muslim homeschool charlotte mason homeschool

Muslim Homeschool Curriculum: How to Use a Book of Centuries

What do we need to teach our children? Which books should we buy? What topics must we cover? Teaching history in a Muslim Homeschool can be tricky. How do we teach the whole history of mankind in a way that makes sense to children of different ages? This blog post will show you how a Book of Centuries will completely transform your Muslim Homeschool curriculum.

Muslim homeschool curriculum - Islamic history timeline book of centuries

What should be in a Muslim Homeschool Curriculum for History? 

When following a Charlotte Mason philosophy, history allows children to build connections between historical events. Our kids must understand how events relate to each other and be able to discuss the lessons which can be learnt. 

To do this, it is essential children learn the order of historical events. Understanding when things happened is just as important as what happened. In a history lesson, your children are probably reading a variety of books covering history from different periods and cultures. But how can we gather this information in a logical way for our kids?

Charlotte Mason recommended children get to know a few particular time periods very well, rather than skimming over a brief outline of everything. Children interested in a certain time period will often find themselves absorbed in a single period of history for longer. However, they need to gather information in a coherent way, while understanding how events relate to each other. 

This is where the Book of Centuries comes in. 

Muslim Homeschool curriculum

What is a Book of Centuries? 

A Book of Centuries sounds incredibly important, doesn’t it?

And it is.

It is an organised way for your children to process the historical facts learnt during their readings, read alouds, and history lessons. A Book of Centuries is an essential part of any Muslim homeschool curriculum.

The Book of Centuries is set up like a diary and contains blank pages waiting for your child to fill them in. To guide them, dates are written across the top of each page. These dates usually span from around 4000BC (the time of first recorded history) and the present day. 

A Book of Centuries becomes a household treasure. You can have one shared between your children or they can have one each for their own personal collection. Over their years of homeschooling, children will continue to add to their Book of Centuries, their book growing and evolving alongside their historical knowledge.

Their Book of Centuries will become a cherished possession which they return to years later and recall the incredible stories. Having a place to record their historical findings encourages children to engage with what they are learning. They practice how to critically decide which pieces of information are important enough to include. Their creativity is sparked as they choose how to display the information in their books. They can choose to either write, draw, or even glue pictures and diagrams!

WATCH THIS VIDEO

How to use a Book of Centuries in a Muslim Homeschool Curriculum 

Now for the interesting part.

You know how to approach history, you know how important a Book Centuries is for your child’s Muslim homeschool curriculum, but how do you use a Book of Centuries alongside your history readings?

Charlotte Mason, recommends your children spend at least one lesson per week working on their Book of Centuries and timeline. This means they spend about 20 minutes gathering what they have learnt throughout the week and adding to their book. 

To add an entry into their Book of Centuries, children locate the page with the correct year. Then, they add content to those pages to represent what they are learning. This could be done in different ways:

  1. Writing the date of birth and death of famous people throughout history
  2. Small sketches of important relics, events, or locations, such as pyramids or castles
  3. Pictures printed from the internet of famous people or events
  4. Parts of leaflets cut out from history field trips

Is a Book of Centuries just for History?

The Book of Centuries is a versatile resource that can be used in more than just History lessons.

For example, if your child reads about Salahuddin, they will come across dates of important battles and crusades. These dates would be added to their Book of Centuries, along will a small description of what happened. Your child might sketch the armour and weapons used at the time. Some children might include a map of Jerusalem and the grounds of Masjid al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock. 

This little project may spark an interest in the crusades and the ongoing fight for authority in the Holy Lands. Your child will see how long this fight has been going on. Your child will understand how many time periods have influenced a fight that is still raging today.

As we’re taught by Charlotte Mason herself:

“…it is necessary to know something of what has gone before in order to think justly of what is occurring today.” (A Philosophy of Education, Charlotte Mason)

Charlotte Mason quote - history and book of centuries

In these ways, children are building their own unique record of history in a way that not only makes sense to them but also demonstrates how events and time periods relate to each other. Children develop an intelligent sense of time and the evolution of mankind.  

Where to buy your own Book of Centuries

Now, I’ve been where you are before. I completely adored the idea of using a Book of Centuries in my homeschool. I grabbed a blank notebook and started adding dates to the top of each page, each double spread representing 100 years. 

However, this is time-consuming, and it was incredibly confusing trying to manage the time span of 6000 years! Plus, as a Muslim homeschool, it was important to me to make acknowledge the Islamic calendar and its place in the history of our world. 

