Assalaamu Alaikum

Here is an example of what a typical day is like in our household:

Currently, I am doing a unit study on "Crossing the Empty Quarter (Rub al
Khali)" which is available through www.alwaysadventure.net
Is there anyone else, besides me, who is currently using this?  Want to study this together and share notes and support?

Anyway, here is what the current lesson plan looks like:

Arabic:  I start with five ayahs a day from the short, but longer surahs,
because arabic is new to both my children and me.

Math:  Currently, we are doing temperature comparisons between Richmond, Va and Salalah, Oman.  This will go on for about two weeks, maybe, until we get sufficient data to make a graph with.  And I also use Saxon Math (54 & 87).

Language:  I use the "World of Language" series available through Silver,
Burdett, Ginn.  I like these textbooks because for every unit they first
introduce (for example) adjectives and then follow it by introducing (for
example) a "descriptive" writing process.  This works well for the children
and me.

At 12:30 we break for Thuhr and then for lunch.  After lunch, we start:

Quran:  We will read and discuss a section of a surah.  We are currently on Surah Al Isra.

Reading:  We are currently, reading aloud, the book "The Yearling" by Marjorie  Rawlings.  After this book, we might start on a biography of Lawrence of Arabia.  We read a chapter a day and discuss what the chapter was about.  (Umm Suleimann, you'll be getting a book review :o) Inshaallah).  I also use "Dream  Chasers" and "Starwalk" reading textbooks by Silver, Burdett, Ginn.

Writing and Spelling:  This varies week by week depending on what we are reading or studying about in language.  This week's theme for journal entries are "heroes" relating to the Rub Al Khali expedition.

Social Studies / Geography:  Since we are currently studying about the Rub Al Khali expedition, we do activities relating to expedition updates, the expedition team's preparations for this trip, and relative and absolute
location pertaining to Saudi Arabia. 

We usually use the following textbooks:
"Our Country" by Silver, Burdett, Ginn and "World Geography:  Building a
Global Perspective" by Prentice Hall.  I like this one in particular because
the T/E textbook contains internet activities.

Science:  My 5th grader is currently using "Discover Science" by Scott,
Foresman.  Jamila is studying about Matter and Atoms.  My 7th grader, Sara, is using "Life Science" by Scott, Foresman.  She is studying about Protozoa.

I try to start classes at 8:30am, but do not have a heart attack anymore if we are running behind.  :o)  Classes usually end at 3:30pm maybe 4:00pm.

I love orderliness and structure this comes from a marine corps background.  My father was a gunny sargeant in the marines and so our household was run in a disciplined, tip-top-shape manner :o)   My oldest daughter calls me a perfectionist :o)  But, I now give her the oppurtunity to choose what she wants to study about but I do not do this for my younger daughter.  So far so  good.  Al hamdulilah.

Does the above lessons seem toooooo much?!  Well, maybe it is.  Remember, this is my first year of homeschooling and I am still learning something new (whether it is an idea pertaining to teaching or a subject my children and I are learning) everday.  Alhamdulilah.

I only pray to Allah (swt) that he accepts my efforts, guides me along the
way, gives my children the oppurtunity to really learn from what I am teaching them, and give me PATIENCE.  Inshaallah.

"O Lord bestow wisdom on me and join me with the righteous" 26:83

"O my Lord!  Advance me in knowledge"  20:114

"O my Lord!  Truly am I in (desparate) need of any good that Thou dost send me!" 28:24

Jazak Allah Khair,
Mariam Abdullah