Determined to get to work on today’s homeschool project, I told my daughter to call Baba. “Baba, what’s a Gamma Camera? or a nuclear camera?” While on the road, and unable to hear, he kept yelling “What? What?” So, she continue to ask, “What are they? How are they different?” “What are What!?”

It was a funny conversation held on speakerphone for the whole family’s eager ears to listen in. “Why do you want to know?” he quickly asked, but before he could take a next breathe you can hear his pride lightening up in the conversation but in a rush while driving he searched “there’s no difference between a gamma camera and nuclear camera, they’re the same…they’re used to scan patients…to look inside, like the heart, and find bad things…but, just google them both and research more about them…you’ll find a lot, and then when I come home we’ll talk more…okay?” “Okay, Baba, thanks!”

Hubby takes pride whenever the girls express interest in learning more about anything he does…and he makes them love things (in a loving way of course) that he loves regardless, because “you need to know this” is always insists! As a biomedical engineer, the girls get graduate-level lessons in biology whenever he studies the latest equipment, finds new procedures for different ailments, etc.

Like they say “teach a fisherman to fish to feed them a lifetime, rather than giving them fish”. This is how we’ve trained the girls to conduct their own research, get into the depth of their studies, then we have an educated discussion as a family.

As expected (by all of us), they quickly found youtube videos and slideshows describing what they are, why they are used and different styles and types.

Just like the girls follow in my footsteps in writing, blogging, etc. in reality their biggest strengths are in STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, due to their parents being in science.

While, our goal isn’t necessary EVER to have them follow in our footsteps, by integrating our professions into their homeschool studies, gives them individualized, personalized and very personal education experiences that none of their peers can ever have, simply because every childs’ parents have different professions.

Dare to teach your kids your professions. Interest them to research more of your chosen field of study. Allow them the room to grow with you and have them study WITH you for your professional exams, certifications, etc. These are just a few of the ways we homeschool our daughters.

Now, we’re curious of your homeschool ways too. Please comment below!

Disclosure: This post is part of a blogger campaign organized by Bucks2Blog. Check out our review here, and Join Today to get paid to blog! If you get a gig, please let them know Ponn Sabra/American Muslim Mom referred you, thanks! We were not influenced in anyway to share only positive remarks. After all, lying is haram (prohibited). You’re welcome to read American Muslim Mom’s disclosure policy and contest disclosure.

Do You Know What a Gamma Camera Is? A Lesson from a Homeschool Parent’s Profession is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

The Hooked on Phonics programs are continuously updated, and since my youngest will be 8 this month, inshaAllah, God willing, and she has been reading since 2 years and 10 months, it has been quite some time since we reviewed reading programs. Anyways, we only had one experience with Hooked on Phonics when my eldest was very young, but listening to cassette taps and reading one and blue text books were a bit too boring and not interactive enough to keep any of our attention, let alone interest. We gave it a good week or two of sporadic tries, even with my very animated help…but we happily gave it back to its owners and never looked back.

Little did I know that they underwent huge changes over the past years (nearly a decade later)! Besides Arabic and learning the rules of Tajweed for the Qur’an, my girls and I have never taken well to route memory or repetitive learning activities; so I’m extremely happy that Hooked on Phonics decided to make some much needed changes for the better.

They have colorful storybooks by award-winning authors, online access to interactive website, DVDs, CDs and accompanying workbooks–just to name a few of the resources to interest young ones to enjoy the reading process. It’s not surprising to find they received multiple awards, and their advancement of their reading programs throughout all elementary grades. And, they even expanded into Math and Science programs!

While some would think I worked really hard to have all my girls read at or before 3 years of age, I simply read, read, read. We played writing games, so they were all writing letters of the alphabet at 2 years of age, and we had so much fun that it was when my oldest was 5 years old reading chapter books that I cried to my homeschool girlfriend out of guilt for not being the one who taught her how to read. Then, as any supportive girlfriend would do, she adamantly reminded me of the countless hours I read and played, wrote and played, read and wrote…etc.

So, with this huge advancements in this more interactive, more natural multiple-senses kind of learning aides to teach kids to read, I recommend that you give Hooked on Phonics a try. Since they offer a 30-day risk-free trail period, free shipping, and bonus gifts to keep if you decide to return for any reason. So, you have nothing to lose–but, everything to gain: such as a life-long lover of reading!

Disclosure: We did not receive compensation for this review. Therefore, we were not influenced in anyway to share only positive remarks. After all, lying is haram (prohibited). You’re welcome to read American Muslim Mom’s disclosure policy and contest disclosure.

