Learning the ABC\’s of Homeschooling

In order for me to be able to even have the urge to do anything, my zone has to be comfortably clean. When my son and I sit down to do anything, the way that my sorroundings look, really has an effect on how much I can give.

My son’s room right now is very organized but it is very hard to keep it neat and tidy. I’ve gotten a lot of help from my MIL, may Allaah guide her, aameen. His toys are in different sized bins, depending on the toys. Puzzles in one bin, colors and coloring books in another, stuffed animals in a big one etc… He even has his own little bookshelf for his books.

I believe being organized is a task every one of us needs to take on. If we want to study or sit down and just relax, our sorroundings should have a positive effect on us. I can’t enjoy much of my tasks if things are out of place and not as organized as they could be. So it is because of that that I named this post Step 1: Organization. Before you do anything, organize your life.

A few tips for organization:

1. Throw away anything that is in bad shape and probably won’t be fixed.

2. Give away anything that is in good shape to your local Masjid or relatives etc… (If you think you may use it in the future, but aren’t sure, just give it up if it is taking up space.)

3. Buy containers to keep you organized. Laundry baskets work very well for the bigger stuff. We put stuffed animals in one, his train pieces in another, blocks in another, etc… There are those with lids that we use for smaller things such as art supplies, puzzle pieces, small blocks, cars or also medicine.   You can also buy shelves or racks to put the containers on for even more organization.

4. Keep those things that are needed on a regular basis closer to reach and those that are needed less frequently such as certain cleaning supplies, in your linen closet or far back in your bedroom closet or under the sink. (I put all of my bathroom cleaning supplies in a small bucket, in the linen closet but far in the back.)

5. Put things away after you are done using them. The first step to a cluttered space is not putting things away immediately. With children who can take their own toys out, rules must be made. Have them take out one or two things at a time and then put them away if they want something else. Applying them ourselves with everything else will help us stay organized, insha’Allaah.

and remember… Cleanliness is a part of Imaan.

When I accepted Islaam, I realized the evils of public school and how easily kids get sucked into them. Even kids that know between right and wrong, have fallen weak due to peer pressure. I was in my 9th grade year and decided to finish it but went through a big war with my family (may Allaah guide them to al-islaam, aameen) when I decided that I wanted to homeschool for the rest of my time. With a lot of struggles, I finally convinced them and it was then that I realized that there was an alternative.

I have gotten to see some Islaamic schools with my own eyes and see the impact of some of these schools upon the children and I am very disappointed. There are some very good schools out there such as www.madania.org and a few others, but it seems many may have lost their main focus on deen.

It is for that reason, that I have decided to work my way up as long as I have to, to become a homeschooling mother, with the Help of Allaah. Many people are ignorant of the choices we have, but atleast I, with many others, have realized the responsibility I have over my flock. May Allaah make us successful with our children, aameen

It was narrated from ‘Abdullaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. The ruler who is in charge of people is a shepherd and is responsible for them. The man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible for them. The woman is the shepherd of her husband’s house and child and is responsible for them. The slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”