Weekend and Beyond…

Assalaamu 'alaikum.

This weekend seemed to fly past, but mashaa`Allaah I can happily say that I was content with the time that I spent focusing on Junayd. Sunday seemed to be the most fulfilling day filled with book-reading, story-telling and a little arty crafty activity where I traced our left hands onto a paper plate and we 'filled' the hands with tissue paper. Inshaa`Allaah I think it may be the beginning of something beautiful – no telling yet though!

So far this week we've been discussing the letter 'a'. Mashaa`Allaah when he sees an isolated 'a' he can recognise it, but he seems to get a little silly when I ask him to point it out when it's part of a word. I don't know why. Yesterday was our let's be silly and just have fun day – it's not all about reading ya know – sometimes you've just got to get down with them and play like them; and that's what I did, mashaa`Allaah.
Today… well… today we did more reading [I've REALLY got to get down to the library to change the books. Six just isn't enough for him!] and we sang a little song which I've typed below [you've kinda got to just make up the tune with the beat] – we did the funny actions too. For some reason, I can actually see myself teaching pre-kindergarten kids! Weird.

Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.

*~*~*

We Have…

Two ears,
on the sides of our head.
We've been given them
so we can hear.
We must listen to what we are told.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

Two eyes,
Two blinking eyes.
We've been given them
so we can see.
We must only look at that which is good.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

Two brows,
Moving up and down.
Can you see them moving around?
Two eyebrows, we have got.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

One nose,
One wriggling nose.
Right in the middle
of our face.
We've been given it so we can smell.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

Two hands,
Two waving hands.
Wriggle your fingers
back and forth.
We can use them for many things.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

Two feet,
Two stomping feet.
Can you hear them
making that sound?
We can walk when we have these.
Thank You, oh Allaah.

© Umm Junayd, June 2006.

Learning Poster

Assalaamu 'alaikum.

I've taken the initiative of trying – and modifying – the weekly lessons found on the Letter of the Week website. Inshaa`Allaah we'll be doing a modified version of the Preparatory Curriculum. Here's our finished Learning Poster for next week – it's been out up already to get Junayd familiar with the whole concept and mashaa`Allaah hubby's impressedso far although we've done nothing yet!

 

I actually need to add the Arabic alphabet letter for the week too. So inshaa`Allaah we'll have somethingto focus on for each day of next week. It all makes me feel a little better knowing that we will be doing something each day, even if it be one activity/ them/ concept.

I'm trying to get him to recite soorah al-Faatiha properly, but it's a little difficult since he finds it hard to articulate certain letters – 'l' for example. Suggestions regarding this are most welcome!

Was-salaamu 'alaikum
~ Umm Junayd.

Disruption

Assalaamu 'alaikum.

We must constantly remind ourselves that we are not in complete control of our lives in terms of doing all that which we plan. We plan, but it is Allaah's Plan which is the final superseding one.

The plan for this week was to focus on the letter 'a' – mashaa`Allaah, that was on Monday and on Tuesday Junayd's little sister was born, alhamdulillaah.

I'm getting a little worried that I'll not be able to focus on Junayd's early learning now that he's a big brother. I really don't want to leave a long period where I'm not doing anything constructive with him.

Any suggestions or advice?

~ Umm Junayd.

Letter ‘a’

Assalaamu 'alaikum.

I've come to the realisation that Junayd just doesn't like to sit down and learn things in order, per say. He's more of a 'I wanna take my time' kinda guy. So, in accordance with this, inshaa`Allaah we'll be doing a weekly letter focus, using the Montessori 'learn the sound before the letter' method.

Today we naturally begun with the letter 'a'. I'm not too sure when I should begin with the Arabic alphabet (any suggestions on what you did would be useful).

I sung this little song for him which he thoroughly enjoyed mashaa`Allaah (remember it's the sound of the letter and not the name):

 /a/ is for apple
/a/, /a/, /a/
/a/ is for apple
/a/, /a/, /a/

A round juicy apple
/a/, /a/, /a/
Allaah made it sweet
/a/, /a/, /a/

/a/ is for apple
/a/, /a/, /a/
/a/ is for apple
/a/, /a/, /a/

Allaah made it sweet
/a/, /a/, /a/
Sweet for me to eat
/a/, /a/, /a/

© Umm Junayd, June 2006.

Inshaa`Allaah we will be doing animals and other things which begin with 'a' and more exploring. Insha`Allaah it'll prove more successful than sitting him down saying 'a', 'b', 'c' and so on.

Was-salaamu 'alaikum

~ Umm Junayd.