Subhanallah School is Back!!!

Parenting tips to support your child’s learning

IQRA’ hopes that you and your child had a wonderful summer.  Here are some simple ways to help your kids complete another successful school year.

Make morning time meaningful.

Give yourself enough time to help your kids get ready in the mornings and reduce the tension of being late.  Eat breakfast with your children and encourage them to have a good day at school.  Provide a healthy and filling breakfast to help your kids focus.  Click on the links below for suggestions.

Get Involved.

• Offer to be a volunteer at your child’s school. With recent budget cut backs, teachers and schools can use all the help they can get.

• Work together with other parents to raise money to purchase much needed supplies for the classroom.  (Ask the teacher what is needed before purchasing).

Stay Connected.

• Talk to your child’s teacher immediately if you see a problem.  Ask the teacher for tips to help your child at home or for copies of worksheets for extra practice.  Be sure to send a thank you card or email from time to time to let the teacher know you appreciate their hard work.

• Attend conferences, parent meetings, and school events regularly.

• Eat dinner as a family and ask your child about his or her day at school.  Refrain from asking questions that have one word responses. “What did you learn at school today?” “Nothing.” Instead, ask questions that encourage your children to express themselves. “Tell me something funny that happened at school today.” or “Tell me one thing you learned today that you didn’t know before.”

Get Organized.

• Spend a few minutes everyday looking over handouts your youngster brings home.  Fill out Forms to return the next day.

• Keep a calendar in a visible area like the fridge to keep track of important dates such as field trips, class parties, quizzes, tests, projects, and school events.

• Don’t wait until the last minute to help your child study for a test or complete a project.  Start preparing the day it is assigned.  Getting an early start will reduce mistakes, reduce stress, and will teach your child not to procrastinate as they get older.

Create a Routine.

1. Provide a healthy snack for your child when he or she returns home.

Top 10 Nutritious Snacks and Beverages for Kids

2. Let them rest for 30 to 40 minutes then help them get started on their homework (encourage playing outside instead of watching t.v.). Releasing energy after staying seated all day helps children focus.

3. Provide a clean and quiet work area free of distractions from television, phone calls, and younger siblings.

4. Assist your child with assignments without doing the assignment for them.

5. Be sure to include 20 minutes of Qur’an time with your child everyday.

6. If your child starts to get restless while doing his or her homework give them a 15 minute break.

7. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep at night.  Research shows that the amount a child sleeps can have a big affect on their temperament, behavior, alertness, and ability to learn. Click below to view a recommended sleeping chart.

Sleep time by age

Treat all Schools Equally.

Apply the same practices and routines for your youngster’s weekend Islamic school to show them the importance of Islamic education.

HERSHEY’S Pinwheel

Materials:

• sharpened pencil
• scissors
• white construction paper
• paper fastener
• plastic drinking straw
• crayons
• colored pencils or markers

Instructions:

1. Cllick here to Print the Pinwheel Pattern. Teachers can reproduce this pattern on white construction paper with a copy machine. Be sure to cut the construction paper to 81/2 in. by 11 in. If you are working at home, print the pinwheel pattern. Cut the solid lines. Lay it on top of the construction paper lightly paste the corners down.

2. Cut-out the pinwheel on the solid lines only.

3. Decorate both sides of the construction paper pinwheel.

4. Cut the dotted lines from the four corners to the center circle. Try not to cut into the center circle.

5. Use the sharpened pencil to poke a hole through the four tiny dark circles. The pencil point also works well to poke a hole into the straw. Carefully push the pencil point through the straw about 1/2 inch from the top.

6. Make the tiny holes on the four points meet at the center circle.

7. Push the ends of the paper fastener through the holes on the pinwheel. then push the fastener through the center circle.

8. Place the straw on the back side of your pinwheel and push the ends of the fastener through the hole in the straw. Open-up the fastener by flattening the ends in opposite directions.

Now you are ready to try-out your beautiful pinwheel. All you will need is a little bit of wind to make your pinwheel spin round and round. Have fun!

Hint: If using pinwheels as a centerpiece for a fun summer party, glue a brightly colored wrapped Hershey Kiss or mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in the center of the pinwheel.  Then fill bright colored beach pails with candy to help the pinwheels stand.

* We found this neat craft idea using the following two websites

http://www.hersheys.com/kisses/crafts/?ICID=KISS1005

http://www.janbrett.com/piggybacks/piggybacks_the_hat_pinact.htm

HERSHEY’S KISSES Kritters

Materials:

• • Pipe cleaner
  • Jiggly eyes
  • Feathers Butterfly wings (available at craft stores or make your own)
  • Construction paper, felt or foam sheets
  • 2 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Chocolates per Kritter
  • Glue (low heat gun, non-toxic craft glue, glue stick, confectioner’s glue, or clear tape)

Instructions:

Butterfly

1. Glue 1 pair of butterfly wings to the flat side of one chocolate.

2. Bend a 2″ piece of pipe cleaner in half and curl both ends.

3. Glue folded point to top end of same chocolate.

Completed craft is for decorative purposes only. Candy used in craft should not be eaten.

