First Homeschool Year Review: Successes, Struggles, and Surprises 📅✨

Bismillah: As we reached the end of our first full year of homeschooling, it was time to reflect on the journey. We had experienced many successes, faced some struggles, and encountered unexpected surprises along the way. 🌟

Celebrating the Successes 🎉

• Deeper Understanding: One of the biggest successes was seeing how much deeper Syauqi, Nurin, and even little Hilwaa had grown in their understanding of the Quran. The flexibility of homeschooling allowed us to explore stories, concepts, and values at a pace that suited them, leading to a richer, more meaningful learning experience.
• Family Bonding: Homeschooling strengthened our family bonds. Learning together meant we spent more time as a family, and this closeness fostered a shared sense of purpose and joy in our educational journey. The kids loved their doodles, games, and stories, and these activities became cherished family traditions. 🎨🖍️
• Building Confidence: We also noticed how homeschooling boosted the children’s confidence. They felt comfortable asking questions, exploring ideas, and sharing what they learned, both within our family and with others. This confidence extended beyond their Quranic studies to other areas of their lives.

Facing the Struggles 📝

• Maintaining Consistency: One of our biggest challenges was maintaining a consistent schedule. Life with three young children is unpredictable, and there were days when lessons had to be shortened or postponed. We learned that flexibility was key, but we also recognized the need to develop more structure to ensure steady progress.
• Balancing Roles: As parents, balancing the roles of teacher, caregiver, and provider was sometimes overwhelming. We had to learn to take breaks, ask for help, and find ways to recharge so that we could give our best to our children.

Unexpected Surprises 🌟

• Creativity Blossomed: One pleasant surprise was how much creativity blossomed in our home. The children’s doodles became more detailed, their questions more profound, and their ideas more inventive. We found ourselves inspired by their creativity and motivated to continue nurturing it.
• Community Support: Another surprise was the support we received from our extended community. Friends, family, and even other homeschooling families reached out to share resources, offer encouragement, and connect over shared experiences. This sense of community reminded us that we were not alone in our journey.

Reflecting and Moving Forward with Iqrasaurus 🦖

Reflecting on our first year of homeschooling, we felt a deep sense of gratitude for the progress we had made and the lessons we had learned. This experience reaffirmed our commitment to the Integrate and Inspire pillars of Iqrasaurus. We were excited to continue building on these foundations, knowing that the journey ahead would bring new challenges and new opportunities for growth.

As Allah says in the Quran:

"So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning." (Surah Ghafir, 40:55) 🌟

This verse reminded us to be patient, to trust in Allah’s plan, and to continue seeking His guidance in our educational journey.

A Peek Into Our Conversations 🗨️

Syauqi: "Ummi, did we do a good job learning at home this year?"

Ummi Ziehan: "MashaAllah, you did an amazing job, Syauqi! We’ve learned so much together, and I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown."

Nurin: "I love drawing our Quran stories, Ummi! Can we do more next year?"

Daddy Ikram: "Absolutely, Nurin! We’ll keep learning, drawing, and discovering more about Allah’s beautiful world together."

End Note: Reflecting on our first year of homeschooling has shown us the value of patience, flexibility, and creativity. Join us next time as we discuss how we began to share our journey with other families and the start of our community outreach efforts. 🌟📚