Hooked on Phonics Gets Interactive is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

TechWomen.org - Muslim Women in Technology in the Media

My dearest colleague and Online PR partner Janet, tipped me into this article, stating that TechWomen — Mentor Application Now Open! So, I followed the link to find out more about this organization. From the homepage of TechWomen.org

TechWomen, a public-private partnership, was developed to implement President Barack Obama’s vision of greater collaboration between the United States and communities with predominantly Muslim populations, as outlined in his June 2009 speech in Cairo.

TechWomen is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE), and implemented in partnership with the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology (ABI).

Apply to become a Mentor

Click here to apply to become a Mentor Today!

Criteria:

• A technical woman who works in the greater Silicon Valley area
• Available for the month of June 2011
• Able to host a Mentee at the Mentor’s company’s site
• Able to coach that Mentee on a project provided by the Mentor’s company

Applications for Mentee has ended

OhMi! What an incredible opportunity…lost!

InshaAllah, God willing, I will keep my eyes peeled for next year, because my dear sister-in-law, our family’s “TechWoman” fits every single Eligibility requirement, and most of the Preferred requirements, mashaAllah, God has willed.

Silicon Valley TechWomen will Mentor TechWomen from MiddleEast & North Africa Summer 2011 is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Elephant Clock by Al-Jazari. Center piece for Home Zone.

We wrote about the 1001 Inventions – The Truth of Golden Age of Muslim Civilization last year, and we never thought it would make its way to the States–let alone in New York City for its debut! Anyways, we really tried our best to get the most out of our visit–and, although we spent 5-hours in this one-exhibit alone, if the girls totally didn’t tire out Auntie K, we would’ve stayed the extra hour…at least to take a peak of the rest of New York Hall of Science.

The Golden Ages debunks the “Dark Ages”

Researching the past gives us a better appreciation and ability to learn from our lessons and move into the future. This exhibit debunks “The Dark Ages” while all Muslims know (or should know) that it’s “The Golden Ages of Science, Math, Literature, etc.” By making this exhibit and accompanying textbook, they are forging forward worldwide. They’re bringing great attention to our past accomplishments that’s present with us today, ie phone, airplanes, universities, compasses–all invented by us, which is unknown by most.

Ibn al-Haytham "posing" for us to take his picture...SO funny!

How to Prepare for the 1001 Invention Exhibit

• Print out enough copies of both the primary level handouts, and  secondary level handouts. Make sure mommy & daddy have a copy too–It’s a science adventure that you don’t want to miss!
• Watch as many 1001 Invention videos as possible, to better familiarize yourself with the background, mission and goals of this magnificent exhibit.

Be Prepared For Pure Genius!

From this page,

The exhibition includes over 60 interactive, sensory and static exhibits. Explore the seven different zones to discover these: home, school, market, hospital, town, world and universe:

• Home: The thousand-year-old inventions that still shape everyday life
• Market: How influential ideas spread through travel and trade
• School: Learning, libraries and their links with the past
• Hospital: How ancient approaches to health have influenced today’s medicine
• Town: Why East and West share so much architectural heritage
• World: The explorers of a thousand years ago

They each have huge centerpieces with a featured inventor or innovator video in which they “talked” to us about their history, discoveries, and visions. Since ibn al-Haytham discovered how the “vision was made possible because of the refraction of light rays”, the basis for the invention of the camera, he “posed” for his listeners to “take a picture of him” to capture the moment. We watched it twice, just to “time” things right for his pose. His “crazy” story is quite unique too.

What do you think is missing in this invention?

Let the handouts guide your scientific adventures! We had so many people stop us to find out where we got our scavenger-hunt-type fill-in-the-blank handouts. Only our 7 year old used the primary-level, so we were fortunate enough to have extra copies to share with a huge group of multiple families eager to have a “guide” to make the exhibit more meaningful and intimate.

Each zone had multiple interactive activities, but the below constellations activity in the Universe Zone was definitely one of the coolest ones of all! Check it out in the video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWGYk7y2s_E

Purchase the 1001 Inventions Textbook

Auntie K, a non-Muslim, was equally amazed! Being the director of World Languages and English as a Second Language responsible for 22 schools under the Superintendent, a past-principal, Spanish teacher, world-traveler who lived in Spain and particularly loved Southern Spain’s rich Islamic history, she definitely had a unique perspective to add in our journey. But, while she really enjoyed herself the first 1.5 hours she comfortably got two copies of 1001 Inventions Muslim Heritage in Our World, one for us and one for herself. She comfortably read 95% of the textbook in the remaining 4-hours.

