Twitter Updates for 2010-01-31
- RT @socialmedia2day Social Media Today | Debunking Five Social Media Myths http://is.gd/6ROkB #
- RT @socialmedia2day Social Media Today | 3 Reasons why Twitter is better than Facebook http://bit.ly/cL0hF8 #
- RT @socialmedia2day Social Media Today | Report: Facebook™s Twitterfication May Have Stunted Twitter Growth http://bit.ly/bogrZn #
Muslim Kids Video – I think my mum is amazing by Zain Bhikha
This nasheed is called “I think my mum is amazing” which is part of the “Allah Knows” CD by Zain Bhikha. It’s a beautiful video; but, very sad at the end 
You’ll just have to watch it to find out why for yourself.
We’d like to showcase the best nasheed and Muslim Kids videos on the web every Sunday. So, please leave a comment below with your favorite link and check back each week to see when we post it!
Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-30
- Preparing to vote for the Nutmeg 2009 Nominees Book Club this afternoon: http://ping.fm/PQK38 "Archer's Quest" all the way! #homeschool #
- Slightly changed 'Awamee recipe, from Deep-Fried Sweet Ball to Boobahs
http://ping.fm/nybzf # - Kids Book Review of Drita by Jenny Lombard http://ping.fm/u3H95 #
- Thnx @rolemommy for the intro to @ChelseaPiersNYC Everyone can't wait for: http://ping.fm/AmP62 #
- Funny Idioms http://ping.fm/cXkgw Oxymorons http://ping.fm/nHUKv http://ping.fm/X29hX #homeschool #
- Poetry Pals for Kids: http://ping.fm/MBPd5 & Poetry frames: http://ping.fm/1zGCd #homeschool #
- Trying to find fun sites 4 Poetry Types. Found these defs: http://ping.fm/p3Js2 http://ping.fm/C87Np #homeschool #
- Working on figurative language. Tips & games here: http://ping.fm/9xVka #homeschool #
- Fast approaching our 21 limit 4 Pre-Olympic Amateur Athletes Free Lessons in NYC Fri 29th. Added 12yo: http://ping.fm/ZvXJ1 #
- 10 Websites for Muslim Kids http://ping.fm/ZzLty #islam #
- Free athletic lessons 1st 21 Tri-state kids. http://ping.fm/48bFL We're going, come join us! #
- Please become a fan of our new American Muslim Mom Facebook Fan Page http://ping.fm/R4gpa #islam #
- Just fixed some of my own html code…phew! I was the one who broke it in the 1st place…urgh #
Twitter Updates for 2010-01-29
- Preparing to vote for the Nutmeg 2009 Nominees Book Club this afternoon: http://ping.fm/PQK38 "Archer's Quest" all the way! #homeschool #
- Slightly changed 'Awamee recipe, from Deep-Fried Sweet Ball to Boobahs http://ping.fm/nybzf #
Freebie Friday – Aveeno, Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener & Wooden Comb
- Wooden Comb – From Light Breeze, while supplies last.
- Aveeno - AVEENO® Skin Relief Moisturizing Lotion.
- Snuggle Liquid Fabric Softener – For US residents over the age of 18 years only.
Great Deal:
- Hasbro Games – $3.00 Toys-R-Us Mail in rebate. Deadline date: Sunday, January 31, 2010.
Twitter Updates for 2010-01-28
- Kids Book Review of Drita by Jenny Lombard http://ping.fm/u3H95 #
- Thnx @rolemommy for the intro to @ChelseaPiersNYC Everyone can't wait for: http://ping.fm/AmP62 #
- Funny Idioms http://ping.fm/cXkgw Oxymorons http://ping.fm/nHUKv http://ping.fm/X29hX #homeschool #
- Poetry Pals for Kids: http://ping.fm/MBPd5 & Poetry frames: http://ping.fm/1zGCd #homeschool #
- Trying to find fun sites 4 Poetry Types. Found these defs: http://ping.fm/p3Js2 http://ping.fm/C87Np #homeschool #
- Working on figurative language. Tips & games here: http://ping.fm/9xVka #homeschool #
Twitter Updates for 2010-01-27
- Fast approaching our 21 limit 4 Pre-Olympic Amateur Athletes Free Lessons in NYC Fri 29th. Added 12yo: http://ping.fm/ZvXJ1 #
Muslim Kids Review: Drita My Homegirl by Jenny Lomnbard
Book Review for Muslim Kids by Muslim Kids
Title: Drita, My Homegirl
Author: Jenny Lomnbard
Publisher: Puffin
ISBN: 978-0142409053
Pages: 144 pages
Kid Reviewer: Sabra Family
Age: 6, 8 & 9 yo
Intended Audience:
Gender: Girls.