Because I know how tricky designing your own Book of Centuries can be, I have developed a book for you with the dates and setup already done. 

Muslim homeschool curriculum book of centuries

When you purchase the Our Muslim Homeschool Book of Centuries, you have a blank notebook all ready for your child with:

  • Islamic dates alongside Gregorian dates at the top of each page
  • Lists of key Islamic dates
  • Further reading suggestions
  • A page of profile cut-outs for you to get started
  • A page for your chid to record their own family history
Muslim homesschool curriculum Islamic history book of centuries

This Book of Centuries will help your child engage with their Muslim Homeschool curriculum and enjoy History lessons in an exciting way. No matter the age of your children, having a book they can add to themselves, without the work being done for them, will provide a satisfying sense of achievement, inshaAllah.

Purchase your copy straight from Amazon here: Amazon UK | Amazon USA

Muslim book fo centuries homeschool curriculum

Homeschooling | When You Don’t Have Enough Time!

Homeschooling when you don't have enough time

As a homeschooling parent, we worry a lot! We worry that we’re not giving our children enough of our time. We stress that we’re not doing enough for them. And we agonise about how to fit it all in!

 Homeschooling when you don't have enough time

Thie blogpost may contain affiliate links. See Disclaimer for more information.

In episode 33 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share with you some practical ways that you “squeeze” more learning into your children’s lives, and reframe the way you look at your homeschool.

WATCH THIS!

Related: How to Homeschool in Lockdown | School Closure

Our Lovely Sponsor

This episode of Raising Mums was brought to you by Miraj Stories!

You can save up to 25% off on this Islamic app for children aged 4-9, with an exclusive Discount Code just for Our Muslim Homeschool fans! It includes Islamic audiobooks, picture books, songbooks and games.

It’s Halal and there are NO ADs! Alhumdulillah!

miraj stories discount islamic app for muslim children

Miraj Stories is such an EASY way to incorporate Islamic learning into your child’s homeschooling! 

They are currently offering a 7 day FREE TRIAL, so give it a go!

CLICK HERE to GET 25% OFF Miraj Stories!

https://mirajstories.com/ourmuslimhomeschool/


I’ll be back again next Sunday 14th February, LIVE on Instagram and Facebook. I hope I’ll see you there!

Peace and Love,

Homeschooling in a lockdown

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How to Start Homeschooling – The Muslim Parent’s Guide

It’s hard to know where to begin when you first decide to start homeschooling.

There are so many options! It seems like a blessing to have plenty of information about homeschooling available online.

However, access to so much unfiltered information can also make homeschooling appear a lot more complicated than it actually is.

Read on to find out how I can help you feel confident to start homeschooling in a stress-free way!

How to start homeschooling - the Muslim parents guide

How do you start homeschooling? 

It’s not difficult to research the benefits of homeschooling for your family. It’s easy to find a multitude of options for curriculums, reading ideas and crafty activities to do with your child. 

But how do you use all that information to teach your child in the most efficient way possible?

How do you know which curriculums are best for your unique family?

How do you maintain a beneficial schedule without homeschool lessons taking over your entire life?

Is it possible to still have time for yourself when the homeschool day is done?

How do you do it all?

All these questions build up in your mind and often lead to crippling self-doubt. Do you have what it takes to handle the full responsibility of your child’s education? 

How do you finally take the plunge and start homeschooling?

How to start homeschooling - muslim homeschooling course

Start homeschooling with ‘Launch Your Homeschool’

‘Launch Your Homeschool’ is an online course to help you find your own homeschooling path as a Muslim family. This course uses a combination of Charlotte Mason philosophy and crucial Islamic values to give you the confidence to develop your own homeschool curriculum that is suitable for your family. 

Instead of feeling anxious about the magnitude of the task before you, feel excited! You will gain the skills needed to design your own path in home education, a path which reflects your children, your family and your values.

Are you wondering if Charlotte Mason is suitable for a Muslim homeschool? Click here to find out!

Who is the course for? 

Launch Your Homeschool is dedicated to Muslim families who are striving to design their own unique homeschool life and develop their own curriculum to suit their family dynamic. 

This course is for you if:

⭐ The thought of homeschooling appeals to you but you’re not sure where to start.

⭐ You’re feeling overwhelmed by all the different options, curriculum choices and activities to do with your children.

⭐ You want to join the homeschool movement but find yourself confused and unsure how to practically get started.

