It’s every homeschooler’s favourite time of the year; the time where we get to share our homeschool curriculum choices for the coming year!
In Our Muslim Homeschool, we are trying to fully embrace the educational teachings of Charlotte Mason this year and have chosen to follow the recommendations of Ambleside online for my seven year-old son. In the U.K. he would be entering Year 3 or 2nd Grade in the USA. From the Ambleside online curriculum, we have chosen to use their Year 2 book list but, as you will see, we have made some adjustments to the curriculum to suit our family’s needs.
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Why Ambleside Online?
Ambleside online is a well-respected Charlotte Mason homeschooling curriculum, and is renown as being both rigorous and true to the principles that Charlotte Mason set out. It is a FREE curriculum that consists of a book list and a recommended weekly schedule. However, in order to implement the curriculum into your home, it is vital that you familiarize yourself with the works of Charlotte Mason first.
I have already been receiving comments on Instagram and Facebook questioning my choice of curriculum. Although Ambleside online has been tailored to the American and Christian demographic, I have found it very easy adjust the Year 2 curriculum to my own faith.
For example, instead of Bible we will be reading from the Quran; instead of Pilgrims progress, we will be learning the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (saw), and instead of hymns we will be singing nasheeds! For more information, WATCH THE VIDEOS BELOW!
Daily Work and Circle Time
This blog post has been divided up into what I refers to are “Daily Work” and “Circle-time“. Daily work is the work that my son will do everyday, and group work is what will be done less frequently with his siblings. All the books and online resources are listed below, so you can print them out and take it to the library if you want to! Alternatively, if you click on the links, they will take you directly to Amazon (UK or USA) or our Online Bookshop.
If you are interested in seeing which books and resources we plan to use this coming homeschool year, THESE VIDEOS!
DAILY WORK (Part 1)
CIRCLE TIME (Part 2)
Muslim Homeschool 2nd Grade Curriculum:
Books and Online Resources
The Curriculum that we are following is Ambleside Online Year 2 Curriculum
Daily Work (Part 1)
Below are the resources that we will be using for our Daily Work, and what were shown in the Part 1 Video.
Memorisation, Recitation & Quran
Safar Essential Duas and Surahs
Reading
Mr Poppers Penguins by Richard Atwater and Florence Atwater – Amazon UK USA
The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth – Amazon UK USA
Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J Sobol – Amazon UK USA
Birth of an Island by M. Selsam – Amazan UK USA
More reading lists are available on the Ambleside online website.
Maths
CTC Math: 4 Week Free Trial and 60% OFF for Homeschoolers
Copywork
Exercise books for handwriting – Amazon UK USA
Foreign Language
Arabic and French will be primarily taught to my son by external tutors. However I will still be required to support his learning at home. These are some of the resources we will be using:
Colours and Shapes in French – Write & Wipe Flashcards from Word United – Amazon UK USA
Comptines a Chanter: Comptines a Chanter 1 – Book + CD-Audio – Amazon UK USA
Usbourne Everyday Words Flashcards: Arabic – Amazon UK USA
Gateway to Arabic: Level 2 – Amazon UK USA
Circle Time (Part 2)
Below are the resources that we will be using for our Circle time, and what were shown in the Part 2 Video.
History
Our Island Story by H. E. Marshall – Amazon UK USA
A Child’s History of the World by V. M. Hillyer – Amazon UK USA
The Little Duke by Charlotte M. Yonge – Amazon UK USA
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley – Amazon UK USA
Life of Prophet Muhammad by Leila Azzam – Amazon UK USA
Book of the centuries front cover
The Usborne History of Britain – Amazon UK USA
Literature
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children by E. Nesbit – Amazon UK USA
Parables from Nature by Mrs Alfred Gatty – Amazon UK USA
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle – Amazon UK USA
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham – Amazon UK USA
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher – Amazon UK USA
Natural History
The Burgess Animal Book for children by Thornton Burgess – Amazon UK USA
The Tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter – Amazon UK USA
Poetry
Poetry is provided for free from Ambleside online. This year we will be studying the works of Walter de la Mere, Eugene Field and Christina Rossetti.
Nature Study
Nature Journal – Amazon UK , similar one from Amazon USA
Prang Watercolour paints – Amazon UK USA
Stabilo Fine Liner pens – Amazon UK USA (will need black and grey pens)
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock – Amazon UK USA
Usborne Spotter Guides – Amazon UK USA
The Little Book of Woodland Bird Song – Amazon UK USA (similar)
Blackbird by Stephen Savage – Amazon UK USA
A Guide to British Birds and their songs (CD) – Amazon UK USA
Art & Picture Study
This year we plan to study the works of Monet, Hokusai and O’Keefe. Here are some of the resources we will be using.
Artist’s workshop: Landscapes by Penny King– Amazon UK USA
Hokusai Calendar – Amazon UK USA
Monet Calendar – Amazon UK USA
Handicraft
Kids Cook the World by Ferran Adria – Amazon UK USA
Cool stuff to bake – Amazon UK USA
Cooking skills by Stephanie Turnbull – Amazon UK USA
Woodworking for Kids by Kevin McGuire – Amazon UK USA
Nasheeds
This year we plan to learn 1-2 nasheeds every term. This term we are learning Talama Ashku Gharami
Chemistry
R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey: Chemistry 1 by Pandia Press
Free Reads
(Editions/publishers of these books may differ from those shown in the video.)