Age Group: 6 – 8 years old. Grades 1 – 3. Early pre-chapter book readers. It was such easy reading that our 8 year old read it in less than 2 days.
It saddens our family greatly that the publisher and the reviewers say this book should be read by 3rd through 5th graders. We found the vocabulary to be very remedial. The content is not even equivalent to a newsstand newspaper which is geared towards a 3rd to 5th grade level reader, it is so elementary.
Rating:
Our 8 & 9 year old daughters and I each read this book and collectively give this book 2 out of 5 stars. Our 6 year old gave it a 3.
Recommendation:
We do not recommend this book. It’s not the worst book we’ve ever read, but it is not “okay”. Our 8 year old said “I just don’t really like this book”.
Review:
We are greatly disappointed that this was nominated for the Nutmeg awards. We discussed chapter by chapter for content, plot, setting, writing style, tone, vocabulary, and mode of each character.
Writing style & tone:
While we understand the author’s desire to use ebonics for Maxie since she’s an African American girl in Bronx, NY, it would have been a better reading experience if Jenny Lombard used proper English when Maxie was thinking and/or describing other parts of her chapters. However, we were impressed that Maxie was actually able to write a fourth grade level proper English speech for the last chapter. Since she was able to do this, we collectively believe that the author used ebonics too freely, as we believe Maxie was/is much more capable of always speaking poorly, especially since her father and grandmother did not approve and Maxie was able to correct herself.
Writing level:
- This book is definitely too elementary in its writing style and vocabulary for the 4th – 6th grade Intermediate Nutmeg Nominee category. Our 2nd grader easily read the first chapter, but given our review of this book; she too became uninterested in this book. It’s a very simple, easy “chapter” book, equivalent to picture chapter books for early (not intermediate) readers.
- It is definitely not for 9 -12 year olds, as Puffin describes.
Poor research:
- The author did not thoroughly research Muslims, for example the father put out his hand to shake with their case worker, a woman. As Muslims, we do not shake/touch the opposite sex except within immediate family members.
- Ramazan is the less popular way, and incorrect way to spell Ramadan. It’s ‘dal’ in Arabic = D in English; not ‘dhal’ = ‘zal’ in Arabic = Z in English.
- We don’t know if it was assumed to be a Kosovar’s, Muslim’s or foreigner’s explanation, but when Drita was thinking about her mother’s unusual behavior and although she was curious, she said she didn’t ask her grandmother (let alone her father) questions, because as a young girl she’s not supposed to ask or discuss those kinds of things!? A concerned, lovingly daughter interested in the well-being of her mother is perfect reason to mature with this experience, by asking questions and seeking answers. This was a great missed opportunity for Jenny Lombard to educate her readers.
Things we did not like in this book:
- Maxie’s description of Drita being as white as a scary “ghost” and being tall and thin is “awkward”. MashaAllah, God willed, the Albanians have beautiful, fair white skin, and tall, thin physiques. The reader is left to think that either Maxie is really cruel, or Albanians are scary and ugly. While we read at different paces, this one scene jumped out for all three of us.
- There were numerous typos and grammatical errors. If it was on purpose to show how poor Maxie’s English is through ebonics, this only creates a “dumber” reader through the “dumb” character; which we do not promote. We actually discussed throughout our reading experience, that “Maxie “sounds” stupid, but is not *that* stupid!” Often, we discussed that it looks like Jenny Lombard is obviously not African American, yet she’s trying to write as or for African Americans–she’s doing a very poor job of both. It’s obviously, in the scene when Maxie is defining “homey” and “homegirl”.
Missed opportunities for Jenny Lombard to educate her audience and create a more complete reading experience:
- The scene when Drita was bulleed and punched left the reader thinking “well, what happened to Drita?” Jenny Lombard missed the opportunity for her teacher, principal and parents to share some compassionate, empathic, emotional moments with Drita; so the reader can experience more than “oh, the bullies got punished, but the victim was still friend-less victim”. Drita and the other characters could have been more triumphant emotionally and socially in this scene. Drita’s conversation with her grandmother did not suffice for us. Also, two weeks of being “benched” rather than suspended was a very light punishment for a slap in the face and being punched in the stomach.