⭐ You have a busy, hectic life (like most mums!) and need a self-paced course to complete in your own time

⭐ You’re a Muslim family hoping to find the right balance between your child’s Islamic and secular education.

Homeschooling Muslim girl
Start Help children memorise the Quran

What does the course offer? 

When you enrol in the ‘Launch Your Homeschool’ course, you have access to:

? A library of 17+ pre-recorded video lessons

? Accompanying fun-sheets to guide you through the lessons

? A supportive Private Facebook community

? Your very own homeschool planner

?And lots of special bonuses – CLICK HERE to find out what they are!

You have lifetime access to the course materials so you can work your way through at a pace that suits your schedule. With pre-recorded lessons, you can watch them whenever you want, pause and replay as you need to. This course is designed to be as convenient as possible, because I know how hectic life as a mum can be!

Launch Your Homeschool homeschooling course to help muslim families start homeschooling

The main skills you learn during the course are centred around homeschool planning and time management. Once you are confident in these areas, all the other homeschool obstacles will become easier and more manageable. 

With the course, you learn how to maintain motivation and consistency in your homeschool and feel confident about your journey. You will learn how to avoid common homeschooling pitfalls so you are well-prepared for your homeschool life. 

Learn all of this AND how to still dedicate time to yourself so you don’t experience homeschooler burnout! 

how to start homeschooling - the muslim parent's guide

How to access the course and start homeschooling 

Are you ready to Launch Your Homeschool? To enrol now or join the waiting list, simply click here and sign up for access to this beneficial course!

Will you start homeschooling with ‘Launch Your Homeschool’?

What are your biggest concerns when deciding to start homeschooling? Do you struggle with deciding on the best options for your family? Or maybe the thought of adding even more to your to-do list is extremely stressful!

Write in the comments and let me know what you hope to gain from the ‘Launch Your Homeschool’ course. 

If you’re curious to know how I started homeschooling my children, click here to discover our homeschool story.

CLICK HERE to learn more the course:

Is Charlotte Mason suitable for a Muslim Homeschool?

Charlotte Mason for the Muslim Homeschool

Can the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education work for a Muslim homeschool? An increasing number of Muslim Homeschools are adopting and embracing the Charlotte Mason philosophy in their homeschools…but why?

In this episode of Raising Mums, I discuss why we use the Charlotte Mason philosophy in our Muslim homeschool and discuss if the Charlotte Mason approach to homeschooling is suitable for Muslims?

Charlotte Mason for the Muslim Homeschool

This blog-post contains affiliate links. For more information see Disclaimer.

In this this episode of Raising Mums I answer the following questions:

? What is the Charlotte Mason philosophy all about?

? Is a Charlotte Mason education suitable and for the Muslim homeschool? Is it relevant?

? Do I need to replace or miss any part of it out?

? What are the advantages of Charlotte Mason homeschooling compared to others?

? Will it prepare my children for higher education? For life?

? Why are so many Muslim homeschoolers switching to Charlotte Mason?

WATCH NOW!

FREE Muslim Homeschooling eBOOK:

My eBOOK outlines what we NEED to know before you start homeschooling your children.

Get your a FREE copy of my eBOOK:

Home Education – What you NEED to know” 
? CLICK HERE

How to Homeschool eBook

How to Start Homeschooling Course

Launch Your Homeschool is an online course that will you hold your hand and walk you through the beginning stages of homeschooling, built upon the framework of the Charlotte Mason philosophy.

I teach you how to choose the right subjects for your homeschool, how to chose the right resources and plan out your year to create a homeschool experience that aligns with the values and beliefs of your family.

I show you the essential teaching techniques that you’ll need to now to get started. There’s even an entire module on how to manage your time so you can still cook, keep the house tidy and take care of yourself, all whilst homeschooling your children!

Interested?

Launch your Homeschool - the Online course for Muslim Homeschools

Join the Wait List for the Online Course “Launch Your Homeschool” to get more information.
? CLICK HERE

Enrolment opens on SUNDAY 6th DECEMBER 2020, at 12pm GMT


Charlotte Mason Muslim Homeschool Resources

? Our Muslim Homeschool YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel has a wealth of videos about Charlotte Mason curriculum choices, living book recommendations, day-in-the-life videos and more! Check it out!

