hema

please sign

2007-06-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

ladies and gentleman, boys and girls and mishy.

there simply aren't enough signatures on this thing.

free babar ahmad petition
(British citizens only)

there are currently 3,369 signatures. if i was any good at maths, i'd work out how much of the British Muslim population that is. or maybe i don't want to work it out. maybe i would be too depressed.

it only takes a few minutes, the amount of time it will take you to read this post.let's do our bit to support the brothers and sisters who are working tirelessly to end the injustice we will all be held accountable for. may Allah reward you for your efforts.

and (continue to) make dua.

ask a stupid question....

2007-06-27T03:29:00.000-07:00

me: do you want to put that phone away so i can get on with the lesson?
the student: no

me: are you listening to me?
the student: what?

me: five minutes before the end of the lesson so, that's clear to everyone, right?
them: erm.. not really

me: are you sleeping in my lesson?
the student: silence

me: does anybody want to do some extra reading to help me decide which text to pick next year?
the students: silence

me: in the plenary can everyone write down five new things they've learnt today?
the student: what if we've not learnt anything?

me: do you want to try and teach this yourself?
the student: shrugs shoulders ok (and did a better job)

me: do you want to stay behind with me at the end of the lesson?
the student: i wouldn't mind that much (for the benefit of his freinds)

me: don't you think the cleaners have better things to do than clean up after you?
the student: not really,that is what they're paid for

me: what do you mean, you're dropping English and picking up Sociology?
the student: i mean, i'm dropping English and picking up Sociology

friendship.....

2007-06-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

.....with the opposite gender:

is it ever possible?

lasagna recipe

2007-06-23T19:53:00.000-07:00

it's been a busy day. my sister in law's family came round, which is always fun. everyone except her sister in law that is, please make a special dua for her mother who isn't feeling well:(

i made lasange, so thought i'd put up the recipe. i'll leave it up to my friends to tell you if it tastes any good (hint hint!) or if it isn't worth making, i'm sure they'll let you know too.

ingredients

1 pound of mince meat
10 tomatoes
3 peppers
1 packet button mushrooms
1 handful of frozen sweetcorn
1 spring onion
3 large onions
2 whole garlics
lasagna sheets
i medium block of mild cheddar cheese (grated)

method

place the minced in a pan with 1 diced onion, and 1 whole garlic (crushed). place the 10 tomatoes in a bowl, and pour boiling water on top of them. when the water has cooled down, drain and peel the skin off the tomatoes (it should come off really easily) then squash all the tomatoes using your hands (or you can just used tinned tomatoes). when the mince meat is cooked, add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then add 3/4 of the squahsed tomatoes, along with 1 oxo cube, and salt and pepper to taste. also add two button mushrooms, finely chopped. leave to simmer for about 15 mins then take off the heat.

next, fry 1 chopped onion and some crushed garlic in a pan with a little oil. Then add the rest of the tomotos, along with an oxo cube and salt and pepper. dice the spring onions and peppers and add to the pan. when they have softened, add the mushrooms (sliced) and the sweetcorn.when all the vegetables are soft, take off the heat.

spread the vegetables in an even layer at the bottom of a flat, ovenproof casserole dish. then overlap the lasagne sheets on top of the vegetables. then spread the mince meat mixture on top of the lasagne sheets, and cover the mince meat with another layer of lasagna sheets. next make the cheese sauce.

to make the cheese sauce:

melt 60g of butter in a frying pan, then add two heaped tablespoons of plain flour. blend the butter and flour together for about 2 mins until smooth. then add 250 ml of milk. stir the mixture until the milk thickens, then take off the heat. add 60 grams (about 3 handfuls) of grated cheese to the mixture, some chopped coriander and some pepper. spread the cheese sauce on top of the lasagne sheets, then sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese on top, with some corrainder if you like.

bake in the over for 30 - 45 minutes on gas mark 5.

i made biriyani too. i added the picture on the recipe i posted previously.

my sister made these!!

and fruit crumble

so there was lots of yummy food but it aa-ll went into my tummy:)
i'll put the chocolate cheesecake recipe up when we make it next so i can take a picture.
don't hold your breath though, everyone is on a diet lately.
plus, i'm a bit worried no one will come to visit me for my food, if all the recipes are up on here:(

random picture of my shoes!

2007-06-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

to prove my feet are just as big as organic's!

stop spending, start saving

2007-06-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

i'm drowning!

i really think i should be learning how to swim. does anyone want to join me?
the problem is i don't want to join a womens only group, with pretend segregation, i want a Muslim only group with some real segregation.
actually what i really want is a bug huge swimming pool just for me and noone else. it can't be that expensive, surely.

whilst i'm wishing, i also want a big huge tropical fish tank like this one.

aren't fish just the most amazing thing ever? but those things are so--o expensive.
and there's me thinking i''m not high manitenance! guess i was wrong

i think i better start saving.

annotating poems

2007-06-21T03:51:00.000-07:00

i tried this activity this week and it worked really well. it's quite simple really, you just get the students to annotate a poem using different colours and fonts. they can work on it independently, and it gets them to react to the poem if they think they don't have an opinion on it. you can then get them to write about their choices and this will naturally lead to a discussion and analysis of the poem.
you can then laminate the best poems and use them as wall displays. hhm that's what i could be doing at the moment, working on my wall displays. i wish i was more artsy and creative:(

anyway, here (1, 2, 3 )are some of the poems that the students produced, in my order of preference. feel free to help me judge them though, i'm always so biased and let my opinion of the student get in the way!

oddimalities

2007-06-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

i was planning to spend some time today posting some teaching ideas (i know that section is being neglected at the moment) but memes are much more fun, so i'm doing snowdrop's tag instead! so, here are my odd points.

1- i have a phobia of numbers and do not like maths. this is odd because everyone in my family is so good at maths, especially mental maths. i even use my calculator to add 1, just to make sure. i'm not kidding either.

2- my mum thinks i'm the loudest person ever, and is always complaining that i don't need to shout. that's not going to sound odd to a lot of people actually, just those who think i'm super quiet!

3- i strongly suspect i need to visit the opticians, as well as the dentist and i should probably throw in a visit to my GP as well (do i actually have one?) but i absolutely refuse to go. i just don't trust them, and i'm sure some GPs just hand out drugs to keep their patients quiet. this is odd because a lot of people seem to trust doctors etc unquestionably, but not me.

4- i really want a deep, husky voice. most women who have deep voices don't seem to like it but i would swap with my high pitched whiny voice any day.

5- i really like dark skin on asians as it looks rather suave. this may seem odd to some people who automatically associate pale skin with beauty, a concept which has always seemed quite bizarre to me.

that's all the "new" stuff i can think of at the moment. i think i've done something similar to this before. anyway, i tag sheila (rosache) and just a temporary measure.

is it important?

2007-06-18T02:58:00.000-07:00

English, or "world Englishes" as it it sometimes known because there are so many different varieties spoken throughout the world, is now the second most widely used language in the world (mandarin is the first). so as the world aspires to speak English, does that mean other languages are not as important?

i think Britain must be one of the only places in the world where the majority of children can't speak more than one language, and as it is no longer compulsory to take a language to GCSE level, the situation can only get worse.

but what if you've grown up bilingual and have always spoken another language alongside English, whether that is urdu, punjabi, bangla, arabic or any other language? is it important to you? would you want to pass it down to your children or do you think it's insignificant, as English is your language now, or you would prefer to teach them arabic, the language of the Qur'an, and think another language on top of that would just get in the way?

because that's what i'm seeing with the third generation of children now. whether it's unintentional or done on purpose, they are finding it impossible to communicate with their grandparents.

and i think it's rather sad.

i think it's important to try and preserve a language, not necessarily for religious reasons, or because it's an important language, but because it's part of your heritage and part of who you are. there are many theories around that language is part of your culture and identity (here's one)and i think that makes sense because the language you use shapes how you "think" and how you see the world.

ok, some people might be thinking "um but you don't speak a word of urdu" which is true (i've got a few phrases i use though but only ever write them down and never say them!), and my mirpuri.. well let's just say my parents understand me, but have to "translate" to make it comprehensible to anyone else!
but i'm trying though, and i will make the effort when speaking to elders, even if it makes me feel uncomfortable.

so, what do you think? should we let these home languages die with us and focus solely on english and arabic, or is it important to pass them on?

poetry for my blogging friends

2007-06-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

i was recently reminded of the power words can have. it was silly of me to forget really, as i have seen for myself how genuine, sincere words can mean more than any grand gestures.
so, i am going to eventually write a poem for all of you guys to show you how much you mean to me. and i pray it it brightens your day and shows you all how much you mean to me.
here's the first one.

english class, the very first day
the teacher asked "on a desert island, what five things would you take?"
she answered "my prayer mat" straight away
and i thought this is the kind of friend i want to make

so much has changed since then
the years have gone by so fast
our friendship will be trialled again and again
yet i know it will always last

farzana, with her eyes like a cat
and the kind of beauty you just can't hide
but don't let the outer beauty distract
from the true beauty inside

for she will drop everything if only you ask
and would gladly give you everything she owns
she will help you out in any task
and is nothing but goodness to her very bones

zana, one of the first people i go to whenever things get bad
and when she's in need i want to help her cope
her way with words has won her many a friend, including my grandad!
and with her as your friend, you will never give up hope

a new website

2007-06-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

A new Islamic site has just opened! It's a non-profit E-Translation Publishing House which has translated over 300 lectures of Amr Khaled's and is working on more translations from a range of scholars. You can also publish your own writings on this portal. A must see to access information on Islam. The site is: http://www.daralislaamlive.com

i have just spent the morning on this site and love it. please take the time to check it out, and if you like what you see, help to spread the word.

random waffling (again)

2007-06-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

i've been inundated with work since my last post saying work is laid back, which i guess deserves me right! i've spent the last week doing a data destination check, which would have been fine except i have to include students who dropped out right at the start of the year, and i can't even remember what they look like! so, i had to do a lot of phoning around, and some people did not want to talk to me. i mean, how hard a question is it, "what do you have planned for next year?" there's no need to be rude about it.
although i think i am just as bad when i'm on the receiving end. i must be the most annoying person to speak to when someone is trying to sell me something. i only answer with "yes" or "no".
"would you like to upgrade your phone"
"no"

"are you happy with the one you have"
"yes"

"what's your name?"
"erm..no"

it works every time. you can't hold a conversation with someone that breaks the rules of conversation, it's impossible. i think i would get very frustrated working in a call centre. i should try to be nicer.

i've also had to update the prospectus. the A Levels as we know it are changing in 2008. at least it got me to read the new syllabus. the main difference is two modules per year instead of three, which would be ok but i've just got used to this one, why does it have to change?? most of the department have figured out they will will be retiring by 2008 so haven't bothered, so had to do a lot of the work for it myself, along with one other colleague. i suppose i would feel the same way if i was them.

ok, i'm done with the complaining! at least the weather is miserable today (only i would use that sentence in a positive way) and i won't keep getting asked if we can have classes on the grass "like we did in maths". why would i voluntarily teach with the creepy crawlies?
the AS students are back. it's a relief to be back in the classroom again. i was reminded why i would hate to have an office job seeing the same faces every day.
i think i will scare them by going through all the work for next year, and then we are playing countdown with scrabble letters- it works, and one has to improvise when there are no interatcive whiteboards available (poor me). it's also a good way to offload all the junk in my office, which is being replaced with healthy stuff this week.

oh, found something else to complain about. my wisdom tooth is starting to hurt. does this mean i have to go to the dentist, as all dentists are evil. i haven't been in yeee--aarrs.

when it's hot..

2007-06-12T03:33:00.000-07:00

i do not like it when it's hot. people do crazy things when it's hot. i'm glad it's not hot today like it was hot yesterday. my duas seem to have worked.

i'm considering hibernating until it's time for the big woolly scarves and thick coats to come out again.

i'm not saying everyone should cover up during the summer. people can wear what they want. "it's a free country" after all, but are people wearing less because they want to or because they are being pressurised to?

like there is a student who has really bad acne so came in wearing a long sleeved top. one of her friends commented "gosh, aren't you hot in that thing?" yes, of course she is hot in that thing, she doesn't need you to remind her she's hot in that thing, maybe she just thinks being hot in that thing is better than the alternative of not wearing that thing!

i don't think i am the only one who does not look forward to summer. most people do not like their bodies, because they are being forced to compare them with unrealistic size zero supermodel images. they will diet and make themselves miserable before they dare to allow their bodies to be scrutinised by others.

one of "my" boys was sent to me yesterday by the learning mentor for upsetting a girl in the study area. when i asked what he said it was something along the lines of not wanting to see "all her stomachs".

so, you're encouraged to undress when you're young and thin, but people actively try and force you to cover if you're older or not the "right" size?
it just feels like double standards to me.

ai'shah bint Abu Bakr

2007-06-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

i'm not sure whether she is going to mention these in her notes, as i think it was slightly off topic, not that i was complaining, so thought i'd briefly mention the points covered on aai'shah radilallaahu 'anhaa here, as i don't want to miss an opportunity to talk about the beloved wife of the Prophet sallalhu alayhi wasalam.
all of these notes are based on the material covered in the talk. feel free to add to them, or clarify/correct issues, especially if you attended the talk.

oh and the "she" i rather rudely referred to is of course saabirah, covering the notes from the adab al mufrad classes here

Aai'shah bint Abu Bakr was born into the house of the greatest man after the Prophet (saw), and then lived with the Prophet(saw) himself for ten years. she then spent the next fifty years of her life in the company of the greatest men of the ummah. so from a very young age she was surrounded by knowledge. this is one of the reasons she is known as the most knowledgeable of women. some of the most personal matters of the deen are narrated through her, due to her relationship with the prophet (saw)

she is the only wife of the Prophet (saw) who had not been married before. it is narrated that the angel Jibraeel revealed the Prophet's (saw) marriage to aai'shah (ra)in a dream. this is something that she (ra) was very proud of and liked to remind the other wives about, which shows that jealousy is allowed, with reasonable boundaries. many of the hadith reveal her sense of humour and her natural jealousy of khadija (ra), the first wife of the Prophet (saw).

every single characteristic of a Muslim women can be found in her, as she was modest, but understood the difference between men and women, but also had knowledge and implemented it
it should be noted that she is a role model for Muslim men as well as women
especially those that do not let their women learn.

it is narrated that amr bin al-a'as asked the Prophet (saw) "who is is the most beloved person to you?" to which he replied "Aa'isha". he then asked, "and after that?" to which he replied her father.

her status in the Prophet's (saw) eyes is made clear when he sought permission from all of his (saw) wives to spend his last days with her.
he (saw) died in her lap. she (ra) was the last person to see him before he passed way.

woops

2007-06-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

for those that don't know me, or don't know me well, you should know i'm known to be ...a little dopey, well ok a lot dopey. i will try and cross the road with cars coming at me from both sides, i will walk past people on the street by accident and i think i may have invented the 90 point turn!

but this week, i think i may have surpassed myself in how dopey i have been!! here are a couple of examples to illustrate my point:

1) pasta disaster- you know when you want to add some salt and chillies and can't be bothered getting a spoon to measure it, so just tip some out from the jar? no, is that just me? well, i am punished for my laziness every time i try this. i tipped some chilli powder into the pot, and half the jar fell out! i managed to get rid of most of it, but it was too hot to do it properly, so to compensate i thought i'd add two spoons of sugar. it didn't work. i had to drop most it off to my uncle's, as they can handle their spices better than us.

