As for emulation, a very potent means of exciting and holding the attention of children, it is often objected that a desire to excel, to do better than others, implies an unloving temper, which the educator should rather repress than cultivate. Good marks of some kind are usually the rewards of those who do best, and it is urged that these good marks are often the cause of ungenerous rivalry. Now, the fact is, the children are being trained to live in the world, and in the world we all do get good marks of one kind or another, prize, or praise, or both, according as we excel others, whether in football or tennis, or in picture painting or poem-making. There are envyings and heart burnings amongst those who come in second best; so it has been from beginning, and doubtless will be to the end. If the child is go out into an emulous world, why, it may be possibly be well that he should brought up in an emulous school. But here is where the mother’s work comes in. She can teach her child to be first without vanity, and to be last without bitterness; that is, she can bring him up in such a hearty outgoing of love and sympathy that joy in his brother’s success takes the sting out of his own failure, and regret for his brother’s failure leaves no room for self glorification. Again, if a system of marks be used as a stimulus to attention and effort, the good marks should be given for conduct rather than for cleverness – that is, they should be within everybody’s reach: every child may get his mark for punctuality, order, attention, diligence, obedience, gentleness; and therefore, marks of this kind may be given without danger of leaving a rankling sense of injustice in the breast of the child who fails. Emulation becomes suicidal when it is used as the incentive to intellectual effort, because the desire for knowledge subsides in proportion as the desire to excel becomes active. As a matter of fact, marks of any sort, even for conduct, distract the attention of children from their proper work, which is in itself interesting enough to secure good behaviour as well as attention.

~ Charlotte Mason, Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling Series, Vol.1

I hope this is what my children will remember of me and their homeschool days …

The Reading Mother

I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings –
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a Mother who read to me.

~ Strickland Gillilan

Another gem from Sister Adeela of River City Homeschoolers who has been ever so diligent and prolific, ma shaa Allah :)

She has put together a delightful six-week summer session nature study programme, suitable for all ages. It aims to encourage children to have direct contact with nature and to familiarise them with the Quranic verses and ahadeeth pertaining to Allah’s signs in nature. It is a wonderful way to bond as a family and your kids will also get some hands-on activities as well as try their hand in art and craft and journaling.

My kids just LOVE the outdoors and going on their “explorations” – they really take to heart Charlotte Mason’s words: “Never be within doors when you can rightly be without.” LOL! Anyway, I am looking forward to using Sister Adeela’s ideas.

She has kindly allowed me to share her ebook on my site, so click on the image below to save a copy for yourself.

River City Homeschoolers; Nature Study

Sister Adeela of River City Homeschoolers has a new project out and ma shaa Allah, it is wonderful!

Visual Journaling 4 Kids

If you want to combine noteboooking or journaling with art, then Visual Journaling 4 Kids is definitely a site you must visit! I think visual journaling will suit my younger daughter to a “T”. She is a kinesthetic learner and has a penchant for all things arty and crafty.

There are tutorials, lots of photographs, links to visual journaling resources, writing prompts and more! Go check the site out… GO!!

“My parents told me to learn the Qur’an before anything else…” Djamil, 10 of Senegal

“… But if all Muslims understood the Quran, there would be peace on earth…” Master Aboubacar, Djamil’s teacher

One of Islam’s most revered traditions, Koran recitation reaches its pinnacle at the world’s preeminent recitation competition in Cairo, where Muslim children come from across the globe to perform in front of a panel of prominent judges. Contestants as young as seven are ranked against kids more than twice their age for both their comprehensive memorization of the 600-page text as well as their improvised melodies. A diverse spectrum of Muslims competes for top prize: Ten-year-old Senegalese entrant Djamil navigates the competition alone while his community anxiously awaits his results; Rifdha, from a small island in the Maldives, enters as one of the competition’s few female participants; and Nabiollah, from rural Tajikistan, mesmerizes judges with his angelic voice in spite of not speaking Arabic.

Following these talented youngsters from their intense preparation regimes through the rigorous rounds of the tournament, director Greg Barker creates both an inspirational competition film and an engaging survey of the unique experiences of Muslim children throughout the world, using the cultural crossroads of the international competition to examine the issues facing of the next generation of Muslims.

~ Ian Hollander

My children LOVED this film. They were inspired by these extraordinary children. They enthralled by Nabiollah’s perfect memorization and beautiful voice, inspired by Rifdha who had big dreams and cried when confusion and nerves got the better of Djamil. If you have not watched this documentary, then I urge you to.

Check out the movie’s website and it’s Facebook page.