More Charlotte Mason Resources

Although the following Charlotte Mason resources are not specifically for Muslims, I believe they have a lot of value. My recommendations for parents new to this philosophy, but wanting to learn more are:

? “For the Children’s Sake” by Susan Shaeffer Macaulay UK USA

?”When Children Love to Learn”  by Elaine Cooper UK USA

? Podcast: A Delectable Education

? Podcast: Thinking Love

? Instagram: Modern Miss Mason

? Instagram: Charlotte Mason IRL

what is homeschooling

I’ll be back LIVE on Facebook and Instagram on

Sunday 22nd December 2020 at 9pm GMT

when I’ll be talking with you all about, 

How much does homeschooling cost?

I hope I’ll see you there!

Peace and love,

How to start homeschooling
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A Week in our Homeschool | 11-15th September 2017

Muslim homeschool week

Take a peek into our homeschool week! In this blog post, I am excited to share snippets of our week!

This week was officially our 2nd week of using the homeschool curriculum Ambleside online. So far, I have found using a set curriculum strangely liberating!

Up until this point, I have always enjoyed piecing together my out curriculum. However, with my work online and my homeschool shop growing, I wanted to find something that took the pressure of me a little. So far, Ambleside online’s curriculum is doing just that!

Our Muslim Homeschool uses affiliate links in blog posts and sidebar ads. See Disclaimer for more information. 

Monday 11th September

Monday usually means recovering from a busy weekend! This Monday we kept things simple with morning school, Quran class and then a trip to the park. Today was also the first time we read from A Child’s History of the World and we loved it!

Muslim homeschool week
Pizza and Shakespeare!

Muslim homeschool week
Baby doll goes first!

Muslim homeschool week

Tuesday 12th September

Tuesdays are usually busy day for us, and this Tuesday was no exception!

With swimming, French AND wrestling classes all on one day, we struggled to do all the subjects that I had planned.

We managed most things, but we didn’t have time to read from Our Island story or Understood Betsy. Don’t worry.. we made up for it later in the week!

Muslim homeschool week Muslim homeschool week

Wednesday 13th September

The boys had fun today adding to their Book of the Centuries. We added in the historical figures Harun al-Rashid, Charlemagne and King Harold II . We also managed to start reading Understood Betsy, but my boys were not impressed! I will keep persevering!

In the afternoon, the boys went for Quran classes and Muslim scouts. Muslim homeschool weekMuslim homeschool week

Thursday 14th September

Today we read from the Burgess Animal Book and my children really love it.

They have learn so much about Rabbits and the rest of the rabbit family from the two chapters we have read. The stories are rally engaging and are a wonderful way to introduce children to biology and natural history.

We are currently in the middle of landscaping the garden, but with the torrential rains and storms we’ve had all week, nothing has been done for awhile! But the kids are enjoying the mud!

Muslim homeschool week
Happy toddler!

Muslim homeschool week

Friday 15th September

On Fridays the books are put away and we go outdoors!

This morning was spent exploring nearby woodland.

Muslim homeschool week nature walk

Muslim homeschool week nature walk
He spotted a hare! Run!

Muslim homeschool week nature walk
If you were a hare which way would you go?

Muslim homeschool week nature walk
Are you in there?

We didn’t have any kind of agenda today except that I asked them to find a leaf to take home to paint into their nature journals.

It’s been a long time since we used watercolours and I wanted them reintroduce watercolours by painting something simple.

I had a go too and it was so relaxing! I’m very keen to add to my nature journal again!

Muslim homeschool week Muslim homeschool week

Unfortunately, because we were having too much fun in the woods, and because I forgot to bring my watch, we got home too late to go to Friday prayers at the mosque. Astaghfirullah. Next week I will be better prepared insha’Allah.

In the afternoon, after their French class, the children spent time with their grandparents!

Muslim homeschool nature walk
That light….

Today, whilst out for our walk, I was struck with gratitude; how fortunate I am to be spending my days with my children and walking outdoors in the beautiful British countryside today.

In the thick of it, sometimes forget how blessed I am but being outside reminded me of how lucky I truly am. It forces me to slow down and reflect. There is something about the light in a forest, the way is peeks through the canopy and illuminates pockets of the woodland floor, that always strikes me. There so much to learn from being still and observing creation.

This week with Ambleside online has gone very well. Although we have fallen slightly behind in our reading of Understood Betsy and Poetry, I am confident we can easily catch up insha’Allah. The only thing left to do this weekend is work through the next chapter in our Islamic studies books.

I have really enjoyed sharing our week with you, and I hope you enjoying reading about it!

If you have any questions, please leave them for me in the comments below and I will try to answer them as best I can.

Peace and Love,

Dr Gemma Elizabeth