2) keys seize- when i was going to drop the pasta to my uncles, my dad said to take my sister's car, so he can do some checks on mine. so i grabbed my sister's keys and then out of habit just walked to where my car was parked and tried to start my car. i must have sat there for about five minutes wondering why my keys had stopped working before i finally realised.

you have my permission to make fun of my stupidity or you can share your stories to make me feel better! just please don't mention the time i tried to hold a conversation with a recorded message, or when i tried to pause the radio in a panic when receiving an important phone call. they were years ago, i should be allowed to forget them by now!

woohoo!

2007-06-05T05:02:00.000-07:00

i love being mmmmmeeeeeee-------eeeeeeeeeeeeeee. alhamdulillah for the blessings i have.
i'm just in a good mood!

i love my family and how cute my parents are bickering with each other over silly little things because they are bored and have nothing else to do. now my grandparents and uncles have moved out.

i love my friends. seriosuly i really do. i love how even if i don't see one of them in ages we can pick up where we left off and it's the same as it always was.
i love the way there are no "politics" involved in my friendships. for example i can buy someone a present and i know they don't think " oh i have to buy them something better back now"- the way our parents generation perhaps would.
i love my blogging freinds the mo--ost! i love the way it is keeping me in touch with people who live in other countries, sometimes i "speak" to them more than my firends that live accross the street!

i love work at the moment, becasue it's so quiet and calm. might have something to do with the fact that there are no students!! it's a well deserved time of year compared to how hectic it is at the start when you don't know the students and there are so-o many nameless faces!

ok i'll stop now before you think i've taken some sort of happy pill or you're getting annoyed at me because you're not in such a happy mood!!

talking about nothing much

2007-06-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

i'm at work and i'm bo--red. the students are on study leave and are supposed to come to see me if they want last minute revision tips for their exam tomorrow, but the ones i've seen are more concerned about their Maths exam today.

i should get on with some paper work and i have done some actually. i've looked through portfolios for communications and animal care. portfolios are so frustrating, everything has to be perfect and in the right order. i got one sent back because it had the wrong date on so i had to print off the work again and alter the date.it's such a pain. i've got the IT ones left to do, but i'm scared to even start and i need something to do for the rest of the week!

at least i'm not invigilating today. i didn't used to mind invigilating, as it was rather fun seeing the usual fashion obsessed teens wearing mismatched clothes because they were too worried about their exam to care. but now i get really frustrated when i see them sitting there doing nothing, instead of answering the questions, or worse- doodling on the page. don't they know how much it annoys the examiners when they see that?? it shows you haven't answered the question properly if you have time to do that and it shows your not taking the exam seriously.

as you can see i've got no students to nag so i'm taking it out on you guys instead. one of my students just came to see me, but she's going to get an A anyway i don't know why she bothered (she's my favourite student)

anyway, i should make a start on cleaning my desk, i suppose. i share my office with two men over 50 and they are so--o clean and tidy! i don't know how they do it. i just dump extra worksheets and resources on my desk after the lesson, and don't want to throw them away in case the absent students ask for them, and the paper just tends to accumulate. and they do all the washing up and dusting. they also never eat junk! i feel guilty for bringing in biscuits when all they bring in is homegrown apples and tomatoes.
oh well, i've decided to start eating healthier anyway. well actually i decided months ago but this time i mean it! i'm going to start with small easy things and share them through my "healthy eating tips" which i will try to update regularly.
does anyone like my translation feature. probably don't have any readers from any of those countries but i just really like the way my page looks in Chinese!

anyway got two more students. that desrves me right for wishing they'll come!

chain pain

2007-06-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

i hope noone reading takes this personally as it's something which has been bugging me for years and years, and not related to recent examples, although i did receive a text today which prompted me to write this post. it reads:

"laa ilahha illallaho mauhammadur rasulullah. ye msg 9 logo ko bhejo to aaj raat 1 good news milegi. ye madina se shuru hua hai isko nazar andaaz mat karna"

roughly translated: "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad peace be upon him is His Messenger. send this message to 9 people and tonight you will receive one piece of good news. this has started in madina so do not ignore it"

i'm sure you can think of your own variation of this, but the basic message is that you don't pass the message on you will be rewarded or punished in some way.

i am asking this as a serious question, so please do not be shy in responding. if you're someone who sends these messages on, please explain to me why?? there are too many examples of people that do send them on, so there must be some good reason that i'm missing.

chain emails/ texts are huge problems for everyone, but when it comes to Islamic stuff i don't think people should be sending these things on under the misguided belief that they are obligated to do so. or maybe i'm the one that is misguided ? maybe the reasoning is that it is better to send them on just in case. after all, it's not doing anyone any harm. but actually i think that that it is, as the only way these things survive is if people pass them on.

i sometimes read the most beautiful and thought provoking stuff, only to have my mood dampened at the end by a message like- send this on to all your contacts or you will be struck by lightening/ be unhappy for the rest of your life/ will lose your favourite brooch (or you know whatever).
if i want to send it on, i always remove this part of the message. someone must have a very inflated ego to want to create something like this just to see it be passed around.

but i'm wondering, do people really send this stuff out because they're scared of Allah's punishment? do we feel the same fear when we read a hadith like this one:

The Prophet Muhammad (Sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "That which distinguishes us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our commitment to Prayer. He who gives it up falls into disbelief."

or this one:

The Prophet Muhammad (Sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) said, "The worst among people is one who commits theft in prayer. They said: Allah's Messenger, how does one commit theft in one's prayer? He said: When he does not observe ruku' and sujud perfectly well."

just something to ponder on, that's all. it's easy to click forward and then breath a huge sigh of relief and your conscience is eased.
this is a general message to all readers, so please treat is as such and not a personal attack on anyone who sends these messages on. only Allah knows what's on each person's heart. that's one of the reasons i'm asking. is it something you feel strongly about either way, and if so why?

on Islamic Schools

2007-05-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

would you send/are you sending your children to an Islamic School, and if so why?
and do you think that qualified Muslim teachers have a duty to work in said Schools, or is better for them to integrate into a mixed environment?

these are just two of the questions i have been thinking about recently, and actually right from the start of my teaching career. it would be interesting to see the range of responses i may receive and i'd rather open this up as a dialogue then go into detail about my views, but i will explain why a)i don't teach in an Islamic School at the moment and b)why i would seriously consider sending my children to an Islamic School.

a) i actually did consider teaching in an Islamic School at one point, but knew i wouldn't be able to do it. from what i know (and i have very limited knowledge of Islamic schools so feel free to correct me if i'm wrong) there are limited resources and training opportunities. of course, the reason for this is poor funding, but as a teacher it would have frustrated me knowing i couldn't teach my kids properly because i didn't have access to a projector, for example. and it would have been frustrating if the teachers i worked with didn't believe in the things i have come to associate with a good lesson- objective led learning, the four part lesson plan, assessment for learning and incorporating different learning styles to name a few (maybe i've just been brainwashed by my teacher training!).

also, i like working with the non Muslim kids and just interacting with them on a daily basis i can see i am making a difference, you know? they ask me things they would feel reluctant to ask Muslims ("if a woman is covering her face, does that mean she doesn't want me to chat her up?").

of course, i can understand why teachers do teach in Islamic Schools in terms of wanting to work in a segregated environment and this is very noble and i admire that, but at the end of the day if you've not been trained properly, maybe you are doing more damage that way, if the children are not getting the education they deserve?
the only way around this is for Muslim teachers to train in the secular environment (which in the UK means at least one year in a state School) so if you don't believe in working in a mixed environment, you wouldn't be able to do that anyway.

and actually, in the UK, i've noticed that some Schools are making it compulsory for all teachers to be qualified, which is a good thing for the children and for the Schools, but i'm thinking once people have gone to the effort to be qualified, would they go back to working in a Muslim Schools, when the pay and the conditions of service are better in state schools? i know that may sound selfish, but training to be a teacher is hard! the PGCE is just a year of intense scrutiny, rigorous observations and stressful research. i don't think money and promotions are everything, but the difference between a qualified and unqualified teacher should be recognised.

things are changing though, especially in the UK (maybe not so much in other countries?) and there are already a handful of good Islamic Schools around,. i can think of one in Manchester, for example. so maybe i will inshAllah get to work in a good Islamic school one day. at the moment though, it would be the fastest way to limit my career prospects. i know that's not everything, though. for one thing, i feel guilty as i know Muslim parents are spending their hard earned money on sending their children to these Schools, and i may have a duty i'm neglecting to ensure these parents are getting what they paid for. a solution to this would be if i opted to work in an Islamic School one day a week, perhaps. i looked into it this year and then didn't pursue it, but maybe next year.

b) i'll try to keep this short, like i promised, as i no doubt will elaborate in the comments section anyway, but i don't want to send MY children to a state School.

actually a lot of the reasons for this have nothing to do with religion. for one thing, i think children are tested so much in Schools today it's disheartening. and it's especially sad when the testing is not for the benefit of the children. the year 9 SATS for example are sole designed to test the School, there is no other function of them whatsoever. a private School can opt out of doing them.

another big big thing for me is the peer pressure. i know it is important that children interact with different cultures, but they can do that in their own time. and i know i said dialogue is important, at the end of the day every parent will do the right thing by their child and it is a personal choice i would make.

if i was to send my child to an Islamic School, however, i would do my research, and i'm hoping things will have improved by the time i actually have children inshAllah. if not, there are other avenues i'm thinking about, grammar Schools, home schooling and Schools abroad to name a few.

to sum up then, although i have said i do not think i would want to teach in an Islamic School at the moment, this does not mean i am opposed to them. parents should have the right to choose. and i don't see what's wrong with state funded Islamic Schools. at the end of the day, it's no different to having state funded Catholic Schools (and noone seems to be contesting these). it is not even that all the children and staff have to be Muslim, just that the rules are on Muslim terms. for example, dressing modestly (which doesn't necessarily have to mean hijaab for non Muslims) more segregation (and separate girl and boys Schools exist anyway and there seems to be no problems with that) and no Christmas Assemblies in state Schools where 99 % of the children are Muslim anyway!

this post was inspired by 'Liya's thought provoking post on Islamic Schooling

the "f" word

2007-05-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

i have been studying Henrik Ibsen's a Doll's House with my students and someone commented "oh no not another feminist text". seriously they hate it. i'm going to have to change the text next year (to shakespeare i think. i'm just really lazy, i spent ages doing the resources for this play!) because bringing the "f" word ie feminism into a discussion always meets with sceptism and groans from most classes, girls and boys alike.

i think the image they have is the streotypical image of raving men-haters wanting to disclaim their femininity.

but it's got me thinking about the whole issue of womens' rights and what it means.

i see a lot of women doing blaming their own emotions on the fact that they are women "i'm feeling emotional, its that time" and this is perfectly acceptable and normal,
but when men do it, it's seen as wrong.

iv not been following the latest craze that is The Apprentice, but someone was really laying into Tray? (what a name) accusing him of being a mysoginist. again i don't watch it and don't know the guy so can't comment, but all he seems to be saying is women are more emotional or "it must be that time of the month" right? so why is it different if a man says it?

i'm asking- i know it is different and i can feel the difference. i got annoyed when someone said to me recently " you're not one of those modern types who hates to live with inlaws are you" (erm ..it depends!)

i know and can accept women are more emotional then men (i mean most women. i'm not, in fact sometime i just pretend to be so i don't feel left out!)
that's one of the reasons why women aren't allowed to divorce men as easily, and one of the reasons why two women witnesses are needed for every male in certain imporant cirumstances.

so, for the people who think feminism is a dirty word and separate from Islam, i don't think it is. we are, after all, talking about a religion which gave women crucial rights at a time when women were seen as evil.

