Homeschooling – Most of us nowadays have heard of this not-so-new way of providing children with the learning opportunities they need to grow and develop intellectually, but also on a personal and spiritual level. But most people’s knowledge of what homeschooling actually is — or isn’t — is still greatly affected by misconceptions and misunderstandings of what it actually is. Read on to learn more and discover some of the many benefits of Islamic homeschooling, as well as how to get started!
What Is Online Islamic Homeschooling
Homeschooling is a word that has been around since forever. The dictionary describes it as educating (the child) at home rather than sending them to school. The teaching depends solely on the parents and the results are their responsibility.
Many families around the world, including many Muslim families in the United States, have adopted the idea of homeschooling for various reasons, the main one being how they want their children to learn certain things but cannot afford a private school.
Muslim families in non-Muslim countries may struggle to find suitable, credible, and trustworthy nearby Muslim institutions to enroll their children in. This is why these families resort to homeschooling as a good alternative.
Read on to learn about Islamic Homeschooling!
Islamic Homeschooling Curriculum
So, what’s Online Islamic Homeschooling like? Islamic Homeschooling focuses on the learning of the Quran, Tajweed, Islamic , Arabic, and the teachings of Islam that your children need in their life.
7 Benefits Of Islamic Online Homeschooling
Some people decide to homeschool their children from the start, and others have negative experiences in schools so they switch. So, what are the benefits of homeschooling your kids?
1. You Get To Be The Source
One of the reasons why people choose to homeschool their children is that they do not trust the source of knowledge that others possess, especially in Islamic matters. With homeschooling, you become the source of the knowledge you have gained from the Quran and Sunnah and teach your children the correct teachings that you have learned.
You can also choose which materials to use, including online. Online homeschooling has shown to be incredibly participatory and beneficial for children.
Not very confident about your Islamic knowledge? You can enroll your children in online Islamic classes with trusted teachers who have the right background and experience. This will help ensure that your children’s Islam learning goals are met and achieved.
2. Personalized Learning
You know your kids better than anyone else, and you’ll be able to customize their learning experience and do the things they love, when they like. You also know their learning pace, so they won’t feel pressured to learn something in a short time.
3. Learning And Living, Living And Learning
Homeschooling families agree that the right way to homeschool does not involve imitating an actual classroom with set schedules. You will pay more attention to what they can learn in every part of their daily routine and they will immerse themselves in what you teach them as part of their working life, not just a school lesson they have to take.
4. You Make Your Own Schedule
The previous point does not mean that homeschooling is random. You should make a schedule to evaluate what you have accomplished at the end of the week. However, you can choose this table and choose what you want to fill it with. This flexibility is a huge advantage for you and your baby.
5. More Time And Opportunities For Interests
With flexible schedules, your kids get more time to pursue the hobbies they love, pick up new hobbies, pursue their interests, and create opportunities for curiosity. You devote more time to learning, reading the Quran, doing sports, and learning new things that you are fond of.
6. No Peer Pressure
While some children do not have this problem, peer pressure, whether academic or social, is a reality in traditional school settings. Homeschooling is a great option for children experiencing peer pressure, especially if they went to a school where there was the only Muslim child around. This may not be the experience of every child in non-Muslim countries, but it is for some children, and they may suffer from it for a really long time.
You will be raising them in an environment that is free from the stress, anxiety and stress of others while teaching them, in a very calm and reassuring but also empowering way, how to deal with these kind of issues in the world.
7. You Create A Great Bond With Your Children
Since homeschooling does not only mean teaching at home, you can enjoy many activities outside with your children. You can take them to the garden every day and let them have fun while you teach them how Islam taught us how to communicate with people outside, or you can take them to the mosque to learn the Quran, pray or interact with the other children there.
What Online Homeschooling Is NOT
There are a lot of misconceptions about homeschooling that keep many parents from trying it, even if it would bring great benefits to themselves and their children. Now, homeschooling is very different than it was in the 1980s, but unfortunately, misconceptions about it seem to persist.
1. Homeschooling Is Not An Isolation
Many parents believe that they will isolate their children from society once they start homeschooling because they will stop attending school. Nowadays, you can educate your children at home and let them interact with people and have friendships. If you are against creating virtual friendships for your child, he can still go to the park every day and make friends with the neighbors’ kids. You can also have your child socialize while visiting museums or other educational settings, and build your network of other homeschool families.
2. Homeschooling Is Not Always At Home
You don’t have to stay home 24/7 to learn at home. Homeschooling can be done in parks, field trips, mosques, historical monuments, and anywhere other than home.
3. You Won’t Create An Actual Classroom For The Children
Another common misconception arises when you mention homeschooling: “Do you homeschool?” No you did not. You don’t have to imitate the real school for your kids to learn something. In fact, if you think you can create a class with 7 or 8 hours of scheduled classes and a break, it probably won’t work at all. Instead, incorporate learning into your daily routine and set the time to “sit and learn” and you’ll see great results.
4. No, It’s Not Done By Luck
If you think parents follow learning schedules by luck, you can’t be wrong. Homeschooling revolves around specific goals that need to be achieved within a time frame. The schedules may not be quite as tight as in real schools, but parents do not allow their children to learn in a chaotic and careless manner in home schools.
How Do You Start Islamic Homeschooling Online?
1. Discuss The Idea With Your Spouse
This step should not be overlooked. When you both agree to homeschool, you share the responsibility of homeschooling your kids and the logistics that come with it. You can break down the things you need to teach your children and each of you is interested in one or two areas of learning, for example. The homeschooling experience and success can be jeopardized if the couple is not on the same page.
2. Talk To Your Children About It
Use commonsense in convincing your children of the idea of homeschooling. Tell them how it’s best for them, and then get them excited about all the activities you’ll be doing together. Make sure to be realistic and stick to what you said after they agree, or it will backfire.
3. Set Your Goals
You can’t start if you don’t know where you want to go. Set simple, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals to pursue. Choose what you want to teach, how you will do it, when, for how long, and with what frequency, and also make sure you have some flexibility and be open to change so that you can readjust as you go.
After setting your goals, create a flexible schedule that includes outdoor activities and experiences for your children. Don’t try to overdo it at first, start small, flexible, fun and goal-oriented.
4. Buy The Necessary Materials
Focus on the mentioned “necessary” part. Control the urge to buy everything you see. Choose only important books, magazines and materials that will help you in the journey according to the goals you set earlier.
5. Consider Online Islamic Courses
This could be a great help! You can choose the course you want your kids to join, the instructor and the schedule. Online courses are a great way to get some help in areas in which you have no experience and will ensure that your children learn them the right way.
Final Words
Homeschooling is not an easy journey and it can sometimes be frustrating for you and your children, but the benefits and results can be truly rewarding for everyone, for your child’s personal, intellectual and spiritual growth, but also for your own! Think about your goals and remind yourself why you set out to pursue them in the first place. Also, make it a point to find and connect with other homeschool families for support and follow-up.
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