Quran Centre Word Work: Surah Quraysh

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, here is the workbook for surah Quraysh.

Like the workbook for surah al-Ikhlas, the format of this workbook is slightly different from the others. Like the other workbooks, there is no language/text in the book aside from the ayaat. This is intentional because it allows for flexibility in shaa' Allaah. There are, however, visual instructions to help the students complete the workbook with little assistance (or, as originally intended, in a Quran centre in the classroom/home-school classroom). 

Like before, in this workbook, on each page, students will find a picture of a highlighter which tells them that they have to find the word they see in the circle, in the ayah at the top of the page. When students see the picture of the pencil, they know they have to write the word presented or circle the correct answer. For instance, on one page, the students see two words from the surah and they must circle the beginning sound/letter for each word. The picture of the magnifying glass alerts students to the fact that they have to search for the word in the circle, in addition to highlighting it in the ayah. 

However, in this book, students will encounter two new icons: a picture of the diacritical marks and a picture of a crayon. The picture of the diacritical marks tells students that they have to put the tashkeel on the word in the box. The picture of the crayon tells students that they have to colour all of the letters found in the word that they highlighted in the ayah (i.e. the word that was in the circle). The picture of the book tells students that they have to re-assemble the surah in the correct order (the ayaat strips are located on the last page of the workbook). 

There is one page of the workbook where students have to fill in the missing word in the ayah in two different ways. 

On this page (pictured above), students will write the missing word from the ayah (indicated by the picture of the pencil), and they will colour the box that shows the missing word (indicated by the question mark).

In shaa' Allaah, the remaining activities in the book are self-explanatory, but if not, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and ask for clarification. 

You can download the workbook here or above in shaa' Allaah.

Benefit & Enjoy In shaa' Allaah! 

Quran Centre Word Work: Surah Al-Ikhlas

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

After receiving a comment regarding difficulty downloading files from the Quran Centre Word Work posts, I realized that the workbook for suratul Al-Ikhlas was nowhere to be found (on the blog). There are activities for this surah in this post, but there isn't a workbook.

Alhamdulillaah, here is the word work book for suratul Ikhlas. 

The format of this workbook is slightly different from the others. Like the other workbooks, there is no language/text in the book aside from the ayaat. This is intentional because it allows for flexibility in shaa' Allaah. There are, however, visual instructions to help the students complete the workbook with little assistance (or, as originally intended, in a Quran centre in the [home-shcool] classroom). 

In this workbook, on each page, students will find a picture of a highlighter which tells them that they have to find the word they see in the circle, in the ayah at the top of the page. When students see the picture of the pencil, they know they have to write the word presented or circle the correct answer. For instance, on one page, the students see two words from the surah and they must circle the beginning sound/letter for each word. The picture of the magnifying glass alerts students to the fact that they have to search for the word in the circle, in addition to highlighting it in the ayah. The building blocks tell students that they have to build the word using the letter cut outs on the last page of the workbook. The picture of the book tells students that they have to re-assemble the surah in the correct order (the ayaat strips are also located on the last page of the workbook). 

There is one page of the workbook that, aside from the highlighter icon/picture, has no instructions. This too is intentional. After finding and highlighting the word in the circle on the left hand side of the page (#1 in the picture below), students are supposed to find the letters that make up that word (# 2 in the picture below). You can have students colour the letters or you can use the circle stickers from the Dollar Store (or a store that sells stationary supplies); simply write the Arabic alphabet on them and have students place stickers on the correct answer (# 2 in the picture below). Or you can have students provide the correct answer in another way that you choose. 

In shaa' Allaah, the remaining activities in the book are self-explanatory, but if not, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and ask for clarification. 

You can download the workbook here or above in shaa' Allaah. Also, to date, the following suwar have workbooks:

1. Al-Fatihah
2. An-Nas
3. An-Nasr
4. Al-Kawthar
5. Al-Kafiroon
6. Al-Masad
7. Al-Falaq
8. Al-Ma’un
9. Al-Ikhlas

Benefit & Enjoy In shaa' Allaah!

[FREEBIE]: Preschool Version of My Morning Book

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Alhamdulillaah, this is the preschool companion book to My Morning Book:

This book covers the basic skills that preschool children learn during the school year and includes Islaamic concepts that are age appropriate insha'Allaah. Children will learn some short ad'iyah, learn about different prophets of Allaah, and become familiar with other Islaamic concepts such as caliphah, jannah, and obedience to Allaah, His Final Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam), and our parents. 

Because preschool children learn by moving and doing, it is not recommended that the activities in this book take longer than 2-5 minutes. Additionally, the activities are meant to be completed with assistance from a teacher/teacher-parent, although some children may be able to complete several of the activities independently. This may be especially helpful when homeschooling children of different ages - the littlest will have his/her own "work" to do as well alhamdulillaah! 

Children will have the opportunity to explore the following concepts insha'Allaah:

• Becoming familiar with some of the prophets of Allaah
• Becoming familiar with some notable figures in Islaamic history
• Learning some short ad'iyah
• Colours 
• Shapes (there are shapes for the child to cut and paste onto the morning book pages. These shapes are located at the end of the file.)
• Numbers 1-10
• Handwriting practice
• Different and Same
• Counting to determine how many in a set

The pages in the book are also not meant to be taught in sequential order because it is not recommended that the English alphabet be taught in order( a-z). Several letters have similar features which can lead to children easily confusing the letters that share a similar shape/curve/etc. Letters such as M and N, B and D, E and F are a few examples (this confusion can be compounded when children begin learning the lower case form of the letters). 