kher.. i guess it depends on your definition of feminism and what you deem to be womens' rights?

under cover

2007-05-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

how important is it to "cover" and what does it mean to do so?

personally, i have an issue with the phrases - "she is covered/ she needs to cover" and cringe every time i hear them used, especially to describe Muslimahs. just because she isn't covering her hair/ face, it does not mean she is not covered.
there is a huge difference between people who deliberately dress provocatively, and those who wear modest clothing but choose not to/ are not yet covering their hair or face, and i just think this difference should be noted.

and as a matter of fact, there are some women who are managing to "cover" better without covering their hair. i'm sure you all know what i mean, so won't bother going into too much detail, especially seen as there is an interesting discussion about it on unique's blog, (warning: pretty girl alert on the post for any brother's wanting to save their eyes. hey they could still exist!) but i'm not judging anyone here, especially as i was one of those people that started off wearing "hijaab" with my neck and earings exposed, but let's not delve into that phase too much (please!)

a student the other week suddenly whipped off her hijaab, brushed her hair and then put it back on again for some random reason during the class! i had to bite my tongue, as i didn't want to embarass her, but talked to her after the class, and she said "oh it was just the guys though, it's not as if my dad was here or anything!"
(weird Pakistani mentality- you should wear your headscarf in front of elders, even if they're mahram, as a sign of respect).

it just made me think. wearing the hijaab (as in headscarf) is so much more common here now then when i started doing it, but do people really understand why they are doing it? because it's a dangerous game to force/ pressurise women to do it for the wrong reasons.

on the one hand i do recognise that it is our duty to advocate what we belive to be right, and in partiular some fathers/ husbands want to ensure that their daughters/wives are obeying the Laws, but at the end of the day, it is a personal choice that a woman makes, and she needs to do it if/when the time is right for her. i see people trying to force/pressurise women to wear hijaab more than they encourage prayer, charity, fasting etc. surely this issue can't be more important than the fundamental pillars?

i'm not saying wearing hijaab should not be encouraged. it makes sense to me on so many levels. and, with the niqaab i would never say "never" as there is something very attractive and liberating about walking down the street feeling completely invisible.

i'm just saying i think we need to stop judging a person's piety levels on how much of their body they choose to cover. i'ts disheartening when i hear muslim women looking down on their sisters, with phrases like "she deson't even cover so what right does she have to tell me about Islam". there are other things that are more important than outward appearance. isn't there?

polygny

2007-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

A potentially hazardous topic, and I’ve been debating about whether to post about it, as I usually avoid confrontation at all costs. But I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, because it has come up in a few conversations I’ve had with various people, who have various different views on it, which in turn has forced me to address my views on it.
Warning: my views are going to seem naïve and simplistic to many, and perhaps they are. But I have been doing my research, and in particular have been reading this blog. there are many more I could link to, but I like this one because it is honest and it has got me thinking about my views on the said topic. I mean on a personal level of course, the status of polygny in Islam is not being called into question. In the end, it is allowed in Islam today, just like it was at the time of the prophet, peace be upon him. I can understand why people are against it and wouldn’t want to practice it, but I don’t really see what the big deal is, if it is practices properly it can even be an advantage for the woman.
The main benefit I can see is quite simply more time. sometimes time apart is a good thing. You have more time to do things you did before, spend time with friends etc. and it would stop you from becoming too attached to your husband, I think, which can often be a dangerous thing.
I’m going to update this soon when I have more time, as I have some more “justifications” for my arguments. I know people are going to have strong views on this, and I’m just waiting for someone to say “just wait until you’re married..” .
But I just wanted to put the topic out there, and in particular discuss two things that I’m still wondering about.
Firstly, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the consent of the first wife is not needed. In fact, the husband does not even need to let his first wife know if he gets married. This seems to be the biggest cause of anxiety and distress for the 1st wife. the only way of preventing your husband from getting married again is by stipulating that you don’t want him to in the marriage contract (does anyone actually do that?) so, if you don’t do that, and your husband does marry again, do you have the right to divorce him?
another argument against polygny is that it doesn’t fit into western society and is outdated, but I’m worried about this idea as it can be applied to a lot of things in Islam. Are we being conditioned and influenced by western notions about what is acceptable and right?
As I said, I want to add more to this but it depends. I just think polygny is something we need to accept more, so that people aren’t made to feel bad about wanting to do something that is halal at the end of the day, providing the relevant conditions are met of course.

mars vs thorntons

2007-05-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

i'm rather disappointed in them for caving in so easily actually. i was rather looking forward to justifying my new found obsession with thorntons.

*UPDATE

click here for important information on when the products will be suitbale for vegetarians ( check the sell by dates) and which products were never suitable (ie bounty, twix and celebrations)

adab

2007-05-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

i've been neglecting this despite requests to put it on, and i know i've been using this blog mainly to waffle on about teacher stuff (why can't teachers switch off even in their free time?)
this one is all about the etiquette of entering your own house, and the houses of others. it was interesting to hear about the ettiquettes of being a guest, as the focus usually seems to be on how to treat guests.

anyhow, here are the notes.

When you enter your own house or leave, do not push the door violently or leave it to close by itself. Rather close it with gentleness, calmness and composure, as a muslim should be gentle with everything h/she does ( i think slamming the door in a tantrum would also come under this:) )

When entering your own home, make your entrance known eg by coughing or tapping your shoes so that you do not startle or frighten anyone (oh that's why people do that!)If returning from a long journey, give plenty of notice.

Seek permission before entering every room (even in your own house!) To avoid seeing someone in a situation which would embarrass them.

When knocking on someone else's door, do so gently. Remember it is not necessary for them to open the door.
Stand to one side. And do not look through the letterbox. Don’t be insulted if they do not answer the door and do not arrive at someone’s house unexpectedly.
Use your commnon name to identify yourself if asked.
Ettiqutee of phoning someone- Identify yourself (unless it is someone you phone regularly and your number is stored) and if a prior arrangement hasn’t been made to phone, always ask if they are free to talk- make it easy for them to say no.

Etiquette of conduct towards other muslims

Suspicion is haram and one should always think the best of other muslims (70 excuses..)
Do not backbite or talk about other peoples’ sins.
Don’t hang around public areas, eg after visiting the mosque as you may be disturbing people and restricting access to their homes.

just as a side note, it is really realy sad to see muslims fighting and arguing with each other, especially in public. and is it just me, or shouldn't the same rules apply to blogs/forums? there are too many examples of people having blog fights, leaving nasty comments (usually annonymously. sigh. i mean, if you don't like the blog, just don't read it! or, email the person if you have any issues. double sigh. (and rant over)

to remind you then, these posts are based on notes from a fantastic talk i attended on adab (manners) in Islam by mufti Muhammad ibn Adam al kathwari. there is another course on soon (i've just realised it might be this saturday!) there is a sister doing a much much (much much) better job than me at summarising the notes here so please take a lot (for one thing there are no annoying side comments like there are in mine!)

girls and boys

2007-05-15T10:18:00.000-07:00

without a shred of a doubt, boys are easier to deal with and understand, especially when it comes to behaviour management. here's why:

GIRLS:

i have this student that hates me. this usually doesn't bother me, as it is not always a good thing if the students like you, as it is often for the wrong reasons (eg i like you, you're so laid back, i like you, you always let us go early etc) but this student hates me for very personal reasons, and i'm not used to it. i'm used to falling out with students (and them falling out with me) but for work related reasons, eg missing lessons etc but this student isn't a bad student and i know she behaves in other lessons.
a few weeks back i sent her out of a lesson for saying something a li--ttle inappropriate. i had turned around to write something on the board, and when i turned back, i found she was on the phone (!!??))
me: Beth, put the phone away.
beth: (loudly) ok, i'm going to have to go, my b*** of a teacher is making me get off the phone.
so i very calmly told her to leave my classroom and not to come back until i'd spoken to her form tutor.
i had a meeting with her form tutor, who was surprised and said she was usually a nice quiet student (??). when asked what the problem was, it became a little clearer why she was treating me that way.
she said "this is probably going to get me into trouble, but i don't see why i should be taught by her anyway, she probably wasn't born in this country".
luckily, the college is very supportive of things like this, and told me i didn't have to have her back in my class and could just set her the work to do, but that isn't dealing with the problem so i let her back. she has been sitting at the back of her class with a scowl on her face refusing to talk to me unless pushed. she directs all her enquiries through the support staff, which is actually rather funny.
on Monday she came in and had done all the work and asked to be signed off. (the course isn't GCSE or A Level, it's actually a level one literacy course designed for people who achieved E or below in GCSE English) there is no exam, so i can sign her off as soon as she has done the work, which i did. i think she had done the work outside the class, just so she didn't have to come back. anyway, i wished her good luck for the future and we had a pleasant-ish conversation, but she couldn't wait to get out of the classroom! quite sad really, i just wanted to have one good lesson with this student and leave a lasting impression that was more positive. maybe i did, but i doubt it.

BOYS:

all you have to do to win the respect of your boys is have a nice car, it's as simple as that! i'm only half joking, my poor little car puts up with so much abuse every day :(

seriously though, i have a lot of boys that misbehave but at least they are not vindictive with it. i'd hate to teach in a school full of girls, i can just imagine how hard that would be..

salatul-istikhaara

2007-05-13T06:33:00.000-07:00

yesterday was just an ordinary saturday, you know lounging around the house and then it got busy with lots of guests (in the way that only pakistanis know how!) and so barely had time to breathe!

and then...

at night, i had a conversation which touched me and made me remember something. you know one of those conversation which you know will stay with you because of how powerful it was?

i had the pleasure of telling a sister about the istikhaara prayer.before i carry on, i just wanted to talk about what it made me remember- my first experience of feeling at an utter loss and not knowing which direction my life would take.

i was 17 at the time and working hard at college to get the grades i needed to study Law at university. i had always been sure i wanted to do Law, encouraged by my teachers and parents who wanted me to do something great and deserving of the work i put into my studies (yes i was always a little nerd!)

and then one of my closest and dearest friends, who i respect a lot, told me that perhaps Law wasn't for me, and i would be suited to something else (i can't remember if she actually suggested teaching or not) at first i denied it and insisted law was for me and that was what i wanted to do

but gradually i started to think about teaching, and made some tentative enquires, and really liked the idea, but decided i wasn't cut out for teaching (especially thinking back to my own high school and mean some of the kids were to teachers!)

so, i decided to stick with Law and that's what i applied for and when i got my place at a very competitive university, i decided it was meant to be and i should be lucky as so many other people don't get that chance. i convinced myself i was doing the right thing.

and then one night, i was speaking to another dear friend online (why are all my deep and meaningful conversations always online?) and i told her about my "decision" and she said, you still don't sound sure so why don't you pray Istikhaara? and taught me the whole thing that night (i wonder if she knows how much of an effect that conversation had on me?)

i was so excited and ecstatic as i finally felt at peace, you know? i prayed Istikhaara for a long time, and got a bit impatient to be honest as i was still undecided. and then one morning i woke up and i was sure what i needed to do. i didn't have a dream, but i just had this certainty and felt at peace with the decision, even though it wasn't what i had wanted.

doing Law would have been easier because it was what people expected of me, and i knew it was what my dad wanted. but teaching was what was written in my destiny.
telling my dad this was my biggest concern as i didn't want to disappoint him, so i did what i always do when i want to tell my dad something big- told my mum and asked her to tell my dad:)

and to my great joy my dad said straight away, it's up to you and do what's best for you. alhamdulilah, he then said he had only ever encouraged me to do Law because he thought that was what i wanted.

so there you go. i put my trust in Allah and felt at peace with my decision straight away. of course i did, as who can guide me and understand my needs better than the One who created me?

i felt so grateful to Allah for granting me with the honour of telling this sister about istikhaara yesterday. immediately i could feel her excitement as she felt sure this was the best solution and the only way to make the important decision she wanted to make.

so, one of the reasons i am sharing this story with you guys is, i want you to please share your experiences of salatul-istikhaara and how it may have helped you to come to any decisions. i know it is a very personal thing, but i am hoping to show the sister the variety of experiences people have, and how it can affect people in different ways.

so, spill!

that friday feeling

2007-05-12T03:13:00.000-07:00

every time i attend Abu Eesa's al adab al mufrad class i get something out of it which which affects me deeply.it's usually something which may seem obvious but is said in way which stays with me.

yesterday it was:

it is only in Islam that you can incease your status by lowering yourself

i don't know why it had such an effect on me but it did. i don't know how to explain it properly so i won't try and will leave yo to reflect on it yourselves.

or if you live locally you could just come.

every friday at Makki Masjid, Longsight, Manchester.

from next week it will start slightly earlier at 8, which is good. i won't have to drive home with my eyes closed because of all the fitnah (why would you dres like that, it was raining).

it's probably not a good idea to drive with your eyes closed is it?

baby

2007-05-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

ok, i really am sorry, nevertheless i have to do it.

emma bunton has a blog!

i love baby spice, she's so pretty and sophisticated and cool.

i shall now give three justifications for my apparent bizarre obsession.

1. she reminds me of my childhood (when i really was obsesseed) at a time when i am starting to feel old. one of my classes finally figured out my age, and then one of them said "wow you're old for someone who looks our age" he--y

2. it's tiring (pretending) i'm so mature and sensible all the time. i had to spend half an hour nagging and nagging a student about wasting time during a mock exam today, when she wrote two pages along the lines of this:

Here is two pages of nonsense. Well so far, it’s one line. Wait, two now. Have you ever wondered whether Adam and Eve have belly buttons? Why thoughts like this appear in my head, I have no idea. Why is Larry always happy? Who is Larry anyway? Could he be the fragment of a delusionist’s imaginataion to counteract his depressive tendencies?

