Not all classrooms have 4 walls
Thursday, April 25, 2024
The Leper, the bald and the blind man. - Story and questions -(Downloadable PDF)
Equality vs Equity in Education
Equality in education refers to providing every student with the same resources, opportunities, and support regardless of their background or circumstances.
Equity, on the other hand, recognizes that different students have different needs and seeks to ensure that each student receives what they need to succeed.However, the reality in education often falls short of both equality and equity. Educational systems around the world often struggle to provide equal access to quality education, with disparities based on socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, and other factors. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may lack access to resources such as well-equipped schools, experienced teachers, and supportive learning environments, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their more privileged peers.
Socio-economic status plays a significant role in exacerbating educational inequalities. Privileged families often have the means to provide additional resources such as extracurricular activities, private tutors, and educational materials, giving their children an advantage in academic achievement and future opportunities.
Even within families who homeschool their children, issues of equality and equity can arise. Siblings may have different learning styles, interests, and needs, requiring individualized attention and resources.
To address these challenges, education systems must strive for both equality and equity by implementing policies and practices that ensure every student has access to high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. This may involve providing targeted interventions for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, investing in schools and communities with high levels of need, and promoting inclusive teaching practices that recognize and celebrate diversity. Additionally, efforts to address systemic inequalities outside of the education system, such as poverty and discrimination, are crucial for creating truly equitable educational opportunities for all students.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Prophet Esa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary) Peace be upon him - Story and worksheets
Asalam alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu
Being December there is a lot of talk about Jesus and many children are hearing the christian story of Jesus in Schools.
I created worksheets to share the story of Prophet Esa (peace be upon him) as it is mentiond in the Qu'ran so that children can understand from the islamic perspective and not be confused.
As a guide I would say it is suitable for age 10+
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
How to structure a essay - Downloadable poster
How to structure a essay
Often KS3 (age 12 years+) students struggle when they are introduced to essay writing and don't know where to start or how structure them. Essay writing is an important skill and will be used in GCSEs and further academic studies.
I made this simple poster (downloadable) as a guide to help them get started. This is a good struture to follow whether you are writing at GCSE level or for a degree.The PEEL method is a technique used in essay writing to help structure paragraphs in a way that presents a clear point with evidence and a focused argument,which links back to the essay topic.
Here’s an example of what you might include in a PEEL structured paragraph:
Topic: Should whales be kept in captivity?
Thesis/argument: Animals should not be kept in captivity.
Point: Whales should not be kept in captivity as it can affect their mental and physical health not being in their natural environment with their families.
Evidence/Example: Many studies and statistics show that whales that are in captivity have a shorter lifespan compared to those who are in the wild.
Explanation: The are many reasons for this including that fact that whales need space; on average a whale can swim 40 miles a day. They also live in social group with some whales staying with mothers their whole lives.
Link: The evidence suggests that whales in captivity are being denied many important habits and needs that whales in the wild have. A pool made for a whale will never compare to the ocean and whales are being harmed and denied thier physical and mental rights being kept in captivity.
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Friday, July 28, 2023
Ayatul Kursi - notes from a lesson on the meaning and benefits
My Notes from lesson on the meaning of Ayatul-Kursi by Ustadh Hassan Somali
At masjid
Tawheed on 7th May 2023
In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower
of Mercy.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation, and may the
peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all
his Companions.
(All benefit is from Allah; any mistakes are from me)
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the
Sustainer of [all] existence.
Neither drowsiness overtakes
Him nor sleep.
To Him belongs whatever is
in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Who is it that can intercede
with Him except by His permission?
He knows what is [presently]
before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His
knowledge except for what He wills.
His Kursi extends over the
heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not.
And He is the Most High, the
Most Great.
Surah Baqarah: Ayah 255
Ayatul Kursi is an aqeedah; it
contains:
·
3 categories of Tawheed
·
5 names of Allah (Allah ٱللَّهُ, the eternal ٱلْحَىُّ, The Self-Subsisting ٱلْقَيُّومُ, the most high ٱلْعَلِىُّ, the great ٱلْعَظِيمُ.
·
20 attributes of Allah
It is advised to memorise
ayatul-Kursi 8 times a day
One after each of the salah (5)
Morning and evening athkar (2)
Before bed (1)
Narrated
Abu Umamah (RA):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever
recites Ayat al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death
will prevent him from entering Paradise."
[An-Nasa'i
reported it, and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic).
(book 2: hadith 324): Riyad as-Salihin 1020
Narrated
Abu Hurairah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Whoever recites Ha Mim Al-Mu'min - up to - To Him is the return (40:1-3)
and Ayat Al-Kursi when he reaches (gets up in) the morning, he will be
protected by them until the evening. And whoever recites them when he reaches
the evening, he will be protected by them until the morning."
