Assalaamu Alaikum

This is the first year I have homeschooled my children.  My kids use to attend an Islamic school but I was dissatisfied with the school on many levels and decided I could do better for my own children.

I have a 10 year old son in the 5th grade, an 8 year old daughter in the 3rd grade, a 5 year old son in kindergarten whom I have just recently moved into a 1st grade curriculum, and a 3 year old daughter who is running around here somewhere.  :)

I am a schedule nut.  I love "to do" lists and feel most comfortable with a set schedule.  As the year has gone by I've reworked the schedule several times and I'm sure I will continue to do so as we go on, but for now I am comfortable with the way we things are going.

My children wake up around 7:30 and get dressed, make their beds, and
straighten their rooms before coming to the table for breakfast at 8:30

We do Math, English, Arabic, and Quran every morning, Monday-Friday, from 9-noon.  I set up a "lesson sheet" for each child and let them do their studies in the order they prefer.  They work alone where they can and with me where they need help. 

In Arabic and English they do Vo-cab and Spelling every Monday, Reading Comprehension on Thursday and Tuesday, Phonics and Grammar on Wednesday, and spelling tests and creative writing on Friday. 

We do Saxon Math.  I like the way it is organized and presented.  The children do lessons Monday through Thursday.  On Friday we use math manipulatives.  The older two children also have a "Word problems" book I picked up from the local bookstore they work on at their own pace and with their "extra" time.

They learn the Quran at their own pace and record their "learning results" on a "star chart."

After this block of time, we have our main meal for the day and rest, before returning to their studies in the afternoon.

Every night before bedtime I read to my children from a list of literature I
have devised and when we finish one my oldest two do a book report on it.  This way I can check their understanding and get them practicing their writing skills more.  :)

Then things change depending on the what day of the week it is. 

On Monday we do a History Unit Study in the afternoon and then the kids have outside activities they attend.

On Tuesday, my sweet friend Saara, (Thank you Saara), leads Camp Fire for my children in the first Muslim group in the area.  Afterwards we go home and work on a unit study of Sign Language.  After this my kids have another outside activity they attend.

On Wednesday, we do a unit study on World Civilizations.  Then my children attend another activity.  When we come home we do a "family time" art project together.

Thursday we have a Science Unit Study and afterwards they work on a project from their Camp Fire Manual.

Friday is the Unit Study on Islam.  We do a 30 minute review on Sign language and spend time doing another family time art project.

Saturday we spend an hour on Arabic and another on Quran, but not at set times.  We also do our Unit Study on Geography on this day. 

Sunday, my dh reviews their Arabic pronunciation from their lessons and their Quran memorization.  We try, weather permitting, to go on a field trip, however small or large, every weekend.  The children write up reports on them when we get home.

The children have a reading list where they record all their personal reading and this week we have begun a "Jordan" folder where we are amassing everything we can about the country.  They do this in their spare time.

The schedule helps keep things under control and in perspective for all of us.  They know what is expected of them at any given time and day.  Arguments about doing work have stopped.

If something comes up, which is a given, like a doc/dentist appointment or whatever, we just readjust our schedule abit and don't bother stressing out.  We can always make things up during the weekend when we aren't so busy. 

Right now it is easy to manage.  During baseball/basketball/football seasons things get crazy but it's always fun.

Every day is an adventure.  Having them at home with me, even when they resemble "crazy aliens," brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart.

Homeschooling has given us a peace and sense of family we didn't have when they were attending school outside the home. 

Sorry to have taken so long.  Just wanted to add my story. 

Salaam--Gretchen