Maybe Larry was just a very happy person, I guess we’ll never know.

I think that’s enough for now. However, I’m being pressured to do more.

actually, i can see the funny side of it now but it's really not! especially seen as i let her come into my class after she got kicked out of her other English class for similar antics. sigh.

3. it's friday! and i'm too tired to do the post i'd planned on different forms of Education,

so.. there you go. i hope i don't lose all the new blogging friends i've made:( oh well, this can be a lotalty test. you have to take the good with the bad, after all.

(oh i liked it better when she wore bunches)

i swear..

2007-05-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

if i hear one more student swearing, i swear i am going to go crazy.

i feel like i am fighting a losing battle.

why do teenagers feel the need to swear so much?

this issue has been bugging me for a while now, because if you let the standards slip, then swearing gradually creeps into your classroom without you realising it. the students know i have a "thing" about swearing. of course, most teachers do but it's also a personal thing. i mean, what if i end up repeating some of the things that come out of their mouths :(

it's got to the stage now where one lesson i said "there is only one rule for this lesson, no swearing" and they still couldn't manage it. scary. i don't know what frightens me more, the fact that they are not capable of doing it, or the fact that they don't think there is anything wrong with it. some comments include:

"they're just words, they don't mean anything" (erm.. yes they do, if you want to get into the etymology of it)

"we looked at swearing in that poem, didn't we? how is that different" (er.. because it is about context)

"everyone else does it. even teachers do it" (erm.. have you ever heard me swear? this was greeted with "he he imagine hema swearing" hee--y)

the main problems i am having are with "that" class (and those of you who teach will know what i mean, because everyone has "that class") and to be fair on them, they do it in what they see as informal stages of the lesson, eg at the start before i have "started" the lesson and that is just how they talk to each other, eg

"did you see that *** film yesterday, it was ***** fantastic."

but more recently:

me: "why did you walk out of janet's lesson?
student: because she is a **** *****
(why do my student's think they can talk like that in front of me?)

me: ok, you wouldn't use those words at home so don't use them in front of me"
student: are you kidding me, you should see some of the words my mum uses if you think that's bad.

ouch (really?) maybe that's my problem. am i imposing my own personal velues on the students?
but i'm not telling them to stop swearing. i don't think anyone could ever do that. just not in front of me. and these kids need to know when it is not acceptable not to use these words. isn't that one of the things that education is supposed to be about? giving them access to language they can use in different circumstances. what if one of them "accidentally" swore in an interview situation?

sigh

at least noone has ever sworn at me, because i have heard of horror stories of that happening. although to see things from the students perspective (because i always try to do that) they only really swear at teachers if they are embarrassed in front of the class and have to "redeem" themselves in front of their peers.

one of the only two times i have thrown a student out of my class this year was when i told him not to swear and he answered:

"what's your ****** problem with my ***** swearing".

(i think he was trying to be funny)

so, am i being too uptight with this? or should i stubbornly persevere with my one man (so it seems!) battle to stop all 17 year olds from swearing?

nothing but the truth?

2007-05-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

question: is telling the truth always the wisest thing to do?

scenario: if your potential/ spouse asked you about previous relationships back in the "jahiliya days", or if you had been "in love" with anyone else, would you tell him (her) the truth? and if so, would that be the best thing to do? and would you ever ask that question? would you offer the information voluntarily? and if so when?

me being me (ie always sitting on the fence!) i can see the advantages and disadvantages of both.

adv: everything is out in the open, it can't come back to haunt you later on, you're not at the stage in your life anymore so have nothing to hide, you'd want to know so it's only fair you offer the information too, he may find out anyway (either through someone else or by accident, there is no point lying as then your relationship would be based on a lie, a clear conscience if you don't have to lie about it.

disadv: jealousy,shaytan may cause evil whisperings and you wouldn't be able to let go of the information and let it rest, he belongs to you now so the past doesn't matter, everyone makes mistakes it's between you and your Lord and no one else's business, you may lose respect/ trust for the person, there's nothing you can do about his past so you may as well live in ignorance of it, it can be thrown back in his/her face during arguments.

so what would you do/ have you done? it would be good to hear about actual experiences so that we (me!) could benefit. you can always write anonymously if you don't want to be identified.

4 all you mothers

2007-05-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

me: so have you heard of a blog?
Shabnum: a what?
me: a blog, you can publish your thoughts, and experiences and stuff. i thought i could interview you for it, because you have such an interesting life.
shabnum: oh! well, ok then.

being a mother must be the hardest thing in the whole world, which is why there is so much worth attached to it, and so much reward

but just imagine how you would feel if you had

not one baby.......

not two......

not three......

but four!

(from left to right- Maheen, Zareen, Haider and Zayan)

well, let's find out how Shabnum does cope with her four little miracles.

how did you feel when you first found out you were having quadruplets?

i thought they were joking! i saw three cyst like things on the scan, and then the nurse said i don't think they are cysts, i think you are having triplets! i just laughed at this, but then she called the specialist in, and of course you can't argue with a specialist. he confirmed i was having four babies!

what was your husband's reaction?

he went straight outside and started calling everyone, including people from Pakistan! leaving me all alone for the rest of the scan!

what is the best thing about it

knowing that my eldest daughter (we thought she wouldn't have any brothers and sisters) now had plenty of compnay!

what was the worst?

i was so worried about how they were all going to fit inside me!

do you have any help?

the nurses came a few times to make sure everything was ok, but they don't anymore. volunteers come to help occassionally and i have plenty of enxtended family to help me out.

what about your husband?

he goes to work before they are awake, and comes home just in time to kiss them goodnight!

how do you cope with them all when you are out and about?

i never take them all out together, as it is too difficult. the only time i do it is when they have doctor's appointment and it is easier to do it all together. then,we have to set off extra early to make sure we get there on time, especially as we keep getting stopped on the street with people wanting to see inside the prams and take pictures on their mobile phones!

describe your daily routine

when they first came back from the hospital, the nurses had already put them into a routine and warned me they needed to stay in the same routine. within the first week, they were out of the routine and all sleeping and eating at different times, so it was so hectic. then the nurses came back and from then i make sure they stay in the same routine.
they get up around 7 and play in their cots, talking to each other for a while. i then bring them down and feed them one by one while the others play nearby. they have a nap around 1 and have lunch and change, and sleep again! i usually do all the housework and chores while they are asleep. around 7 o clock i put them all to bed. i can't cradle them all to sleep so just leave them to sleep by themselves. they whinge a bit at first, but they are used to it now. they all sleep through the night. i then finally have some "me" time until 10 to watch all my favourite shows!
have they all got distinct personalities?
yes. haider is the dominant one and a bit of a bully. he is the only one who is crawling! Zayan is very senstitive and the exact opposite of his brother, but sounds like a man when he cries! Maheen likes her food and is happiest when she is eating.her identical twin sister is a lot thinner then she is, but she has been ill recently.

do you have a favourite?

no! they are all special in their own way

what are you looking forward to the most?

them developing their own personalities as they are already starting to show

what are you least looking forward to?

when they all start crawling and wanting to come to me all at the same time!

i had to leave it there, as it was bedtime (for the babies i mean, not for me). i wish i had taken pictures of their little nursery, it was so cute, with four identical little cots. we then decided to leave, as Shabnum had both her hands full with nappies and changing clothes etc. afterwards, she phoned my sister in law (shabnum is one of my sister in law's best friends) and apologised for not being a very good hostess! you would have had to be there to understand how bizzare that statement sounded. subhanAllah, i felt dizzy just watching her multitask and still have time to chat with us with a smile on her face. i guess Allah gives you the patience when you require it, but it was realy a humbling experience and a lesson in good motherhood.

Ya Rabb, bless this humble family with success in this life and the next, and grant Your four beautiful miracles with all the joy and happiness that is good for them. Ameen, Ameen, Ameen and Ameen!

my weak week

2007-05-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

it's been a tough week at work
to be fair on me, i'm not the only one who broke down under the pressure, and two of the other people who admitted to crying weren't even female. not that that should matter, but you have to see them to be shocked at it!

basically to cut a boring story short, the college put in a bid for 15 million pounds and to test whether they deserved it, an inspection we were expecting next year was brought forward with only one week's notice. in the end,we passed the inspection, not as good as they wanted (they being the bosses and people who fund the college), but we got the bid. so while everyone else celebrated with wine and choccies on friday, i did the one thing i needed to do all week, went home and slept! and also reflected.
becuase this week has taught me a lot about my teaching. i did the two things you should never do, took things personally and stressed myself out!

why did i take things personally? i just expected a bit more loyalty from the students. the students in question are quite naughty. most of them are resitting because they either dropped out or got excluded from school(it's so scary how they can just do that, isn't it supposed to be illegal?? but i'll leave that for another day) i'm not saying all the resit students are like that, i'vve got three resit classes, and it's only this class that have behaviour.. issues. on wednesdays, i usually book the computer room for them, but on that particular day i had to stay in the form room as that's the room written on my timetable. basically, i had to do it just becuase of ofsted. the students were negative all throughout the lesson and complained how they were sick of ofsted and were not going to do things differently just because of them. they were playing up all lesson, i mean they got on with the work, but moaning all the way through it.

the thing that made me cry eventually? this is going to sound silly, but remmeber i was anxious and worried anyway.
basically, during the lesson, another teacher came in (the super sweet colleague from a few posts back) and asked if i could leave the stuff on the board for the next lesson, and they all heard it. so when i dismissed the class, and then remembered i hadn't locked the door, and when i went back this student was rubbing off the work from the board, and he just said "woops was i not supposed to rub that off?" and i got so upset thinking of poor super sweet colleague and how wanted all his objectives on the board in case ofsted came in and now he would have to write it all again and he might not come back form his dinner break on time, and so i stormed back into my staffroom, locked the door and burst out crying. actually i didn't even cry for very long, as i was sat near the computer crying and received an email asking for MORE paper work so thought i'd better be practical about it and get on with m work and indulge in crying later on!

anyway, the student in question apologised later on, and said he didn't know he wasn't supposed to rub it off, and something i didn't remember at the time was he came in late, so hadn't heard it. i know he shouldn't have been writing on the board anyway, and i know it he shouldn't have been late, but i genuinely thought at the time he rubbed it off to be vindictive, and i thought that is such a mean thing to do. really, i should have given him a chance to explain himslef instead of storming out of the room

the other reson.. i've been so worried about things like my paperwork and doing everything by the book i've barely had the time for the most important thing of all- interaction with the students. i've stopped stealing their crisps in the corridors(actually i think their a bit glad about that) and i usually go to lessons a bit early to have a chat about how they have been getting on, and didn't bother doing that. and in general i've just been too self indulgent, taking my anxieties and stress out on the students, when they don't deserve it. for example, when i ask a student how they are, i expcet them to tell me about worries and concerns but when they politely ask me, the answer should always be "fine thanks" not "my marriage is a mess/my dishwasher's broke/ i feel like commiting suicide"- all hypothetical of course, for one thing.....i don't have a dishwasher:) they don't need to know about all of your persoanl problems and really i have no right to bring them in to the classroom. i've noticed that most job applications now list it as essential that you have a sense of humour, which makes sense.you have to be able to laugh at yourself, as well as make the students laugh, in order to survive.

phew.. off my chest! i just really wanted to remind myself not to let things get to me like that again. at the end of the day teaching is a job just like any other and there are other jobs that are stressful too.

teaching is in my blood now or soemthing, i don't think i would be able to give it up even if i wanted to. it's improved my self confidence and i'm proud of the fact that i've survived in the type of college that even i didn't think i was cut out for! and i don't usually complain about my students, they are generally good at this time of year especially. i mean, it's a good job i didn't have access to this blog at the start of the year when the college decided to infill students from a young offenders institution...
in general, i like the fact that my students are "interesting".i taught on the access course (adults) and asked to be taken off it, becuase it was so boring, they just wanted me to tlak to them all lesson and were prepared to sit and listen. and i do not like to talk a lot! (you probably don't get that vibe from reading this post though!)

one of my students said to me on friday "are you back to normal now?" i answered by "confiscating" her crisps :)

why i teach..

2007-05-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

waiting in my inbox this morning, on a day when i did NOT feel like going in to work.

hi just wanted to say thanx 4 understanding..at least i know that you
will
be there if i ever need any one to talk to..i haven't really spoken to
anyone about it before... thanx again i'll see you next week..

2007-05-02T02:17:00.001-07:00

Don't ever,ever teach

i wanna...