Also, like My Morning Book, the pages of the Preschool Morning Book fit very conveniently into a three-ring binder for easy access and storage alhamdulillaah. Lastly, some of the wonderful Islaamic in the book is courtesy of Easel & Ink (may Allaah reward the sisters and accept from them their efforts and work).

Click here to download the Canadian Version
(i.e.colour spelled with a 'u')

Click here to download the US Version
(i.e. colour spelled without a 'u')

Ages & Stages: What Can Most Children Do - 2 Year olds

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Back-to-school is around the corner insha'Allaah. Let's get started by reviewing developmental information for 2 to 5 year olds insha'Allaah. Familiarizing ourselves with this information will aide us greatly when we begin planning our curriculum.

Two-year-olds like to be independent! Favorite words are "Mine" and "No" and "I do it!" Emotions take on a roller coaster-like quality as 2-year-olds can go from excitement to anger to laughter within a few moments. A great deal of time is spent exploring, pushing, pulling, filling, dumping, and touching.

Two-year-olds are surer of themselves and of what they can do as they grow. Their bodies stretch out, and most will lose the potbellied look during this third year of life. Their appetites lessen, and they may be particular about food. They are still growing fairly rapidly.

Toddlers are very attached to their caregivers. You may find them trying out new ideas and exploring their surroundings, but still staying close to you as they need a base of support and trust. Two-year-olds are usually interested in other children. However, social interest and physical abilities sometimes collide as a hug becomes a tackle and a gentle pat becomes a whack. You will need to teach children how to express affection appropriately.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT plays alongside others more than with them acts shy around strangers likes to imitate parents easily frustrated affectionate - hugs and kisses insists on trying to do several tasks without help enjoys simple make-believe like talking on phone, putting on hat very possessive - offers toys to other children but then wants them back needs considerable time to change activities capable of frequent tantrums, which are often a result of his inability to express himself even though he has ideas can show aggressive behavior and the intent to hurt others can be extremely demanding and persistent destructive to objects around him when frustrated and angry possessive about caregiver's attention; shows feelings of jealousy has fears and nightmares has sense of humor; capable of laughter shows interest in dressing, brushing hair and teeth cannot sit still or play with a toy for more than a few minutes

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT weight: 22-38 pounds height: 32-40 inches has almost a full set of teeth walks up and down stairs by holding onto railing feeds self with spoon experiments by touching, smelling, and tasting likes to push, pull, fill, and dump can turn pages of a book stacks 4-6 objects scribbles vigorously with crayons or markers many children (but not all) will learn to use toilet walks without help walks backwards tosses or rolls a large ball stoops or squats opens cabinets, drawers can bend over to pick up toy without falling

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT enjoys simple stories uses 2-3 word sentences says names of toys hums enjoys looking at books points to eyes, ears, or nose when asked repeats words interested in learning how to use common items

   
Suggestions for Caregivers:

Baby-proof your house again. Two-year-olds are taller and more skillful at opening doors and getting into mischief.

• Read aloud to children every day. Encourage toddlers to look at books with large pictures and sturdy pages. Simple story lines are best.
• Try to expand a 2-year-old's knowledge of words and sentence structure. Let her hear the correct word order, but don't demand that she imitate you. For example, if she says "more juice," say "Anna wants more orange juice."
• Encourage them to identify noises like vacuum, tap water, thunder, airplane, and car.
• Let toddlers help you with simple chores such as picking up toys or putting clothes in the laundry basket. Encourage them to name things that you are using.
• Add new information to what a child is saying. "Yes that's a blanket, a soft, warm blanket."
• Give toddlers clear and simple choices. "Do you want to drink milk or juice? Do you want to wear green or blue socks?"
• Know how to handle a temper tantrum:
  1. don't yell or hit the child,
  2. remain calm,
  3. talk in soothing tone,
  4. put your hand gently on child's arm if possible.
• Provide newspaper, flattened grocery sacks, and computer scraps for drawing and painting. Color books, workbooks, and ditto sheets are not recommended.
• Avoid making models of clay or drawing pictures for children to copy. They learn more by working out their own ideas, and adult-induced items can actually hinder learning.
• Do not expect toddlers to share or take turns. Right now they are focused on learning how to physically handle themselves and on learning to talk. Learning to share will come later.
• Provide spaces where toddlers can spend time alone. An old cardboard box or a blanket over a card table works great.
• Avoid pressuring children to be right or left handed. A few 2-year- olds will begin to show preference for one hand, but many children will continue to use both hands for a few years (AMCIB note: the exception here is eating and using the bathroom - follow the Islaamic guidelines for use of right and left hand).
• Provide safe outlets for physical activity and space exploration like small steps, boxes, barrels, tires, pulling and pushing toys, ride-on and ride-in toys.
• Provide opportunities for learning about cause and effect by giving toddlers many opportunities to fill, dump, collect, gather, give, hide, and seek.
• Play "parade" or "follow the leader."
• Encourage verbal skills by giving simple directions like "Close the door, please" or "Would you pick up the doll?"
• Encourage a toddler's love for imitation by teaching fingerplays. Play "you are a mirror." Stand or sit facing the children and have them copy everything you do. Reverse roles and let the child lead while you mirror the actions.
• Encourage sand, mud, and clay play. Toddlers enjoy messy play and learn a great deal from mixing, sifting, pouring, stirring, and shaping.

Reprinted with permission from National Network for Child Care -NNCC. Oesterreich, L. (1995). Ages & stages - two-year-olds. In L. Oesterreich, B. Holt, & S. Karas, Iowa family child care handbook [Pm 1541] (pp. 199-201). Ames, IA: Iowa State University Extension.