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My Homeschooling Experience |
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As Salaamu Alaikum. My name is Sakeenah Muhammad/Ummrabiah from Rochester, New York. I homeschool my daughter Sumayyah she is 7 years old. I have been homeschooling her for 3 years masha Allah. I also have three other children ages one, three, and five alhamdulillah.
Why I decided to homeschool?
I decided to homeschool because, I wanted my children to be good, pious practicing Muslims. I know of the dangers of mixing your children in public schools, and some Muslim schools who practice things not according to the deen. Firstly, I have seen non-Muslim children acting out of control, and the Muslim children who are around them, how they act as well. I was one of those Muslim children Subhan Allah and believe me it’s no joke to be subjected to that type of environment.
What Happened in the beginning (Fears & Feelings about Homeschool)
First, I have to be honest. I did give up not once, not twice, not three times, but a lot. I kept telling myself I couldn’t do it. It would be easier to send her to Public School; all the other Muslim kids were going. These were my initial thoughts at first. But, something always told me to not give up and keep going in the homeschool direction. Just imagine, first time with no help or direction. With the proper intentions Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) began to guide me.
How Allah Aided Me through the Process
The School District where I live gives parents absolutely no resources i.e., textbooks, and workbooks of any type. They give you a packet with three websites to go with. Basically they set you up for failure. This discouraged me completely. Sometimes, I cried thinking how am I going to do this, will I have the strength, and fearing my daughter entering the public school system. My mother and husband who attend area colleges utilized their student ID’s to borrow books for me. This allowed me to have full access to teacher manuals, textbooks and workbooks. I utilized these materials for two months and renewed the books for an additional four months alhamdulillah. My mother and I stayed up late nights copying different materials from the library, so that we could have them for the year. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) also sent a number of signs to let me know not to give up. For example, I have non-Muslims and Muslims who tell me constantly do not give up, keep going, wishing they could homeschool their children as well. Now in my personal homeschool library I have 1000 books 80 percent of them I received for free. Allah is truly the provider.
Step To Take To Get Approval
First I submitted a letter of intent (Telling the district I intended to homeschool my child). Next, I typed the curriculum and material that would be used for the whole year. This included Math, Reading, Language Arts, Spelling, Science, Gym, Art and Islamic Studies. I anxiously waited for my paper work to be approved. Some other resources I used were free worksheets online, active programs online, local library and THM Sadaaqa Group. THM Sadaaqa Group with Sister Saddiqua Black (May Allah reward her) she helped with additional instruction in all the subject areas. This allowed my daughter to have access with an online instructor and other muslimahs to learn and study with. This was truly a wonderful online experience with the sister alhamdulillah.
In conclusion this experience taught me four things:
1.) Patience
2.) Do not loose Faith.
3.) Through every difficulty comes ease.
4.) Allah is truly Ar- Razaaq (The Provider)
To All Muslims I pray that Allah makes your homeschool steps easy ameen.
As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatuallahi Wa Barakatu
Sakeenah Muhammad/UmmRabiah.
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