2007-05-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

start one of these tag things myself! i never start things, i just tend to follow others, so you will have to allow me this one opportunity to take the initiative and be in the driver's seat for a change.
ok, so want to do something orignial, so if this has been done before, then humour me and pretend it hasn't!

it is...
five words i use a lot:

mine are:
1. NIFTY!! because it's the niftiest word ever!
2. SALAAM: because it has a beutiful meaning
3. ISHK (love) i just like the sound of the word
4. RANDOM - i just thought i'd randomly add that in :)
4. AMAL (hope)- like a lot of words it just sounds nicer in arabic. i don't use it a lot, but i'm hoping to if a certain sister in law names her baby that, hint hint!

ok, so once you have written your words, you tag five more pople and they have to tag five more.

i'm going to tag

imuslim

organic muslimah

samia

saabirah

ymiss

random conversations i had today

2007-04-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

(is my use of the word random annoying anyone yet? because that is my intention he he)

1st lesson
ME: there are some terms on the board, and some explanations on your desk. match them up while we wait for everyone else to come in.
random student: why has your voice gone all high and squeaky? is it because the inspectors might come in? don't worry we'll be good (can i take all of my students and put them in my pocket and take them home?)

later on in the lesson..
same student: stop looking at the door. if they come in, they come in. you're doing fine anyway (sometimes i think my students are more mature then me. this worries me slightly)

cocky student i have a love/hate relationship with: if the inspectors come in, i'm going to tell them you threatened to kill me.
ME: what, when did i do that?
cocky student: last week when you were teaching the passive voice.
ME: oh yes.. well at least you remembered it.
(i killed jack/ jack was killed (by me) )

my boss: oh, you've put on your self assessment sheet that computer skills is a weakness.
ME: yes.. it's something i need to work on
my boss: oh but you're good with computers. you're always on there in your plan and prep time
(?? so does that mean i have permission to abuse my p&p time on the blogosphere??)

another random student: i like the colour of your hood thing(purple)
ME: thank you. it's called a hijaab.
random student: oh, do you have one in every colour?
ME: almost..
random student:what colour is your hair?
ME:erm..black
RS: (surprised) really?
(????)

super sweeet colleauge: i see you're not wearing a brooch today.
ME: i had one on, but it must have fallen off:(
SSC:oh dear, have you checked lost property?
ME: the one in the other buidling. can't be bothered now, i might do later.

later on in the day..
SSC: here's your brooch.
ME: aww, did you go down especially to get this?
SSC yes, i thought i may as well.
(don't things like that just make you smile )

final lesson:
ME: so the advent of new teachnology has brought about the need for new words. such as blog, for example.
blank looks
does nobody know what a blog is?
blank looks
(hhmm)

random.. handwriting!

2007-04-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

ok, i was forced to do this by someone who threatened me with ninjabi moves. well, ok not quite but the potential is always there :)
i think i read somewhere once that your handwriting can tell you something about your personality. i think mine might show a split personality! any budding psychologists may also want to try analysing this, this, this and this.

now, the question is, which one of you is going to try it next..

i have finally managed to figure out how to add my own teaching resources and will be updating it soon(see this navigation bar on the left) it's only just occur ed to me that i should proabbly have had two separate blogs, so that people who are interested just in my teaching stuff don't have to listen to me going on. i may do that eventually if this page has too much stuff on soon. anyway, if you benefit from the teaching stuff, you have imuslim to thank, for showing me how to add links through google documents. and if you're muslim and benefit, you can make du for her

also, courtesy of imuslim's site, i thought this may amuse any of maniacmuslim fans out there. i almost wish i wanted a t-shirt because of the effort that s/he we?? has put into it, but i'm not quite sure what i'd do with a t-shirt at the moment (wear it to bed??). laughter seriosuly isn't haram, but perhaps in moderation, so read one page a day or something :)

i wish i was beautiful...confession 1

2007-04-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

but not the kind of beautiful that society seems obsessed with.

like the shilpa shetty kinda pretty, although those eyebrows, sigh. *confession 2*i miss my stick thin eyebrows sometimes. what i mean to say is thank you saabirah for convincing me not to do them like that. now if everyone else around me wasn't plucking theirs, mine wouldn't look so bad. hint hint for purely selfish reasons of course :0)

and i dont mean the emma bunton kind of beauty either, but i'll leave that there as people are getting a bit worried abiout my obsession with that and the best said about my *confession 3* blonde obsession in general the better. don't worry gry i'm over it now (almost)

anyway, so beauty then.

we live with a society obsessed with the beauty of women. i walked into my form room a little early once, and the guys in my group were just talking about girls in such a scary way. i though it may have been celebrities or something, but it was girls in the college and without gatting too graphic, let's just say it had to to do with measurements:( i was so appalled, but i don't know, maybe i overreacted (by walking out of the lesson and refusing to teach them until they apologised) as it was just guys being guys and maybe that's just what guys talk about when they're alone?? (apparently i only have guys in my tutor group now, not quite sure what happened to the girls!) maybe they're just avoiding the room because that's how the guys talk about them, mutter mutter

but i wonder, are our men any different? because i've found when it comes to marriage that seems to be the first thing that they are interested in. which is fine, i can understand that attraction is important, but just don't use hadiths to justify it. (again with the muttering) and just for the record, that dream girl you have in your head isn't always going to look like that, and she most definitely doesn't look like that in the morning :)

anyway, back to what i was intending to write. have you ever met someone and they are so beautiful because of their deeds and the way they speak and act? that's the kind of beauty we should be looking for in our friends and spouses right. right? for it's the beauty that Allah Almighty sees.

it is narrated in Muslim that Alah's messenger, upon whom be peace said, "Allah looks not at your figures, nor at your outward appearance but He looks at your hearts and deeds"

and good behaviour and morals really do make a person beautiful. so that's what im aspiring for. a beautiful heart. and *confession 4* it's hard. as it can't be sorted out (or covered up) with makeup and ghds:) but it's a journey, right caged bird?

Acquiring the love of Allah

2007-04-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

seven types of people will will be under the shelter of Allah's mercy on the Day when there will be no shade other than that of Allah's mercy.1) a just imam. 2) a young person who kept busy in Allah's worship. 3)a person whose heart is attached to the masjid.4)two people who loved each other for Allah's sake, gathered for His sake and parted, remembering Him. 5)a man who was invited by a beautiful and charming woman but declined her offer, saying "i fear Allah". 6)a person who gave charity so secretly that their left hand did not know what was given by the right hand. 7) a person who remembered Allah privately, so that their eyes brimmed with tears".(Bukhari,Muslim)

may Allah grant us the Tawfeeq to do everything for His sake only.

just a random question

2007-04-25T10:14:00.001-07:00

what colour is betrayal?

my poetry attempt

2007-04-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

i've got nothing to say
but feel like posting anyway
at least this rhymes though
and i generally hate that, you know
and no i will not apologise for this post
in fact, i think it is something of which i will boast
i hope i will still have some friends left though
and they don't suddenly decide they no longer want to know
i'm starting a section on random stuff
but please don't get in a huff
i'll be back soon with something useful to say
so, don't go away
and until then spread greetings of peace
and make sure your good deeds never cease

(this counts as a poem right? i wasn't about to spill my guts on this thing!)

education islam

2007-04-23T07:23:00.001-07:00

following on from my rant about teachers not understanding muslim students, i came accross something positive that can be done about the situation below. it's not just for teachers, but any professionals who work with muslims, so please let non muslim colleagues and managers know about it.

my work are encouraging as many people as possible to attend, which just reconfirms why i love it there so much. it's one of the only places i've worked which mean it when they say they celebrate diversity. they even have a member of staff wearing niqaab amidst all the recent controversy.

i think i will stay there forever. although it is supposed to be detrimental to your career to stay in one place too long. oh well i never claimed to be a high flying career gal anyway. for one thing, the only real way to progress in teaching is to take on a management position or extra responsiblilites, which just seems silly. why would you want to go into teaching and then take on less teaching hours? anyway i'd better stop waffling now (that's what my other blog is supposed to be for!) and let you read the part below.

p.s my poetry effort is coming soon i promise. i have done it but this post seemed more important, and i've been told that if keep posting at the rate i do, no one is going to bother reading anymore! oh wellifnooneisgoingtoreadimightaswelljustwritereallyfastlikethis.

pps forgive my hyperactivity i think i might be going crazy doing overtime under ofsted pressure. i now understand why i don't suffer from stress like other teachers seem to. it's because i don't do half the stuff i'm supposed to! i mean come on, detailed lesson plans for every lesson ?? and apparently under the new ofsted regime, they are going to check all the paperwork and might not even observe any lessons. what's the point in that? sigh

Dear Colleague

RE: Introduction to Islam & the Muslim Culture Course including Mosque visit

Following the immense success of our courses throughout the past few years (over 6000 people have now attended in the UK), we are pleased to announce further course dates for 2007.

Please visit our website www.educationislam.org for venue and date information in your area.

Attached is course information for your perusal along with a booking form should you wish to take up this great opportunity! It would also be very much appreciated if you could circulate this information amongst your staff and colleagues.

About the course
The course is specifically designed for Non-Muslim public sector professionals who work with Muslims from diverse communities.

It incorporates a visit to a local mosque and aims to provide participants with:
• A better understanding of basic beliefs & practices
• Information regarding the background to Muslims in Britain &
• Public Sector Development issues for Muslim Communities.

Sessions run throughout Yorkshire, London, Scotland, Midlands, Wales and the South East plus a range of other areas have all been an outstanding success.

Our client base includes a variety of departments and services, including:
• Local Authorities
• Primary Care Trusts
• NHS Acute Trusts
• Police & Fire Services
• Chaplaincy Services
• Sure Start
• Voluntary & Charity sectors …plus many more

Further information about the course and feedback from past delegates is available on our website: www.educationislam.org but please do not hesitate to contact our office should you have any questions or queries.

Our office number is 01924 466117

(We use our e-mail system to help reduce time and costs, so I would appreciate it if you could also forward this information onto those colleagues and departments who you feel may be interested or may benefit from attending such a course).

Please also feel free to display the attached information on your staff notice boards to benefit those who may not have direct access to an e-mail system.

an msn conversation

2007-04-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
hi
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
wud u like to b honered in listening to one of my poems
hema says:
always , go ahead
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
its wayyy better than your sisters(i say with modesty)

Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:

Forgive me my sins today and tomorrow
Help build a better world away form sorrow
Help the orphan child all alone
Guide us to the path that you have shown
Help make the ummah whole again
Help take away the poverty and pain

Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:

if u laugh, laugh silently

hema says:
again doesn't ryhme with pain
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
it does if u say it like this...againe
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
instd of agen
hema says:
oh.. but when does anyone around here say it like that
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
wen they read my poem!
hema says:
oh.. but how will they know they have to read it like that
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
u lil tramp,
quit bashing it
its a first attempt
hema says:
ok, im sorry but just one more thing,.. have you been listening to any nasheeds lately
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
not really why?
Hema:
because that sounds suspiciously like one

EDITED FOR REASONS OF SHARAM:)
hema
ok, fine your poem shall go on my blog
Death is around the corner,if only but u realised says:
nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

(obviously i got her to agree eventually, and told her i would put up one of my effors tomorrow to laugh at..)

marking exam papers........

2007-04-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

is an excellent way of gaining extra tips and resources for your department, as well improving your own marking skills. the money is ok, but not brilliant actually, and i do it mainly to get an insight into what examiners want. i'm lucky as i stop teaching in june(because of study leave) and don't start marking until july. i can imagine it would be harder for people working in schools..

what i hate most is the admin, sending papers off at the right time to the right place, but this year i'm marking online so i'll see how that goes...

Edexcel don't require you to have a pgce (but do require you to have completed a degree in the relevant subject) so it could also give you an edge on interviews etc if you have that extra experience. and it may also be an option for people on maternity leave as the work is done at home.

i'm not being paid to say this honest, i just want someone to complain with! i'm marking edexcel GCE module 6 (the synoptic paper this year) and i know they are still short of examiners for this paper.

here is the website where you can apply if you are interested.

home schooling

2007-04-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

i've got a student this year who was home schooled (until now obviously) i have to admit i was a bit sceptical about how he would fit in with the rest of the class, but now i actually think he is a genius, i'm not kidding. his most recent homework is 15,000 words (are doctoral thesis even that long?) he casually handed it in with the words "i've got some bedtime reading for you" hhhmmm.

his level of maturity, social skills and general attitude far exceeds anyone else i teach.

what does this say about our education system?

I was talking to his parents yesterday, and they said the main reasons they had decided to home school him was because people don't understand their religion and can't accommodate it. they are jewish. (oops i was thinking back to when i interviewed him and tried to show him how to fill in the ethnicity part "correctly")

so what about our kids then, having to grow up in a society where there is so much ignorance and hatred for anything islamic?

i know there are plenty of people trying to understand, and plenty who do not believe everything they hear on the news. and i'm glad there are so many muslims working in state schools now. but despite that,i have seen too much that worries me during my time in state schools.

for all of the talk about integration, there is too much ignorance shown by staff, who don't seem willing to understand the difference between religion and culture, for example. or don't seem to understand that even though children might complain about the lack of freedom they have, they are not going to turn their back on their way of life, when it comes down to it. and there is too much that children are exposed to, which is condoned and even encouraged by teachers, their so called role models, that is against everything they believe in.

which is why my kids (inshAllah) are not stepping foot inside a state school.

it's my blog and i'll write what i want to!