It’s a fascinating, easy-read, and made much more personal, since the entire textbook is written according to the seven exhibit zones and explains everything in more depth. We compared notes in the ride home, as we discussed areas in the handouts that the girls and I wrote “read more on this…or that”.

Click Here to Purchase "1001 Inventions Muslim Heritage in Our World" Today!

Enter to Win a Free 4 General Admissions Tickets to NYSCI! (Value. $76.00)

Deadline date: Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time.

Contest Rules

• You must adhere to all the rules as stated. Shall a winner be chosen who did not complete these rules, he/she will not be eligible to win.

You must visit NYSCI 1001 Inventions site and comment below letting us know which Zone you would visit first (home, school, market, hospital, town, world and universe) and why.

• To be eligible to win you must be a U.S. resident, 18 years of age or older, and able to visit the 1001 Inventions in New York City on or before April 24, 2011.

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Determining a Winner

Each comment below designates an entry number. We will use And the Winner Is… plugin to pick a random winner from the total number of comments below. The winner will be contacted by email. If no response is received in 48 hours, another winner will be chosen. Confirmed winners will be announced on our Contest Winners Page, where you may refer to at anytime.

Disclosure: We received media passes to review the 1001 Inventions . We were not influenced in anyway to share only positive remarks. After all, lying is haram (prohibited). You’re welcome to read American Muslim Mom’s disclosure policy and contest disclosure.

1001 Inventions Review & Giveaway for 4 General Admissions Tickets is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

My girls and I were so bummed that our tweets were not showing up for our very first participation in a Girls Night Out  (twitter hashtag #gno) with dear mommy blogger Jyl at MomItForward.com this past Tuesday because the topic was dear to our hearts: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM).

We had some short tips ready to share with the mommies, and we tried our best to keep up with the questions only to find that no one can see us So, mid-way through we dropped out of the party

But, I couldn’t let our humble tips go unnoticed, so I shared some of our tweets below. [At the time of posting this, we just noticed that Jyl had the awesome idea of sharing wonderful tips shared from that night in this comprehensive post here.]

*Tip:  If we have a link in the tweet, just click the image because it’s linked to that site.

1. STEM Homeschooling Parents

Introduction and one reason why this #gno was important so important to us:

2. Getting kids excited about STEM

Q1: Get kids into Inventing/Designing for an Inv Convention *not* just a sci fair: http://bit.ly/3igeh4

Q1: the reaction of testing sugar, warm H20 & yeast is fun http://bit.ly/bYeJdU TipL not boiling hot H20, warm tap

3. Websites to help kids enjoy learning Math and Science:

Q2: Math Another *Great* website: http://www.coolmath-games.com

Q2: Math *Great* website: http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/ We use in our Math Club

4. What do your kids want to be? What did you want to be when you were growing up?

5. Thoughts about how STEM classes are taught in school Then and Now:

6. Was there a stigma for girls entering STEM when you were growing up?

Remember, we only have 3 girls; so if there’s definitely no stigma in our house May God have mercy on Mommy’s soul–we miss you

We’d love to try all your wonderful STEM tips! Please share them below.

Science, Techonology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Tips for Kids is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog

Hurricane Katrina is truly a tragic natural disaster! Although are girls are all under 5 years old, there’s many lessons to learn:

1. Geography: We started learning from the Rookie Read-About Geography series just the day before Hurricane Katrina. Great books! Check them out right now!

2. Science. How and where hurricanes form, weather differences between coastal states and where we live in Toledo, Ohio. We used internet search. How New Orleans is below sea-level and what this means.

3. Current Events. I used Yahoo! News and we reviewed the news videos, pictures, and breaking new stories.

4. Charity, Compassion and Humanity. We discussed many issues of the refugees, lotting, and all their basic needs.

5. History. Hurricane Katrina is the worse natural disaster/hurricane in over 40 years.

6. Techonology: The issue of the levy’s and how we need to build an entire city from sewer systems, electricity, etc. from the “bottom-up”. We were on our walk last night and our kindergartener saw the sewer drain and she yelled “Mama, this is what they have to fix in New Orleans, right!?”

7. Reading & Research: We just picked up Children’s Encyclopedias and Dictionaries at the library. We’re learning how to find certain words in alphabetical order.

These are just a few of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. Please offer us more ideas and thoughts by sharing your comments below.

May God bless all the families directly affected by Hurricane Katrina, and may God guide all of us to help those suffering.

Hurricane Katrina – lessons to learn is a post from: American Muslim Mom Blog