Sorting and classifying
KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AT AL-IMAN SCHOOL
The Kindergarten program follows the Ministry of Education Curriculum Program and also has an Islamic Studies Program.
The Kindergarten Religious Program.
The goals of the program are to introduce the children to the Arabic alphabets, and to learn some du’as, the kalimahs, a few surahs, to begin to learn how to perform salaat, and to develop Islamic etiquette, adhab and knowledge.
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At the end of one year of classes (with regular attendance) the children should recognize all the Arabic alphabets, and be able to write them.
At the end of the second year (with regular attendance), the children should be able to know fatha, kasrah, dammah. Some of them will know all the tashkeel.
This is where reading skills come in. As children have more skill with reading English, then it will be easier for them to learn to read Arabic. There are many mental processes involved in reading – identifying the letter, the sound, identifying the next letter, sound, taskheel, and then trying to remember the first ones while joining the next sounds. This is where most of the time is taken with young children. Some can master it quickly, some will need more time.
There are three distinct times of the day for the Arabic/Islamic program. The Arabic (learning the alphabets) is for a half hour every day 9:30-10:00. During that time new alphabet letters are introduced, and the children review the former lessons. This is called binder time because the children are reading their lessons from the binders.
From 10:00-10:15 a.m. children write the Arabic alphabet of the day and colour a picture of an object that starts with that letter. This reinforces fine-motor skill acquisition.
The children memorize du’as and Kalimahs and surahs for a half hour daily. 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
The children perform Salaat from 1:30-1:50 each day. During that time, prayers are taught out loud so that the children will learn all the parts of the prayers. They do not master this in one year. During the first three months, they learn the etiquettes of prayers, how to sit and stand for prayers without playing, hitting each other, etc. Remember that many of them have never been required to perform prayers before, or they have never been in a group setting, and they are four year olds. Gradually they will learn all the parts of prayers. At this time there may be mini-lessons about the etiquettes of prayer, prayer positions, the value and importance of salaat, etc. or introduction of some other Islamic issue.
The Islamic program is interwoven into the curriculum during circle time through story time, or as a theme. There are three main themes that are covered each year. They are All About Me, Ramadan, and Hajj. When these major themes are being done, the whole daily program centers around these themes ie- language, math, science, arts and activities, etc. .Each of these themes usually last from two to three weeks.
The All About Me program is the most inclusive and deals with all sorts of topics such as Muslim names, Prophets(A) with those names, daily activities, dua’s before and after eating, waking, traveling, etc., Halaal and Haram, Basic Beliefs, Treatment of family members, treatment of elders, younger children, friends, sharing, being kind, etc.. This is usually begins in September and lasts for one month, although some aspects continue throughout the year. Many Islamic Storybooks are read during this program.
There are mini-themes, each usually lasting for about a week, dealing with topics, such as The Muslim Perspective on Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Valentines’ Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. The mini-themes are not taught all day – just for a short period of time daily. Since the children live in a North American climate, they must know the origins of these holidays, the Muslim Perspective on them, and strategies on how to handle these situations in a North American context.
There are some other Islamic mini-themes studied during the year. These mainly consist of Islamic author studies centering on books written by various Muslim writers.
Islamic Stories are alternated during the circle time with the theme stories so that the children have a balanced program. The same is done for poems and fingerplays with an Islamic theme.