2007-04-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

i'm kidding, i'm kidding, i'm kidding

but on a serious note, i have been told i should remember that people reading this blog are at different levels of imaan, and that my post on fear a while back may have been a bit too much. whilst i'm not going to apologise for it, i just wanted to clarify that i didn't have ANYONE (except myself) in mind when i wrote that post,especially seen as i've struggled with some of those things myself.

but as i've said before, there is something about this emotion of fear that compels one to act in a certain way. how many people revise for exams because they love to do it, for example? and how many do it because they are scared of daddy's chappal :) or that they won't get the desired job?

of course, fear is not the only thing that motivates us. There are other reasons we do things, intense love and gratefulness to name only two. but thinking scary thoughts as often as possible is something that works for me.

but real fear, fear like we should fear, fear that Allah is always with us, and everything we say or do..or think and write.. is being recorded,i don't think i have that.

in fact i know i don't

and i don't know anyone else that has it either.

i know plenty of people that can talk the talk but i'm starting to realise when it comes down to it, when it really matters, it seems harder to walk the walk (so to speak) i'll leave that there, as i know some of you know only too well what i'm talking about.

again, as i said, i include myself very firmly in the above category and this post is a reminder to myself more then anyone else.

nonsense poems

2007-04-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."

at a basic level, you could look at this to teach grammar rules. eg what are the main verbs, identify all the nouns etc
or to teach comprehension - eg how are the borogroves, what do the mome raths do.

i've also used it in "introduction to langauge" to look at how meaning is deduced, and the difference between understanding something and simply repeating back (what and how questions)

i'm sure this activity could be adapted for ESOL in some way.

anger

2007-04-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

one of my students said to me today "how come you never shout or get angry?"

i thought this would be a good a dawah opportunity as any, so answered "well, it's against my religion to get angry"

he then proceeded to give me a list of muslims at the college who are notorious for their lack of restraint in this department.

doh!

anger management is a big problem for some (but not most!) of the students at my college, and they know it. in a recent survey conducted to find out what activities they wanted for enrichment, anger management classes were in the top three (the other two were driving theory and sign language, in case you're interested!)

i think a lot of the problems with the resit students (where the problem lies) is that they are used to being told they will fail, or have often dropped out of schools to avoid such comments, so get very defensive if they think they are being put down in any way. which is why i'm careful to avoid using insults as a form of discipline- believe me it does happen! but one of the things my students cannot say about me is that i'm patronising (i'm sure there's plenty of other things they say instead!)

i'm coaching one of the girls in my tutor group to count to ten in order to calm down, instead of thumping the wall until she bleeds, or swearing at the teacher while storming out of the class- both of which have been done in the past! i did try and suggest meditating at one point, which met with a sceptical roll of the eyes. oh well.

i am not by any means saying i'm perfect in this department, and these posts are meant as a reminder to myself first and foremost. in fact, i'm thinking back to a couple of days ago, when i was unable to control my anger in a key situation, and as for shouting- i would most likely lose my voice if i even tried! but i do try and follow the sunnah of staying silent when angry... most of the time, especially when it comes to pointing out someone's fault .. they are aware of it anyway usually and don't need to be told.

anyway, if that girl had been muslim i would have told her to make wudu,as it really does work. as the prophet sallahu alayhi wasalam said "Anger is the effect of shaytaan and shaytaan was created from fire. And water extinguishes fire"

Allahumma-ghfir li dhanbi, wa adhhib ghayDHa qalbi, wa ajirni mina sh-shayTaan

‘O Allah, forgive my sin, remove the anger in my heart, and protect me from Satan.’

my new blog

2007-04-15T10:56:00.001-07:00

i like blogging. you may be able to tell seen as i post almost every day! and i'm slowly but surely convincing my friends to blog. habiba should start hers soon! i like habiba, she is my favourite person ever and i tend to follow her everywhere! i think she is trying to get rid of me though, so if anyone wants to take her place... :)

one of the things i like about blogging is i can share what i know with whoever wants to view it. people sometimes ask me about teaching and what is like, for example, and i think it's important to answer such questions honestly. i will be posting soon on what a typical day at work is like, complete with every minute boring detail, so you have that to look forward to:) so, i like the fact that this blog is open to the public and anyone can access it for that reason, maybe even people i don't know, and i would encourage such people to ask questions and particpate in any debates or discussions.

but

at the same time, i'm consciouss of the fact that i can't always "be myself" on this blog, and it would be nice to have a space where i can write soley for my freinds' benefit. wordpress have this feature, for example, with password protected posts, and of course you can restrict access on myspace (msn messenger space) but i still think blogspot is much better.

so

the only way i can think of at the moment to get round this issue is to create a separate blog. you can access it via my profile, by clicking on "secrets".

the easiest thing to do would be to email me if you want access. i've already added the people who comment regularly, seen as they are my most loyal blogging friends. blogger sends the email so it may go to your junk email folder.

anyway, as i said, most of the useful stuff will be here still, but the other one is where all the fun will be at:) i'll leave it to you to choose which one you want to view..

in the blink of an eye..

2007-04-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

My dad said once that his life has passed in a blink of an eye. One minute he was just a young boy, and the next retirement is looming and he sits wondering where all the time has gone. It’s a scary thought that one of the signs of the end of time is that time will pass quickly, but as we become immersed in everyday life, it is easy to forget how short life really is. So now as I’m nearly as quarter of a century old and a new sate in my life looms, I can’t help wondering is it just me or is life passing by quickly all of a sudden?

I think one of the problems in today’s world is we are so preoccupied and even in our leisure (leeesure- ssw:)) time we feel the need to occupy ourselves with tv, computer games etc instead of just sitting and reflecting or talking. So, we keep busy and then we reach the age of retirement and then we stop and wonder where has all the time gone.

So, a new life then and new responsibilities. When I was at uni and I was having a bad hijaab:) day and didn’t want to get out of bed, it was just me that was affected. Now, if I were to do that, a whole class full of kids are affected (very thankful kids no doubt but still) as well as the office staff running around sorting out cover etc

I’m not saying I want to live a totally selfish life forever, i’m just saying it’s sad that’s all. It’s sad how people have to change their lives and change their priorities and move away and grow apart.

and I miss my childhood. I miss high school – not all of it, definitely not all of it, but the part where I felt secure and the part where I felt that the future was certain and there was someone else making the decisions about what I should study, and the part where what I wanted to be when I grew up was very far away.

I guess I miss the certainty of the future.

I miss feeling certain that everything good always wins out, and that when the time for marriage comes, the perfect person will suddenly appear without having to be disappointed, or worse, disappointing. I miss having to worry only about the history essay and trivial problems like not being picked last for the hockey team (although I’m sure it didn’t seem trivial at the time!)

and I miss what the nineteen nineties mean to me. I mean I showed a friends video to look at language in informal contexts and the students were all complaining. since when was friends out of fashion?? They were asking for someone called borat instead (?) and if someone called acorn(?) Walked passed me in the street, I really would be none the wiser.

And when I’m interviewing for the new intake in lower sixth, the candidates were born in the nineties! A generation who did not know life without the internet or taking a mobile phone with you wherever you go.

I’ve drifted off topic. My original point was life passes by in the blink of an eye (rhyme intended:)) And when you look back at your life, you’re not going to remember the day to day things that seem so important at the time but in the end they are so trivial, such as the report you have been stressing out about for work. rather, you’re going to want to remember your children or your family and what they mean to you. so value the little things and take time out to remember them. and value your friends and family while you have them,because they may not be in your life forever, at least not on a day to day basis.

and if you’re muslim .. then be thankful as every hurt and pain you endure in life has a point to it, and just remember that when you’re looking back at your life, the things that will count are the things that you did solely for the sake of Allah, whether that is relationships you form with people, or picking litter up from the street. in the end nothing else matters. For everything else is “just a temporary measure:)”

teaching ideas

2007-04-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

i want to start a section on teaching ideas.

i'm not saying i'm an expert by any means. in fact i'd be worried if i was at this early stage in my career, and when i think i'm a good teacher i'll probably quit as it won't be a challenge anymore:)

but i just wanted to share ideas that have worked for me in the classroom. most of them i've blatantly stolen from other teachers and examples of good practice anyway, and of course, it depends on the type of students you have and what mood they're in. i've done the same activity with two different groups, and it may go well with one group and not with the other and the reason could be something outside of your control, like what time of day it is and what's happened in the corridor before they even come into your classroom.

anyway, here are two i particularly like.

basically you put a group of students together and tell them they are a character in a book. they then have to answer questions as if they are that character. other groups have to come up with questions they would ask that character.

so, if you were doing romeo and juliet, you could ask friar lawrence why he wanted to help so much. you then ask the student (or the group) to sit in the hot seat and other groups ask the questions,and they have to answer in the first person, as if they are the character in question. if you have a group that is shy, you can perhaps get them to do it in groups and go round, rather than make come to the front of the class.

i like this activity because it it encourages the students to think of the questions and therefore puts them in control, and it helps them get into the characters' heads, and while they are thinking about the questions and potential answers, get them to look through the book for quotes to back up what they are saying.

i'm sure this activity could be adapted to suit other subjects. lets see there are at lest two biologists reading this, so you could get them to .. pretend they are a sandwich and describe how they feel as they are going through the digestive system..

or not. stop laughing, there is a reason i don't teach biology!

second one.. the speech sandwich

hope i can describe this sufficiently as it really does work for me every time. i've used it in two very successful interviews, and it is adapted from an example starter activity at mmu (best teacher training place EVER!) she actually made a sandwich, but i think that has the potential to be very messy and my way gets the kids involved.

actually i've changed my mind, i will save this one for next time so stay tuned:) besides i need to add the cards i use to go with it, otherwise don't think it would make sense! and can't seem to figure out how to link them in.

can someone help me out here. i can add links from the internet, and i can add pictures that are saved on my computer, but can't seem to add word documents or powerpoints from my documents? i would preferably just want to add them as an attachment to a post, so it can be accessed with the lesson description.

this is why i don't teach IT either :)

adab part 2

2007-04-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

Etiquettes of greeting

I wanted to mention this one next, as it may be tempting not to give salaam to muslims in some settings, for example work, in case it is seen as unprofessional. I have come across people like this.. and I always say at least our greetings mean something. There is a point to it all. As there was with the English word “good bye” which used to be “God be with you” but of course most people today just use it as a means of closing the conversation in a friendly way. Offering salaams can do that too of course, but it can also do so much more. We should be thankful we have such an easy way of gaining reward, whilst at the same time sending peace on someone and being nice and friendly all at the same time:)

All notes taken from a course entitled adab in islam (please see intro under adab section for further details)

Before islam, there were many types of greeting, but the greeting of salaam came from Allah.
you are supplicating for the person and so you should offer salaam with the intention of making dua for that person.

assalaamualaiKUM- collective as you are also giving dua to angels on each shoulder, and will also receive three blessings in reply.

To give salaam is sunnah muakida according to some scholars. When you are greeted with salaam, reply with a greeting which is equal or better. This is a command from the Qur’an. It is wajib to respond to a salaam.

The one who initiates the salaam is better then the one who responds. And it is always better to make the first move as it removes doubts and assumptions a person may have of you, eg thinking you may be proud, wondering if you are muslim etc.

When you enter or leave your home, greet your family, whether make or female, with the symbol of Islam.
And ones family is the most worthy of receiving salaam.

Say salaam when entering and leaving a gathering.

There are certain times when it is makrooh to say salaam eg when they are eating, in the bathroom, reciting or teaching.
That is, when a person is engaged and you would disturb them.

If someone sends you salaam through someone else, the reply is alaikum wa alaikum salaam, so that you are sending salaam to the person who sent you the salaam, as well as the correspondent.

If someone sends salaam in writing, eg email or text, then reply, although it is not necessary to do so, as you can reply verbally when reading.

So, do not go with greetings that are fashionable, whether in Arabic or English, or any other language. Rather it is better to stick with the sunnah of saying salaam, and blessing and making dua for the correspondent.

medics and creativity

2007-04-07T14:27:00.002-07:00

i'm not sure what it is about medics wanting to be all creative in their free time. perhaps it is because they spend all day dealing with illness and icky stuff? anyhow, one of my sisters has decided to take up embroidery and knitting (??) we're quite pleased about the embroidery part actually, she is rather good. i think we may be waiting a while for our scarves though:) i'll put up pictures soon so you can see how good she is. of the embroidery i mean. i probably shouldn't put up any of the knitting just yet!
i also wanted to a say a big public thank you as she tidies my part of the room occasionally.. well ok a little more than occasionally, but in my defence, it helps her relax after a hard day's work! the last time, she organised my brooches into different sections, all colour coordianted and everything:)

anyhow another sister, baba, is writing poetry at the moment. here are my favourites:

DOUBLE HEARTED

Lacking in happiness and joy,
A desperate cry from the soul,
Something missing; a deep penetrable hole.

Silently afraid, screaming for help,
Gasping to breathe and fighting to beat,
Afraid of the day its Lord it will meet.

Needed but neglected and forgotten,
Overridden by the biological heart,
The soul, the spiritual part.

THE MOST MERCIFUL

An ummah drowned in their wrongs,
Accumulating sins splattering onto floods,
So much temptation and so little restraint,
Embarrassingly easy but shockingly scary.

Immersing ourselves in insignificance,
Blinded by desires and excuses,
Sinking deeper into plunging depths,
From illumination to coldness.
Hoping for the best,
A message brings hope of rescue,
As ar-Rahman tells us,
‘My Mercy overcomes My Wrath.’

REVEALING MODESTY

I'm hidden underneath ripples of purity,
A feeling of refreshing security,
I feel true liberation,
Shared by my sisters throughout the nation,
I'm guarded from eyes made of stony coldness,
From their glare unwanted and senseless,
I'm gliding through an ignorant storm,
With my delicate armour so soothing and warm,
My umbrella of protection,
Tailored to perfection.

i know, i was rather impressed too. constructive comments only about these please. no one (except me!) is allowed to say anything bad about my sisters. or else.

the FE White Paper

2007-04-06T18:27:00.001-07:00

This post will be very dreary for anyone not interested in education (and even then it is quite boring!) so if you want something more appealing to read, there is an interesting discussion going down on interracial marriages here, or you can look at the debate on whether fully veiled women should drive here, or receive some beneficial advice on how to memorise Qur’an in the west here.

Usually, I’m not one for bureaucracy and Government decisions. I’m happy just doing what I’m told and concentrating on what’s going on in the classroom. But the further education white paper is something I think I’m going to have to get my head around, as it will soon change the way students are taught from the ages of 14 to 19. you can find the relevant document here or just read my summary and thoughts below. If nothing else, it will hopefully give you something to think about and expand on in one of those meetings you may have to attend on the issue, or in an interview situation.