4. Glue second chocolate flat end to flat end with other chocolate, securing the wings and antennae between them.

5. Complete by gluing on jiggly eyes.

Caterpillar

1. Curl a 6″ piece of pipe cleaner around a pencil. Glue one chocolate to each end of the curled pipe cleaner.

2. Fold a 1″ piece of pipe cleaner in half and glue to top of one chocolate to form antennae.

3. Cut two set of feet and glue to bottom of each chocolate.

4. Complete by gluing on jiggly eyes.

Ostrich

1. Bend pipe cleaner in half

2. Glue the center of the bent pipe cleaner to an edge of the flat side of a chocolate.

3. Glue feather to the opposite edge of the flat side of the same chocolate.

4. Glue second chocolate flat end to flat end with other chocolate, securing the feather and pipe cleaner in between them.

5. Complete by gluing on jiggly eyes to one chocolate and feathers to the sides of the other chocolate.

* Completed craft is for decorative purposes only. Candy used in craft should not be eaten.

We found this neat craft idea on Hershey’s Website.

http://www.hersheys.com/kisses/crafts/?ICID=KISS1005

The Importance of Fathers

It is well known that Islam places a heavy emphasis on the importance of loving and respecting parents.  In fact Allah (swt) has repeatedly mentioned in the Qur’an that parents hold the next highest status after our Lord and beloved Prophet (s).  Allah (swt) is our supreme provider, sustainer, and protector. He uses parents as a means to provide us, as we grow, with food, shelter, clothing, guidance, and protection from harm.  As creations of Allah (swt) we can never return the favors of our Lord except by being obedient and showing gratitude.  The same can be said for parents.  As children we can never repay the countless favors of our parents accept by being obedient and showing gratitude.  Allah (swt) says in Surah 17 Ayah 23:

“Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor.’

Islam often discusses the value and importance of Mothers.  In fact, Rasulullah (s) has stated several Hadith in regards to the superiority of Mothers.  Islam recognizes that Mothers bare the burden of pregnancy, undergo birth pains in delivering the baby, and sacrifices her own comforts to provide comfort to her children. However, it is important to note that the role of a father is also highly recognized in Islam.  It is said that,

“God’s pleasure is in the pleasure of the father,

and God’s displeasure is in the displeasure of the father.”

Fathers are significant because they are commanded by Allah (swt) to work hard to provide the physical, educational, psychological, and spiritual needs of a child.  ‘Ali ibn al-Husain (r) is reported to have said,

“The right of your father on you is that you should know that

it is he who brought you into existence, and you are a branch of the tree of his life.”

According to an article from Family and Consumer Sciences, “Fathers are essential to the healthy growth and development of their children. Dads bring a unique perspective to the family and lives of their children.”

Fathers have a powerful influence on the healthy development of their daughters and sons.

• School-aged children show significant gains in intellectual development when their fathers are involved with them as infants.

• Involved fathers enrich their daughter’s and son’s self image.

• Children who have involved fathers show more sense of humor, longer attention spans, and more eagerness for learning.

• Father involvement helps teens to develop a strong sense of who they are and increases their ability to resist peer pressure.

Dads are role models who teach their children to be strong, flexible adults.

• Fathers teach gender roles: they are generally more physically active with their sons and more protective of their daughters.

• Fathers often think “out of the box” and offer alternative strategies for problem solving.

• Dads tend to offer more physical play than mothers, which increases the physical competency of their young children.

• When fathers model behaviors that are respectful to women, their sons are more likely to model their father’s respectful behavior as well.

http://fcs.tamu.edu/families/parenting/fathering/fathering_text/fathers_are_important.php

Islam encourages the need to show continuous kindness, respect, care, and concern towards fathers as it can often be difficult to keep a steady balance between working, taking care of a household, and fulfilling the many roles of a parent.

Abu Hurairah always encouraged other people to be kind and good to their parents.

One day he saw two men walking together and enquired of the younger one, “Who is this man to you?” to which the young man replied, “He is my father.”  Abu Hurairah advised him by saying, “Do not call him by his name, do not walk in front of him, and do not seat yourself before he does.”

Here are some simple and fun ways to make your father feel special:

1. Give Dad a day off, and help him by mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, washing the cars
2. Make Dad his favorite meal or dessert
3. Throw a Barbeque party in honor of Dad
4. Make Dad a memory book with family photos and each page mentioning one reason why Dad is special
5. Make a trophy for Dad (see children’s arts and crafts)
6. Take Dad out to his favorite sporting event
7. Take Dad, Grandpa, and Uncles out on a weekend camping or fishing trip
8. Give a gift that keeps on giving.  Honor your Father by making a donation in his name.  Send money to orphans or purchase school books for needy children.  This gift will make Dad happy and inshallah will provide him with unlimited rewards (Sadaqa Jariya).

Arts and Crafts Links for Kids

Kids Crafts

#1 Dad Trophy

Printable Cards for Dad

Activities to do with Dad

It’s that time again where schools across America set aside classroom time to carryout a series of standardized testing.  The purpose of these tests are to compare the performance of a broad range of students based on standard curriculum in order to determine how well each student has mastered material at a certain grade level.