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2879
In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 5
English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith
2879
Abu
Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put me in charge of
charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul- Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take
away some food-stuff. I caught him and said, "I must take you to the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "I am a needy man with a large
family, and so I have a pressing need." I let him go. When I saw the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) next morning, he asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What
did your captive do last night?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He
complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let
him go." He (ﷺ) said, "He told you a lie and he will return." I
was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he would
return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal food-stuff
from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; "I must take you to the Messenger
of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to
bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back." So I took pity
on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who asked
me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I replied,
"O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of
a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go." He (ﷺ) said,
"He told you a lie and he will return." (That man) came again to
steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said, "I must take you to the
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and this is the last of three times. You promised that
you would not come again but you did." He said, "Let go of me, I
shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you." I asked,
"What are those words?" He replied, "When you go to bed, recite
Ayat-ul- Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from
Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning." So I let
him go. Next morning the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your
prisoner do last night." I answered, "He promised to teach me some
words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go." The
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "What are those words that he taught
you?" I said, "He told me: 'When you go to bed, recite Ayat- ul-Kursi
from the beginning to the end i.e.,[ Allah! none has the right to be worshipped
but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.
Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the
heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him
except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in
this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never
compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi
encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue
Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great].' (2:255). He added: 'By reciting
it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you
during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until
morning'." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, he has told you
the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were
speaking for the last three nights?" I said, "No." He (ﷺ) said,
"He was Shaitan (Satan)."
[Al-Bukhari].
Riyad as-Salihin 1020
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 30
Breakdown of Ayah
1. Allah – there is no deity except Him
This is a blessed statement – those who live
and die on it will enter paradise. (La ilaha ilah – is why we have paradise and
hellfire). It separates believers and disbelievers.
2.
the
Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence
Allah being described as
ever-living – Allah is perfect – no deficiency. Deserves to be worshipped
alone. The sustainer – place tawakkul (trust) in him. Allah does not need our
worship, it is legislated for your benefit.
3. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor
sleep
Allah is not over taken by any
slumber or sleep – like us. As humans, we are weak.
4.
To Him belongs whatever is in the
heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Everything belongs to Allah – he
is the true king. Intelligence tells us not to get attached to the dunya.
5.
Who is it
that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
No one can do anything without the
permission of Allah. – This is a refutation to those who worship others than
Allah. (those who ask intercession.)
6. He knows what is [presently] before
them and what will be after them
7. and they encompass not a thing of
His knowledge except for what He wills.
Allah knows
everything – Al-Alim. He knows the past/ present and future. Nothing escapes
his knowledge. His creation grasps nothing of his knowledge – without his
permission. Knowledge that makes you arrogant is not beneficial. Arrogance is
when you look down upon people – the sin of iblis. May Allah protect us from
him.
8. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not
Kursi is related to the footstool. The kursi
literally: footstool is mawdi’ul qadamayn (place of the Feet) of Allaah,
Most Mighty and Most Majestic, and it is before the arsh like a front to
it.
The
greatest of al-Kursi is clearly stated in the hadeeth in which the Prophet (ﷺ),said:
“The
seven heavens and the seven earths by the side of al kursi us naught but as a
ring thrown down in a desert land, and such is al kursi with respect to al-arsh
(the throne)” [65]
And He is the Most High, the Most Great
Allah is above all the creation
Monday, July 10, 2023
Non-Fiction and Transactional Writing
Non-Fiction
and Transactional Writing
Non-fictions
are texts where the content deals with facts, the real world and opinion.
Transactional writing is non-fiction that aims to communicate information
between people.
Some
examples can be:
- · Letters
- · Articles
- · Speeches
- · Writing an argument
- · Leaflet/ guide
- · Report
- · Review
- · Autobiography
I like to start transactional writing in KS2, around 10 years. Many skills needed are used in everyday life, so building on those can help develop a good basis for English writing.
Apart from developing important skills, transactional writing is included in GCSE English Language.
It is important for each type of writing to think about your audience and the appropriate structure.
For example:
A leaflet may include sub-heading and then small pieces of information.
A Speech or article would have 3 main parts:
· introduction - introduces the topic,
· middle – allowing for more detail on the subject
· conclusion - which summarize the points made.
Below are some ideas for transactional writing (some are taken from past gcse papers).
The Leper, the bald and the blind man. - Story and questions -(Downloadable PDF)
The Leper, the bald and the blind man. The story is originally from Saheeh al- Bukharee: Kitab Ahadeeth al-Anbiyaa’ (3464) andSaheeh Musli...
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Asalam Alaykum wa Rahmatulahi Wa Baraku. Alhamdulilah we are nearing Ramadan. May Allah allow us to reach it and benefit from it. Please fi...
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My Notes from lesson on the meaning of Ayatul-Kursi by Ustadh Hassan Somali At masjid Tawheed on 7 th May 2023 In the name of Allah, ...
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I have been reflecting about the places I have been blessed enough to travel to. Growing up whenever I went away with my family or wit...