The white paper is the government’s vision for further education. It is a response to the Foster report, which basically stated that colleges in England are failing students when weighed against international standards. The international baccalaureate, for example, places a high emphasis on vocational skills and therefore recruits more students after school leaving age. This is largely due to the fact that they have skills which employers value.

Apparently, this is a major problem with the current educational system here in the UK. Employers do not feel that students leave education with the skills required to succeed in the work place. This is particularly applicable to adults who do not have basic skills in literacy and numeracy, and also in key specialist areas such as electrical engineering.

What the Government wants to do then is give employers more of a say in how courses are run by allowing them to determine how funding is allocated. It will also give LSCs the right to stop funding failing colleges until an adequate leadership system is put into place. (LSCs – learning and skills counsels- are basically in charge of anything to with money or funding in FE- you have them to thank for EMA- educational maintenance allowance- for example, which is both a blessing and a curse, but that deserves a separate post)

Another solution to the problem is to introduce diplomas into the education market starting in 2008. These are a compromise between A Levels and the baccalaureate, and some of the course will be work based.

The white paper also wants to ensure that teachers in FE are adequately qualified by introducing the equivalent of QTS (starting in September 2007) and will deal with the pay gap between teachers in schools and colleges (as at the moment colleges don’t have to stick to the pay spine that schools do). Finally, the Government will try and ensure all courses are free for students or “clients” up to the age of 25, provided it’s their first level 3 (A Level or equivalent) course.

My thoughts

The new diplomas are supposed to change peoples’ perceptions of vocational courses so they don’t carry the stigma of being less academic then A levels. However, it is very difficult to change perceptions overnight, and I think the UK values A Levels too much for vocational courses to reach a par with A Levles as it does in other European countries. At the same time that some of the diplomas will be introduced in 2008, the A level system is also due for a major change in the way it is structured, which will cost a lot and will require extra training, thus showing that A Levels are here to stay for the foreseeable future at least.

It’s a shame though. I have students that are very able and who are just more suited to vocational courses, because of their personality and interests. But these students are “strongly advised” to go with the more academic option, whereas students with lower GCSE averages are encouraged to do BTECS etc.
I did the same thing recently. My younger brother is choosing options for college and I made sure he chose A Levels. But it’s nothing to do with my perceptions. I just have insider’s information on how colleges and universities perceive the so called equivalent of A Levels.

The LSCs have the power to stop funding for failing colleges. This is really unfair. If the colleges are failing, it is probably largely due to the fact that they don’t have enough money for resources etc anyway. The thing is, in the LSC’s eyes, a college is a business and the students are thus referred to as “clients” and the “market” should be open to “competition”. I can understand all that , but to me the students are actual people and I know them by their first names, and what may be deemed as failures in terms of results etc but not in everyday little things you see, like improvements in social interaction which do matter and should matter.

Free funding up to 25 is a positive move, especially as most adults coming back into education are in their early twenties anyway. But what about people over 25? It just seems like age discrimination to me. One of the things I hate about teaching adults is the fact that they have to pay. In fact, during the first week I have to check they have paid and send them away if they haven’t. I hate that. It is one of the reasons I didn’t want to go into a career like law, for example. I hate dealing with money upfront. I’d much rather pretend money has nothing to do with it. I really do think I would do my job for free, I love it so much. Anyway, what I would hate more than anything is a class where half the people are paying and half are not, just because of age.
I hate it at the moment, with EMA as half the people get it and half don’t depending on their parents income. But I did say that was a separate post.

Wow I think I’d better stop now, this is like an essay! As no one is probably reading anymore anyway, I won’t bother saying goodbye:)

adab (intro)

2007-04-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

All notes taken from a talk by
Ibn adam al kawthari entitled
adab in islam
delivered at
Cheadle Masjid on
Saturday 31st March 2007

Adab is a word which cannot be translated exactly into the english language. it includes all good actions and verbal statements. Plural is adaab
Taken from adb which means calling people for food :)

A condition of seeking ilm (knowledge) is adab, as otherwise you will not seek ilm the way it should be sought.
The ulema used to say that knowledge without adab is like fire without wood and adab withoug knowledge is like a soul without body.

And one of the things we must do is correct our intentions as (eg)we should not want to learn to show arrogance or to prove others wrong as this is the way of the ignorant.

Classically, adab was not taught but seen and passed down. There was no need to teach it as children could see adab from their parents’ actions and youngsters could see it in their elders. Today, it is taught and books are written because this is an area that has diminished.

All the hadith collections have chapters dedicated to manners, etiquettes and adab. And imam al bukhari even wrote a separate collection – al adab al mufrad.

He did not mention the hadith in his main collection to emphasise them by separating them out and also some of the ahadith were not of the calibre that he would have liked to be included in his sahih collection.

It is said that everything in the deen relies on adab. And it is of taqwa to have adab- to have respect for the quran, the prophet saw and masjids.

And then there is social adab, and the adab you seek from your parents is the best type of inheritance they can give you.

Tasawuff and purification of the soul is all about good adab. To succeed in tassawuf , it is mandatory to have good character.

The idea behind adab is that nobody should be harmed by anything you say or do.

Because a complete believer is where other muslims feel safe in their presence

The prophet saw was the best of people, especially to his wives and servants.
This is why islam spread so fast. People came into islam because of the prophet’s saw character. One companion said the prophet saw never used to see me without a smile on his face. Another said each person thought he was the most beloved to the prophet saw because of the way he made them feel in his presence.

It deals with basic issues such as not breaking a promise. We think this is not part of our religion, but it is actually a fundamental part of the religion. And breaking a promise is one of the signs of a hypocrite.

The talk was based on the text Islmiac manners by sheikh Abdul Fattah. I will inshAllah be putting up all the points up eventually, and you should be able to access them all together by clicking on the “adab” button under the labels section. To start off, here is one I thought was pertinent..

Etiquette of joking

we need to be cautious in everything we say, in case we cause offence. Even amongst friends, we should exercise caution, although joking is permissible to some extent.
for example, one of the prophet’s saw companions was trading in the market, and the prophet saw came from behind and covered his eyes.

But even when we are joking around, we should have respect and consideration and ensure we do not cross the line.

what i like about..

2007-04-03T13:54:00.001-07:00

What I like about ......bengalis:

Balla assoni?!

1. The clothes. I love saris. Very glamorous.
2. The food! Especially rice and fish. Very healthy.
3. The language. There is no “p”. I never did like plosive letters. Too harsh.
Someone teach me to say I love you in bangla.

What I like about ......Americans.

How you doin? (joey style)

I have too many American friends to indulge in any American bashing. Besides, we were reading this poem in class, and I found myself defending American foreign policy in an attempt to be diplomatic, because the students were being so anti American! Besides not everyone in America thinks in the same way.. (only just learnt how to do that without the messy url so will probably be doing it a lot)

Anyway, what I like about Americans then:
1. translations is showing in Broadway! If you live anywhere near new york, go and see it. Wanted to take my A2 students who are studying it but there is no where close by :(
2. the way they say leisure “leesure” tee hee hee hee. The first time Saudi stepford wife did it, I actually didn’t know what she was saying. But it sounds nifty that way. Don’t know why!
3. the cookies are bigger. Need I say more?

What I like about ......arabs

khayfal haal!?

1. the language!
2. I think it would be kind of cool to go out fully covered in the middle of summer, and not have people looking at you like you are an alien.
3. halal meat wherever you go

what I like about paki(stanis)

kese ho?

well come on I could’t leave it out now could i?
… but can’t seem to think of anything at the moment. No I’m kidding
1. the language. And mirpuri really does beat any other languages hands down! (samaose kaso, sesso)
2. whatever else you might think of extended familes, at least they are close knit and help each other out.
3. ?? any additions? My mind really has gone blank!

What I like about ......Chinese people

Le ho ma (is that right even!?)

1. everything! I’m not allowed to teach the Chinese students at college. They actually won’t let me! Well ok, they’re not allowed to do A Level English, but still..
2. I think I better stop this section, before people start getting worried about my obsession with the chinese. Really!

What I like about Danes

Hvarden har du det?

1. samia
2. gry
3. met two very sweet Danish girls, and it is no longer the ominous land with those cartoons. So yeh, all Danish boycotts shold be stopped now

and last but of course not least

what I like about Britain

aright mate? That was supposed to be cockney style. No? okay then

1. if you look and compare with other countries, I really do believe this is one of the most tolerant countries to be in at the moment.
2. the food- well it’s important!
3. the weather. I’m happier when it’s cold.

The north/ south divide deserves a post by itself, but I would just want to finish by saying the north west rocks! And London has no greenery. Right saabirah?

tried and tested

2007-04-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

in an era where consumerism is prevalent, we are constantly bombarded with images and advertisements convincing us that happiness is attainable with the purchase of the latest product. this can often lead to feelings of disenchantment, not least of all because the said promise is unfulfilled and can lead to envy and bitterness.

just read this if you don't believe me.

so..

methoughts i would save you all some time and money and share some of the products i like at the moment.

1. The body shop cocoa butter hand and body lotion
2. The body shop strawberry body lotion
3. the body shop lightening touch
4. Lush smitten hand lotion
5. The body shop foundation brush
5. Mac select sheer powder
6. YSL toche eclat
7. Estee lauder magnoscopic mascara
8. The body shop tea tree oil
9. Mac pink freeze eye shadow
10. Mac powder blush

these products really do what they say on the box. but of course they will not buy you happiness. for there is only one way to do that.

my brooch collection

2007-04-02T04:41:00.000-07:00

fear

2007-03-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

It is said that the Arabic word Taqwa can never really be translated as it encompasses a range of emotions, the fear of Allah being only one of them. but i wanted to talk a little about this topic becasue fear is a very powerful emotion.

Here are a few things that scare me

There will be more women then men in hell

A woman who wears tight clothes will never even smell the scent of paradise.

Out of every 1000 muslims, only one will go to paradise without first having to go to hell.

Whoever misses the pre dawn prayer intentinally even once will enter hell for at least 50,000 years.

I could talk about Allah’s mercy next. But I don’t want to. Because I think I for one could do with a bit more taqwa in my day to day life.

every child matters

2007-03-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

I know every child matters, that is why I wanted to teach in the first place and definitely why I wanted to be a personal tutor! But what I don’t get is why I have to waste time proving it on paper for the benefit of other people when I could be working on actually doing it!
Our college is being inspected next month, (I will no doubt be ranting a lot more about this soon) and so the college has decided that every single scheme of work has to be moved on to a new format with a separate column for every child matters. Now, I don’t want to turn into one of the cynical old men that were being quite rude to the management team in the meeting we had on this topic in the meeting this morning,
but I can see their point.
I teach English .why should I have to mention the every child matters agendas in every single lesson?

A bit of background.

Every child matters came about due to the death of Victoria climbie, an eight year old girl who was severely tortured by her aunt and boyfriend. The shocking thing about the case was that no one noticed how bad she was being treated until after she died, even though all the signs were there and she had had numerous contact with the police, social services etc who all failed to notice or acknowledge her suffering.
The government’s response to this was to make it an obligation for every professional in charge of children to look out for a child’s welfare. In terms of teaching this means we have to show how we are incorporating the following in to lessons plans:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well-being

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in the agenda and deal with these issues all the time in tutorials. (we did food diaries one time! I had to ..stretch the truth…ok blatantly lie on mine so I looked like a good role model!) I suppose they can be done in English as well. For example, when analyzing a persuasive writing text you could use a piece on why alcohol consumption is bad for you , or any language quizzes would come under enjoying and achieving or you could set an activity where students have to write an instructive piece on how children should cross the road.
I suppose I can see the benefit of it then. Just wish I didn’t have to change all my schemes of work
For those of you thinking of applying for teaching, or about to go for an interview, every child matters is high on the government’s agenda at the moment and so a big thing in schools, so it might be worth mentioning what you know about it on application forms.

Regards.

an interesting experience

2007-03-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

we had some visitors from a special needs school today at the college. they set up a stall outside the refectory and the theme was "walk in my shoes", and you basically had to try to do an everyday activity but from the perspective of a disabled person e.g walk around the college with with your eyes closed (with a guide.)

the students were annoying the hell out of me because they refused to participate. i know it is embarrassing doing something like that in front of everybody, but that was the whole point: to experience how some people feel every day.

so anyway, after a while we figured we should lead by example and the staff had a go. it really was an interesting experience. i had a go at writing my name with my teeth, with both hands behind my back and got laughed at ALOT as it was completely illegible. then had a go at reading a story as fast as i could.. backwards. finally had to try and pick up a cocktail stick with six pair of gloves on.

it was very frustrating, and an excellent reminder of how grateful we should be for what we often take for granted.

after much nagging some of the students had a go, but think i might try it again in tutorial when it is not so public, especially the dyslexia awareness ones. it will encourage people to be a lot more patient i think, and remind them that dyslexia has nothing to do with ability.

i picked up lots of useful resources too. i will post them as soon as i figure out how.

safe driving

2007-03-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

i haven't had an accident in five years, alhamdulilah. hhm i do not think this is due to my own safe driving actually. i have made some very stupid mistakes and i can't park(at all, really, ask anyone. sometimes i have to get out and let me sister in law do it. hanging my head in shame at this , but i attribute it to all her years of london driving)

anyhow, the reason i am talking about safe driving is because i nearly died yesterday. in fact you're all lucky i am able to still talk to all of you good people (oh and mishy) because my darling little sister thought she would try and steer round the corner in third gear.

i think this is why women should be banned from driving. and yes, that is supposed to provoke a reaction from you and encourage you to share your driving experiences. saudi stepford wife, where have you gone, you have a feminist streak, if your last post is anything to go by:)

drive safe

the daughter of the prophet, peace be upon him.