What is Standardized Testing?

A standardized test is one form of assessment used by a school community.  In most cases tests are designed, distributed, and scored by an outside vendor in order to eliminate bias, ensure validity of test questions, and provide expert analysis of data and scores. Many states have required the implementation of standardized testing to verify that schools are meeting state standards and parents and educators are receiving performance data on individual students.

Most standardized tests are made up of a collection of multiple choice questions based on the prescribed curriculum for each grade level.  However, in some cases tests may also include short answer or free response (essay).

Why is Standardized Testing Important?

According to an article published by Sallfd, Margie an elementary ed teacher, explains that:

1) Standardized testing gives teachers guidance to help them determine what to teach students and when to teach it. The net result is less wasted instructional time and a simplified way of timeline management.

2) Standardized testing gives parents a good idea of how their children are doing as compared to students across the country and locally. This can also indicate how your local area is doing against the national landscape.

3) Standardized testing allows students’ progress to be tracked over the years. When students take the same type of test yearly (adjusted for grade level) it is easy to see if a student is improving, losing ground academically, or staying about the same. (For example, if a child is taking a norm-referenced test and scores in the 75th percentile in the sixth grade and the 80th percentile in the seventh grade, you can see that the child is gaining ground in school.) This helps determine how a child is doing academically.

4) Since all students in a school are taking the same test (with respect to grade level) standardized tests provide an accurate comparison across groups. (For example, this makes it easy to see how boys are performing as compared to girls in a particular school or district.) Over the years great improvements have been made with regards to test bias, which has led to more accurate assessments and comparisons.

When are Tests Conducted?

Depending on the school district, most tests are administered annually in the first half of spring usually between late March and mid April.  Test timings can often times range between four to seven hours depending on the grade level.  In most cases, testing takes about three mornings to complete.  Students are encouraged weeks in advance by teachers and administrators to get a good nights rest and eat a healthy breakfast during the week of standardized testing.

How to Prepare you Child for the Tests?

• Ensure your child eats a nutritious breakfast
• Provide your child with a stress free exit when leaving the house
• Be sure your child has at least three sharpened number 2 pencils with an eraser
• Ensure your child has a book to read in class in case he / she finishes the test early
  • Make sure your child arrives to school on time
  • Encourage your child to do his or her best and not to worry if he or she is unsure of an answer

To read more on important test taking tips for your children

visit: http://www.charliefrench.com/test_tips.htm

What do Schools do with the Data?

Schools use the data collected from standardized testing in a number of ways.  The primary use of data is to track student achievement over time across different subject areas in relation to school curriculum.  In addition, test scores give insight into program and instructional needs.  Based on over all data, schools may choose to change educational material, redesign course curriculum, and update program planning.  For example, if scores are high in one subject area over another, schools may opt to temporarily reduce funding for one subject in order to pay for new textbooks for the low scoring subjects.

Standardized test score results also aid in petitioning for new resources such as up-dated computer labs, after school enrichment programs, training sessions for current staff, additional support staff (teachers assistants), or bringing on board educational consultants. 

How can Parents use the Data?

Data analysis from standardized tests can help parents identify areas in which their child needs additional help or praise.  Parents may also use the scores to recognize a deficiency in a specific area of the school’s program.  For example, if results indicate that most students are performing poorly on the math portion as compared to other schools in the district then parents are encouraged to take action.  Parents may want to set up a schedule to volunteer their time to provide after school tutoring to students.  Or parents may choose to raise funds or lobby to develop enrichments programs for the school.

*Find out the testing timings, policies, and procedures for your child’s school

and stay involved in their education!

Here’s what we are doing at IQRA’ to take care of our Earth

 

• We conserve energy at our office by turning off the lights when we leave a room (prayer room, copy room, bathroom)

• We recycle our office paper and plastics

• We agreed to no longer use paper products (paper cups and plates) when eating lunch.  Each member brings in his or her own plate, glass and mug in order to reduce waste

• We Equipped our kitchen with appliances (electric kettle and toaster oven) that use considerably less energy then a conventional oven

• Many of use laptops instead desktops to conserve energy

Try This?

Here are some things you can do with your family at home

Earth Day Hadith:

Islam teaches mankind to respect and care for all of Allah’s creations.  Rasulullah (s) has said,

“If you have a sapling, if you have the time, be certain to plant it, even if Doomsday starts to break forth.” ^[31]

“Whoever plants trees, God will give him reward to the extent of their fruit.” ^[32]

“Whoever reclaims and cultivates dry, barren land will be rewarded by God for the act. So long as men and animals benefit from it He will record it for him as almsgiving.” ^[33]

Links:

• Earth Day Activities for Teachers: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/ten-ways-to-go-green-and-mark-earth-day/

• Earth Day Activities for Kids: http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/

• Earth Day Coloring Pages: http://www.coloring.ws/earth.htm

• For More Information on Earth Day and Ways to Help Visit: http://www.earthday.org/

LETS MAKE EVERYDAY AN EARTH DAY!!