Curriculum Development

Assalam Alaikum,

I have embarked on a journey to create a homeschooling curriculum for my children.

I will document this journey on my Blog Mama Makes Home intending to help other mothers along the way and to build a community of like-minded homeschoolers. Also, I believe if we develop this curriculum together, we will be able to achieve more. So please stay in touch with me, give me feedback and share your thoughts and experiences with me.

Although I am a fan of unschooling and do not intend to replicate school at home, I still prefer to have a plan for the year and days to feel productive and like we are achieving something.

I will repeat, I believe in unschooling, I believe in organic learning. However, I feel relaxed when I have a plan for my day. Natural and organic learning is happening all the time, but having some planned activities help me be more organized and prepared.

Daily Routine

A structured daily routine helps children feel secure and understand what to expect. I have been making daily routines since my first child was two. I discuss the routine with her and then draw it on paper to help her visualize.

Image below is our previous routine. It has significantly changed now since the weather is so hot now and the younger one has grown up and has different needs and activities now.

Here’s our current routine:

1. Morning Routine (6:00 – 7:00 AM)
   • Freshen up
   • Breakfast
   • Morning Dua and Quranic recitation (start with short Surahs)
2. Free Play (7:00 – 8:00 AM)
   • Magnet tiles
   • blocks
   • pretend play (babies, cooking)
   • other activities of interest
3. Learning Time (8:00 – 9:00 AM)
   • English: Alphabet, simple phonics, basic vocabulary, and simple reading books
   • Math: Counting, number recognition, basic addition and subtraction with objects
   • Science/Nature: Exploring nature, basic animal and plant recognition
4. Free Play (9:00 – 10:00 AM)
5. Break Time (10:00 – 10:30 AM)
   • Porridge or any snack
6. Shower (10:30 – 11:00 AM)
7. Wind down and Nap time (11:30 – 2:30 PM)
8. Lunch Time (2:30 – 3:00 PM)
9. Creative Time (3:00 – 4:00 PM)
   • Art and Craft: Drawing, coloring, simple crafts
   • Physical Activity: Exercise, stretching
10. Quiet Time (4:00 – 4:30 PM)
    • Arabic Class
11. Storytime (Islamic and general stories) (4:30 – 5:00 PM)
12. Free Play (5:00 – 6:00 PM)
13. Outdoor Time (6:00 – 7:00 PM)
    • Park
    • Swimming
14. Dinner (7:30 – 8:00 PM)
15. Wind down and Bedtime (8:00 – onwards)
    • Change clothes
    • brush teeth
    • Warm Milk
    • Magnesium oil
    • bedtime stories

Lately, I have been thinking about what areas to focus on for their development. The List below is a work in progress. I have not fully thought and decided yet. I will keep updating this list as I grow intellectually as well. Please do reach out if you have wonderful ideas to pitch in.

Focus Areas for Development

1. Language and Literacy (Arabic and English)

• Goals: Recognize letters, understand phonics, develop basic vocabulary
• Activities: Reading aloud daily; Alphabet crafts; Simple writing practice (tracing letters)

2. Mathematics

• Goals: Number recognition, counting, basic arithmetic
• Activities: Counting everyday objects; Simple addition and subtraction with toys or fruits; Shape and color recognition games

3. Science and Nature

• Goals: Curiosity about the natural world, basic understanding of animals, plants, and weather
• Activities: Reading books; Nature walks and discussions; Simple experiments; Gardening

4. Islamic Studies

• Goals: Basic Islamic knowledge, love for Islam, understanding of daily prayers and duas
• Activities: Learning short Surahs and daily duas; Stories of Prophets and good manners in Islam; Simple concepts of good and bad

5. Creative Arts

• Goals: Express creativity, develop fine motor skills
• Activities: Drawing and coloring; Simple crafts and DIY projects; Playing with playdough

6. Physical Development

• Goals: Improve motor skills, stay active and healthy
• Activities: Daily physical exercise (running, jumping, dancing); Simple sports and outdoor games; Yoga or stretching exercises

Skills to Build (Ages 4-5)

• Fine Motor Skills: Cutting with scissors, writing letters, coloring within lines
• Gross Motor Skills: Jumping, running, balancing
• Social Skills: Meeting new people, making friends, building empathy
• Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving, memory games, understanding cause and effect
• Language Skills: Expanding vocabulary, forming sentences, storytelling

Our curriculum will INCLUDE:

• A-Z Weekly Lesson Plans for english
• Weekly Quran Verse
• Weekly Art lessons
• Read aloud books
• Phonics practice
• Capital/lowercase letter recognition
• 1-10 Numbers recognition
• Counting practice
• Colors
• Shapes
• Fine Motor skills: Lacing cards, cutting, coloring & pre-writing
• Logic skills: Puzzles, size sorting, matching games
• Large Muscle Movement: Large Floor Numbers/Letters Hopscotch
• Singing: Rhymes, A-Z letter sound songs
• Arts & Crafts for each letter

We will first develop a preparatory curriculum targeted for young children aged 2-4 years.