Five children and It by E. Nesbit – Amazon UK USA
Heidi by J. Spyri – Amazon UK USA
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers – Amazon UK USA
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit – Amazon UK USA
Tom’s Midnight Garden by Phillipa Pearce – Amazon UK USA
Islamic Studies
Safar Islamic Studies Year 3 Textbook and Workbook
Character
The Lives of the Prophets by Leila Azzam – Amazon UK USA
This year is the first time we are fully embracing the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason, and I am excited and aprehensive! I will share with you our highs and lows, and how we find the ambleside online curriculum.
For (almost) daily insights into our homeschool, follow me on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to my YouTube channel!
If you have any questions about the curriculum we are using or how we teach these subjects, please feel free to leave me a question in the comments below.
Peace and Love,
15 Comments on Charlotte Mason Homeschool Curriculum for Muslims: 2nd Grade
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Asma laghari
06/09/2017 at 9:44 am (6 years ago)Hello i love ur blog i m starting my 6 year old home schooling i will appreciate if u guide for currculim for 1st grade jazakAllah
Gemma Somauroo
08/09/2017 at 1:57 pm (6 years ago)Hi, Thank you!
I would recommend you visit Amblesideonline.org and use their recommendations as a guideline. Then just add in any Islamic components that you feel are appropriate.
JazakAllah khayr
Noor
07/09/2017 at 4:58 am (6 years ago)Jazaki allahu khairan for sharing your curriculum. I would like to know if you still use “Life of Fred” curriculum for math ?
Gemma Somauroo
08/09/2017 at 1:52 pm (6 years ago)Wa iyaki! Yes we do! My 2nd Grader is currently on Jelly Beans, and my younger son (Kindergarten) is on apples. Thank you for reminding me…I must add that into this blog post 🙂
Sarwat
01/07/2018 at 9:23 pm (5 years ago)Salam sister, R u also using Mathmammoth.Do u like it?
Gemma Somauroo
10/07/2018 at 7:03 pm (5 years ago)Salaam. Yes, I do like it, but it can be a little dry. Whilst it shows children the “how-to” of Maths, it doesnt explain the why. So we like to supplement it with other books like Life of Fred.
Hasina
24/11/2017 at 5:42 am (6 years ago)Salaam Jemma. I was wondering what was your experience of basing your curriculum on the well trained mind. I noticed that this year you are not including it in your curriculum. Thanks
Gemma Somauroo
24/11/2017 at 12:30 pm (6 years ago)Salaam Hasina. Yes, we initially followed the well-trained mind but have switched over to a Charlotte Mason approach. The WTM is an excellent curriculum. It’s very thorough and uses some great books, but it didn’t suit my children. They found the program too structured and didn’t allow for enough time to play and go outside. However, I still return back to the WTM for book and resource recommendations.
Hassan Mahfooz
30/05/2018 at 4:47 pm (6 years ago)What are your future plans for your children? Will they be able to do GCSEs and enter university being homeschooled?
Gemma
18/06/2018 at 5:34 pm (5 years ago)Ehe children can take their gcse’s and a levels when they are ready, I actually know a lot who have already passed their a levels by age 16 and received a place at Oxford university… home ed kids learn more faster than schooled children. They also attain more life skills and the ability to interact with people of all ages.
Aishah
05/06/2018 at 12:03 pm (5 years ago)Assalamu Alaikum. I would like to ask help if you can recommend a very good Online Home school with Platform, as I have no time to teach my child all the time. I have no knowledge of teaching as well. JazakAllah khayr
Gemma
18/06/2018 at 5:27 pm (5 years ago)Salamu alaiqum sister. I have been home educating my kids for many years now (oldest will be 14 next month) but recently I have found the home ed families have disappeared and we’re not Muslim either. How do you find kids for your kids to interact with? (My husband is alone here and we aren’t part of the “Muslim community”…) my oldest daughter’s are preparing to go to college to do their gcse’s but would like groups for my younger kids.
Maryam
07/03/2019 at 8:29 pm (5 years ago)As salamu alaikum, my son is in kg2 age 5. He is going to IGCSE Islamic school. Alhamdulillah…. Any suggestion and balancing regular school and extra reading at home for knowledge and material….
Gemma Somauroo
12/03/2019 at 8:46 am (5 years ago)Walaykum assalaam Maryam. MashAllah! I think it’s wonderful that you want to supplement your son’s education at home. He’s lucky to have you!
As he is at school, you want to make sure he is getting enough time to rest and play, as well as learn.
So at first, I would advise you to take it slowly. To begin focus on topics that he enjoys, and slowly progress.
If he is too tired after school, just do the work on the weekend. Perhaps reading something to him over breakfast or dinner would also work for your family.
Thank you for asking such a great question Maryam. JazakAllah khayr
Umm Muhammad
16/04/2019 at 2:42 pm (5 years ago)Assalamu Alaikum my sister, we are a homeschooling family, the more and more I have been reading the more and more particularly this year I have felt a Charlotte Mason curriculum could and would be fantastic for my son who is 7. My question is it too late to start this curriculum now I would want to start from the full stop ideally however if I was to skip and start from the year 3 option? What would you best advice. Jazakallahu khairan x