- Why did Jenny Lombard than leave her young readers still wondering what is medically, psychologically or emotionally wrong with Drita’s mom? Since she was admitted and released from the hospital without any explanation, we leave the story with a parent, guardian and/or teacher to assume or try to figure out and then describe to our readers that maybe she had post traumatic stress disorder, is severely depressed, experiencing hallucinations, and/or other issues. Rather then having the adult reader assume something that the author actually wrote into the storyline, why not define and describe it in an educational way for Drita, Maxie, and most of all her readers.
- We agreed that while Maxie matured into a more open-minded, kind, young girl willing to open herself up to her “secret” of her mother’s death with her new found close friend in Drita, the multiple reviews sharing that “this is a story of two girls from different worlds coming together as close friends” (paraphased) is not a unique theme to entice readers to read this story. It’s a redundant theme shared in many books for girls in this age group; and given all the reasons written in our review, we do not find anything unique enough to recommend this book.
- Even the notable reviews share that its theme connecting bullies with war and refugees as poignant; in our view, it is unfounded. We feel strongly that the author does not give justice to these idealistic reviews. We expected much greater things from these highly inflated reviews and was gravely disappointed. These reviews make my family wonder about the veracity of these reviews from notable news sources. The “idea” for this book was good, but the story did not fill its ideals.
Closing Remarks:
While we may be a bit defensive, since we’re reading other Nutmeg Nominees simultaneously; and have not faced any of these above problems in any other book thus far, we feel “Drita, My Homegirl” should not be categorized with these books at all.
Chelsea Piers Free Athletic Class Update
We’d like to thank everyone who showed interest in the free Pre-Olympic Athletic Lessons offered by Chelsea Piers this Friday, January 29, 2010.
Attendance Update:
- We reached our maximum class size of 21 kids aged 6 – 12 years old.
- All commentators will receive an email questionnaire stating your place in the class or if you were placed on the waiting list.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- This program is open to any homeschoolers aged 6 -12 years old in the Tri-State area willing to drive into New York City, and not limited to American Muslim homeschoolers.
- An age range was determined to allow maximum benefit for the attendees and the instructors teaching the classes. Not only do we want our children to “try” a new sport, but we’d like them to learn enough basic fundamentals so they can determine if these are different sports they would like to explore further in the future.
- No, this was not a publicly marketed program. American Muslim Mom through RoleMommy has been directly working with Chelsea Piers. We are exploring the utilization social media, bloggers, and email lists as a publicity method, while finding new ways to showcase their facilities and services to the local homeschool population.
- While we’d like to focus on local New York homeschoolers, since we were unable to gauge how much interest CT families would be willing to drive into the City, we set the rule that the first to comment on this blog will be the first served.
- We do not want to turn any interested child and their family, but we have a limited number of instructors to teach the classes.
However, if you’d like to participate in future programs with Chelsea Pier, and other homeschool and family events organized by American Muslim Mom, we highly recommend that you subscribe to our RSS feed and our email list on the top right-hand corner of this page to stay posted.
Some future possibilities include:
- Chelsea Piers Spring Bowling and Golf Lessons,
- Experimenting Physics at Quassy Amusement Park,
- Free admissions and programs at area museums,
- Private movie screenings, and much more.
Please fill out the questionnaire as thorough as possible:
- Reasons for some questions:
- We’d like to thank whichever party referred you to American Muslim Mom for this program, and/or see which method was the best in reaching local homeschool families.
- We’d like to see how we can better serve NY versus CT families for future programs.
- We’d like to serve as many interested families as well.
If you missed this opportunity, subscribe to our RSS feed today!
Twitter Updates for 2010-01-26
- 10 Websites for Muslim Kids http://ping.fm/ZzLty #islam #
- Free athletic lessons 1st 21 Tri-state kids. http://ping.fm/48bFL We're going, come join us! #
- Please become a fan of our new American Muslim Mom Facebook Fan Page http://ping.fm/R4gpa #islam #
- Just fixed some of my own html code…phew! I was the one who broke it in the 1st place…urgh #