2007-03-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Went to a talk the other day delivered by Shaykha Aysha Scott from Malaysia. The topic was the prophet’s sallahu alayhi wassalm (saw) daughter, Sidi Fatima. I’ve been waiting ag-es for a talk on a topic of this nature, so was super excited and the talk was as good as expected. Thought I would summarise and share my notes, although they do not seem to be doing justice to the passion and enthusiasm of the speaker.

Sidi fatima was the most beloved of the prophet’s (saw) children. Her status in the eyes of Allah was manifested when she saw the angel Gibreel during the night of mirage in his true form. Other than the prophet (saw) she was the only person to be granted this privilege.

When the time for her marriage came, the prophet (saw) requested everyone interested to recite the whole qura’n in one night. No one managed this task except for Ali. He recited surah ikhlas three times and was granted Fatimah’s hand in marriage.

Sidi Fatimah lived in poverty until the day she died. She found it difficult to complete her household duties but did not complain. Once Ali took pity on her and asked the prophet (saw) for a servant. The prophet (saw) stated that reciting subhanallah 33 times, alhamdullaih33 times and allahu akbar 34times was better then the help of a servent. Until their deaths, Fatima and Ali never failed to do this.

When the time came for the prophet (saw) to return to his Lord, he called for Fatimah to come to see her. He whispered something in her ear, and she cried. He whispered something again and she laughed. After the prophet (saw) passed away sidi aysha enquired about what the prophet (saw)had said. She said the first time he (saw) called her over he had told her he will soon leave the world, so she had cried. The second time, he told her that she would be the first to join him,so she laughed.

Six months after nabi’s (saw) death, Fatima lay down on her bed and peacefully passed away. Along with sidi Aysha, she is buried next to the prophet (saw) in her house.

In the ahadith it is stated that she will be the leader of all women in paradise.

All truth is from Allah alone and any mistakes are due to my own limited capacity for understanding. If you notice any discrepancies, please give me a shout so it can be changed.

It’s nearly easter!

2007-03-24T15:18:00.000-07:00

And no, I’m not excited (that much) because of all the chocolate, but because it means two weeks holidays, which are much needed. Usually I don’t like long holidays, I end up missing my students (largely because I have no one to boss around) but I have been quite cranky recently, and have been taking it out on the students which I usually hate. Oh and before anyone starts complaining about how many holidays teachers have, I have a LOT of marking to do.

Which is partly why I’ve been so cranky probably. If there is one single thing I hate about my job it’s all the useless unnecessary paperwork. Actually I don’t mind the marking as much but it’s having to do endless lesson plans and schemes of work that no one checks. One thing they don’t tell you about in the recent adverts with the pretty interested students anyway, I shouldn’t complain too much, some people do nothing but pointless paperwork all day in offices and have no interaction with other people. Imagine.

Probably shouldn’t get too excited yet. Have got a week of giddy end of term mentality to put up with yet. So does anyone have any ideas for lessons that don’t involve my dictionary challnge! Which doesn’t go down well for some reason.

what i did today

2007-03-23T14:10:00.001-07:00

i did the be-est thing today, you will have to email or text me to find out what:)

lemon-honey chicken

2007-03-22T13:29:00.000-07:00

ingredients

chicken wings (about 8)
lemon juice (about 50ml)
honey (about 50g)
salt pepper

preparation

marinade the chicken with the lemon and honey and sprinkle with salt and pepper. leave overnight.
place chicken mixture in a baking dish and roast in a prehated oven for about 45 minutes.
serve with lemon wedges and leftover sauce.

apologies for the vaugeness regarding measurements, but i haven't actually tried this recipe, but have tasted it:) to give credit where it is due, i tried it as umm arwah's house, and she assures me it was very easy to make. actually, it is because of arwa that she probably isn't reading this even. (i love arwa) anyway, let me know if you try it:)

5 weird things about me

2007-03-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

1. i can move my ears without touching them. i mean just my ears without moving the rest of my face. it's a skill i'm quite proud of as a matter of fact.
2. i share the exact same birthday as my sister. we were born one year apart.
3. i tend to sing a lot whilst i'm moving around the house. it annoys my family a lot.
4. i learnt how to play the drums in school.
5. my students think i'm Kenyan. i thought it was funny so never bothered correcting them.

ok, so i'm very new to the blogging world, but i do know that now i've done this, i can "tag" other people and they have to do the same thing on their blog? so i tag ymiss and umm maymoona. the rest of you can just do it on my comments section of course:)

the last time i cried

2007-03-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

"you're not a real teacher until you've cried anyway"

when i first arrived at the school i used to see this innocent looking blonde boy standing outside in the corridor. i couldn't believe he had been sent out of so many classes as he was always polite and looked sheepish when people walked past.
anyway, i ended up teaching this boy in my year 7 class and he was very quiet and always got on with his work. then one day as i was walking past his desk, i noticed that the task he was so engrossed in had less to do with learning spellings and more to do with drawing cartoons. so:
me: X, put that away and get on with your work.
X: leave me alone, everyone is always picking on me, i hate you. your work is boring anyway, i'm going to tell my dad over you.
i kept him behind at break, and he decided to mumble on (mostly about setting his dad on me for some obscure reason)so that his 15 minute detention soon turned into a 45 minute detention. he finally mananged to remain quite for 2 minutes, and then i had to let him go to get to my next class.
i walked into the class (year 9) and burst into tears. the classroom teacher quickly escorted me in to the staffroom, amid cries of "we didn't do anything to her" from the year 9s, where i wailed lke a baby for about half an hour. that's when my mentor told me "you're not a real teacher until you've cried anyway", which made me feel heaps better. i really do think having a good mentor can make or break your pgce year. anyway, she also told me that X can be very aggressive when it comes to his cartoons (it's what he wants to do when he grows up) and also, as i've learnt since, boys have to put up a macho image in front of their friends when they are being told off in public.
i don't know why X got to me so much, i think i just needed to cry to get it out of my system. i haven't let a student get to me that much since (well at least i haven't cried since!)
i think you just have to remember that in the classroom, it is not a "real" situation and the students rarely hate you, just what you represent. plus, most (but not all) of the time students only misbehave when they're bored or the work is too difficult for them. that's why supply teachers have such a rough time, the students feel that the member of staff doesn't care about them and won't be with them long term so don't bother making the effort.
one good thing to come out of it was that the year 9s were really nice to me for the rest of my placement:)

so, when was the last time you cried...

food diary

2007-03-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

let's talk food:)

breakfast. have been trying my best with this recently, as thought it was getting a bit ridiculous that i can't function without my cofee in the morning. so, set my alarm a half hour early and have been munching away on weetabix. then one morning, thought would try something a little different and tried oatibix. have not been able to face breakfast ever since. don't know who came up with the idea, but it does not taste good.

lunch-haven't had the time or inclination really to make lunch recently so have to brave the refectory. at the last student council meeting, the students were complaining about prices, and its only now i know what they mean. since when was it £2.OO for a sandwich? i remmebr in my day it was 90p. anyway, due to the every child matters agenda, and of course jamie oliver, vending machines are another thing that are becoming a thing of the past. which is fine, i'm all for that, but sometimes you just need a chocolate fix to function.

anyway, usually end up snacking through the day with at least 2-3 cups of cofee and i know i don't drink anywhere near enough water, although read somewhere that cofee can be included in the 2 litres wer're supposed to be drinking everyday? i think that may be just wishful thinking though.

so anyway, i think my diet needs sorting out a bit. used to got through phases of healthy eating and it really does help you feel better. so, come on, any advice for small and easy steps. i know there are at least two medics reading this..

biriyani recipe

2007-03-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

made biriyani today, so thought i` would share the recipe whilst it was fresh in my head. this one is especially for my sister in law's sister in law (i'm sure there must be a word for that??)

Ingredients

2 onions, finely chopped.
I garlic, grated
4 tomotoes, chopped.
1 pound boneless chicken
2 medium sized glasses of rice
Salt, pepper and chilli powder (to taste)
I teaspoon tumeric powder
I teaspoon coriander powder
2 heaped tablespoons of cumin seeds
I box of biriyani mix
I oxo cube
I lemon
2 peppers, chopped
4 carrots, grated
4 medium sized potatoes, cubed
2 onions, thinly sliced.
5 boiled eggs, thinly sliced

Preparation

Fry the onions and garlic in some oil, add the chopped tomatoes when onions have browned slightly. leave to simmer for five minutes. Add the boneless chicken. Add salt, pepper, oxo cube, biriyani mix(sometimes I use Indian oxo cubes), coriander powder, tumeric powder and red chilli powder. Add the juice of one lemon and leave on low until the chicken is cooked. Add peppers and grated carrot just before taking off the heat.

Fry the onions and potatoes and leave to one side.

Boil the rice, adding salt and cumin seeds, until almost cooked. Drain and leave to cool slightly.

Use a deep oven proof pan. Add a touch of olive oil to the bottom of the pan. Add a layer of rice, then a layer of the chicken mixture followed by another layer of rice. Then add fried onions and potatoes, ensuring all layers are spread evenly. Add another layer of the rice and chicken mixture, finishing with a final layer of rice. Leave dish on low heat, or in the oven for half an hour. serve on a try with the boiled eggs. Oh and invite hema round for dinner:)

lesson observation

2007-03-17T03:08:00.000-07:00

Had a lesson observation this week.

Have been stressing out about it all week as not used to them anymore. It’s funny during your pgce you have one every week so it didn’t used to phase me, but I think I have got used to bad habits. Kind of like driving. Who thinks they would be able to pass a driving test if they were to take a test tomorrow?

Anyway, thankfully the lesson went ok, apart from accidentally telling them euphemism began with a u, which caused a lot of confusion when they were trying to complete their crossword, but in my defence I was running around giving out pens, so it’s easily done! The class are retake GCSEs and allergic to English, but tried their best. By that I mean they didn’t try to throw things at each other or spend the lesson complaining about ginger people (don’t ask). Anyway, at the end of the lesson, she said “they’re a lively bunch aren’t they?” hhm there’s a euphemism if I’ve ever heard one.

Have to take my class to alton towers:( have been trying to get out of it, but every other class is going, so I suppose it’s only fair that mine go to. I’m not a big fan of rides. Why would you pay for something so scary? I have never understood it. I think I might hide in a café the whole time. Or eat candy floss. Or hunt for toffee apples, I’ve been trying to find somewhere that sells them. Actually, I’m rather looking forward to it now..

Hhm, this blog isn’t very pretty compared to some other peoples’. I might spend some time tidying it up. Although, I should probably clean my room first……

bullying

2007-03-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

“They seemed to have taken all of their smoothly cultivated ignorance, their exquisitely learned self-hatred, their elaborately designed hopelessness and sucked it all up into a fiery cone of scorn that had burned for ages in the hollows of their minds- cooled- and spilled over lips of outrage, consuming whatever was in its path.”

I thought that was a rather astute analysis of bullying from Toni Morrison’s “the bluest eye”.

The issue of bullying has been bugging me for a while now. At the start of the year, one of my students ( we’ll call her L, I’m no good at making up names!) told me some of the boys were throwing things at her in the corridors to get a reaction out of her, encouraged by some of the girls. I dealt with the situation by putting everyone involved on report. The boys eased off after a while, but the girls just made things worse for her. Comments, giggling and excluding her from the group- all of the things teenage girls are so good at. It got to the point where L stopped coming to lessons. I eventually “dealt” with the situation by transferring her to another tutor group, which of course is not really dealing with the problem at all. The other girls involved are actually quite nice. They admitted it’s just group mentality and not wanting to stand out from the crowd.

Recently two students, F and C, had a falling out. They used to be friends so I tried to investigate what it was about. Apparently, F had “stolen” C’s boyfriend. C is very popular in the college, and started a campaign to make sure F was as hated as possible, which included spreading some very vicious rumors and name calling. F has now missed a whole week and is thinking of leaving the college. I have been advised by her form tutor to just stay out of it, as F will probably be leaving anyway, due to a range of other problems. But it’s the name calling and the backstabbing that gets tome the most. No one deserves to be treated like that, it’s not nice.

So anyone have any ideas or tips on how to deal with bullies? was anyone bullied at school and found a way of dealing it. Or maybe some of you were bullies yourself… hhm that would be a good way of getting an insight into how bullies’ minds work. So come on, own up. You can remain anonymous of course..

what's in a name?

2007-03-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

this blog of mine, as no doubt you'll soon be able to tell, is really just an opportuntiy for me to ramble on. i do not currently have many friends you see. they all gradually got hitched, had one or two crying machines, and then disappeared off the face of the earth.

however, i am also hoping that this blog will be beneficial to anyone having the privilige of reading it. i promised to upload some teaching resources on here for example, and i'm hoping to exchange ideas with others lucky/crazy (depending on my mood) enough to be in this field, as well as providing an insight into the day to day life of teaching. i will also post some of my recipes, so that those of you living on junkfood and myfood can learn to fend for yourselves. i shall not name names but you know who you are!

i have predilection for blogs at the moment (and also a predilection for the word predilection) anyway, i have a few favourite blogs i check regularly, which i will link to as soon as i figure out how, and thought it was about time i stopped talking about what to name my blog and just come up with soemthing! hema is a childhood nickname, which means i can maintain anonyminity and still keep part of my identity. well i like it anyway.

speaking of names, my sister in law has decided she wants to do something about the current serene atmosphere in our house by introducing a crying machine into the bargain soon. so, any ideas for names would be appreciated. just so he/she doesn't end up with some of the recent suggestions that have been put forward. i mean HIBA??????