’s guide? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

Disneynature’s Chimpanzee is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Homeschool Domination Infographic – The Solution to Our Country’s Failing Public School System

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:41:41 +0000

Rather than read through the boring black and white data showing off how stellar homeschoolers are, this infographic details everything clearly, succinctly in pinks and funky-yellows!

Created by: College At Home

This is very encouraging data for those considering homeschooling and have doubts about if their income levels, or their lack of teaching certification (which is clearly meaningless) can affect their child(ren)’s ability to get a high-quality education at home that enables them to enter college.

A few areas I’d love to gain more details would be:

What professions make up more than half of fathers?

Why were mothers’ professions not shared? Is it assumed that all homeschool families are working from a single-income of the father? No single moms? No dual-parents offering financial support? No working-moms, homeschooling-dads out there?
The GPA Comparison chart was extremely surprising data! I think rather high for “other students,” so I have to assume that data accounted for private, parochial and public school…right?
Would love more information regarding the last graphics about raising “mature, socialized homeschool students.” What do these numbers correspond to? While homeschoolers have higher rates, what are these measurements exactly?

That’s all for now! It’s such an encouraging (NOT surprising) infographic. So, if you’re on Pinterest, please consider pinning it and tagging me @ponnsabra. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments area below as well!

Homeschool Domination Infographic – The Solution to Our Country’s Failing Public School System is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

20 Essential Twitter Chats for Homeschoolers

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:25:50 +0000

Check out the wonderfully useful 20 Essential Twitter Chats for Homeschoolers from Onlinecollege.org.

I know and attended @TheOnlineMom Twitter chat even before coming across this list. She hosts one of the most informative, educational, fun, motivational chats I’ve ever attended. I love the collegial feeling of sharing and caring educators. This is a twitter chat every homeschooler should attend. Please tell her @ponnsabra recommended your attendance, and send her my regards!

I have yet to try the 19. If you have, please share your experiences. If there are others you want to recommend, please comment below as well!

photo credit: shawncampbell

20 Essential Twitter Chats for Homeschoolers is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

How to Have Fun Playing Physics at the Playground

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:01:46 +0000

Having fun with physics?! Did you ever think that was possible? Well, prepare to be amazed–because it is possible!

Check out this post from Ponn on Famigo, which tells you just how you can have fun playing physics at the playground!

Be sure to read the post linked above and come back to tell us what you think in the comments!

photo credit: USCPSC

How to Have Fun Playing Physics at the Playground is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Kids Building Their Own Fruit Vine Canopy

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:22:59 +0000

Check out how creative, innovative, and courageous these kids get in making their fruit garden pretty, clean, and more fun for their little cousins. Here’s a link to the kids’ blog post.

What kinds of things do your older kids help their younger siblings/cousins with? Leave us a comment below!

Kids Building Their Own Fruit Vine Canopy is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool

Pinterest for Homeschoolers

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:49:40 +0000

InshaAllah, I can’t wait to return home and really dig into to these 48 Great Ways Homeschoolers are Using Pinterest to make better my own usage of the newest social media phenomenon. My dear business partner Janet introduced me to this incredible visually-appealing social network and bookmarking site a couple weeks ago, and it is so incredibly awesome.

If you’re already into pinning, please connect with me at http://pinterest.com/ponnsabra.

If not, then comment below with your primary email address so I can invite you into this awesome must-use website. I have a “Homeschool Hub” board, of course. But, even though I’m a big newbie; all my boards are picking up so many followers–for example: Kids & STEM (Sci, Tech, Engineering & Math), Muslim Mommy Stuff, and Internet Safety for Kids. If you really want to jump start your Pinterest efforts, please follow my “Social Media Tips & Tutorials for Bloggers” board where I pinned a bunch of useful infographics as well as tutorials such as this one made specifically for homeschoolers, linked above.

Looking forward to your pins, InshaAllah! Have questions? Please ask below.

Pinterest for Homeschoolers is a post from: American Muslim Mom Homeschool