Dr Gemma Elizabeth Founder Of Our Muslim Homeschool Podcasts

If you want to start homeschooling your child, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions. You’re excited, anxious and maybe a little scared too. It’s normal to feel this way. If you already home educate your kids, you probably have lots of worries too! That's normal too!In Episode 76 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share why we should overcome our w…

A good education for our children is every parent’s concern and priority. We have been schooled to think of "success" as synonymous with, or at least dependent upon, "schooling". However, as Muslim parents homeschooling in the UK, have we've lost sight and understanding of what a good education truly means? In Episode 75 of the Raising Mums podcast…

Our religion values reading since the first verse revealed to our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was “read” from surah Al-Alaq. Reading is an important part of a homeschooling life and the primary means of gaining knowledge. Children are like sponges and absorb everything they are exposed to. Everything they read will read influences their heart, their wa…

Teaching your children about your religion and culture is a significant part of parenting. Ramadan with your kids and other celebrations that you have at home as well as the numerous experiences that you share with your child will assist them with understanding the values that you attempt to instill in them. SubhanAllah, we are now nearing the end …

We start the homeschool year enthusiastically but sadly, the passion to teach our children sometimes begins to fade. Even adults can get bored if they’re doing the same old routine every day. We may start to chose a half-hearted approach as the daily demands of caring for a household and the intense effort required as a homeschooler can drain even …

When making homeschooling decisions sometimes we put too much weight on happiness and what makes our children happy and making sure they always do what they enjoy. Yes, children are an amanah (trust) from Allah SWT and we have certain duties and responsibilities towards them. We must guide them with kindness and mercy, but we also need to equip and…

Too often we spend our days drowning in homeschool comparison and looking for that next surefire thing that will magically bring us up to some self-imposed standard. Living in a social media-driven world makes this worse, it is the source of so much of our discontent. We now can compare and judge ourselves 24/7 with other in homeschools UK but also…

Ramadan is a month of spirituality and moral values and is a great opportunity for parents to teach their children ethics and values. You can take advantage of this holy month by implanting the beauty of the month of Ramadan in your children’s hearts and minds. During Ramadan, children build important memories which will influence how they feel abo…

You have a lot to do. In addition to all your other jobs and responsibilities, you've also chosen to home educate your children. That's huge! It's no wonder that when you can't keep up with the homeschooling curriculum, you worry they're falling behind. You worry that they're not where they're supposed to be, that you're failing as a homeschooler, …

Deciding to homeschool is a huge undertaking. As you make that choice, you’ll wrestle with emotions of doubt and fear; anxiety and self-loathing; confusion, and utter panic! And when you step out on the other side and boldly make that decision to home-educate, you may assume you’re the victor; that you’ll never face such difficult decisions again. …

Homeschooling moms have a lot on their plate. You’re often playing the role of housewife, mom, teacher, wife…and more. Homeschooling is fulfilling, interesting and exciting, but it can also be challenging and just plain hard! Being a homeschool mom can take sacrifice to a new level so it is so important that you take care and have confidence in you…

Among the countless benefits of homeschooling is flexible scheduling. This means your family has the freedom to learn whenever and wherever you want because the whole world is your classroom! Taking trips with your kids is not only great for learning and socializing but also for creating memories for the entire family. Unfortunately, sometimes, eve…

Homeschooling is often challenging but homeschooling older children can be especially frustrating when you are juggling homeschooling with a 2 year at home! Almost every homeschool mum has been through this, you are not alone! So how can we try and balance the needs of everyone and ensure learning does happen even with toddlers wandering around gra…

Sometimes you are confronted with people who don’t value or approve of homeschooling. This is a common problem here in the UK, where voluntary homeschooling is a very uncommon choice. These Homeschool Haters can bring you down. They can make you have self-doubt and feel despair by challenging your decision to homeschool. So what is the Best Way to …

Homeschooling is a beautiful way to educate and raise your children. When you look back on your years at home with your children, you will not regret the time you spent with them. But that doesn’t mean it’s always smooth sailing! There will be times when things get tough. You might question other homeschooling options. You may even consider, "Shoul…

Our time is really valuable and we want to try to ensure we make the most of it. As Muslims time management is an integral part of our religion with the foundation of our 5 daily prayers helping us to structure our day. How do we build on this fundamental foundation and take ownership of our time in order to boost our productivity and get everythin…

"Am I Doing Enough?", this question can wreak havoc on your homeschooling schedule, no matter what stage of homeschooling you are in. It is one of the most frequent questions that we hear from homeschoolers. When you constantly wrestle with the worry over whether or not your children are learning everything they need to learn, it can make you feel …

Many homeschool mum’s have shared with us that they struggle with consistency— and they feel guilty because of it. We all know that our children need consistency in their lives. Consistency gives them a sense of security but some days, being consistent with our homeschool routine feels impossible. If you do struggle with consistency in your days, y…

Being a mum is amazing! Being with our children every day is such a blessing, but it can sometimes feel lonely too. This podcast is inspired by a recent email we received, and if you are on the same journey and you have ever felt lonely and isolated, this loneliness advice for mums can help you too."Assalamu alaikkum sis. I'm very emotional and sad…

One of the best ways to find good educational resources for your Muslim homeschool, is by getting recommendations from friends. Well we're friends, right?! In Episode 57 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share my favorite homeschooling resources from the past twelve months.This Blogpost may contain affiliate links. Please see Disclaimer for more infor…

It's that time of year again when we have to discuss Christmas with our children. It's a source of anxiety for a lot of Muslim families. If you're a Muslim parent living in a non-Muslim country, you may have learnt to adapt to many western practices. But, as Muslim parents, how do we navigate Christmas? Let me suggest 7 Ways we can Teach Kids about…

In episode 55 of the Raising Mums podcast, we talk about what you can do if your husband is against homeschooling.This episode was inspired by a question from a mama inside our Homeschooling course for Muslim Parents, Launch Your Homeschool. Sister X said,"I have spent the summer researching home education including the course. I am thoroughly conv…

Committing what is beautiful and true to memory, whether it is Quran, art or poetry; is a valuable part of the Charlotte Mason philosophy. Covering memorisation in your homeschool can be daunting at first; not knowing what to choose to memorise, when to slot it into your homeschooling day and essentially, how to memorise!In Episode 54 of the Raisin…

Many believe that Charlotte Mason Homeschooling is not REALISTIC. That it is IDEALISTIC. Maybe they're right! But you started homeschooling because you were not happy with the status quo. You wanted something better for your children-something that many might feel is unrealistic.When you consider Charlotte Mason Homeschooling first begin by realisi…

Summer has arrived! What does this mean for homeschooling families? Some families may want to have a long break and other homeschoolers may have different family needs and want to continue a relaxed homeschooling schedule. This is the beauty of homeschooling, it is so flexible at times like these you can adapt it to you and your family's needs.In E…

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or just upset. We have all been there on our homeschooling journey but how do we overcome these feelings of anxiety and manage these thoughts when we are having a BAD day!In Episode 51 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share what steps you can take to tackle a Bad Day in Homeschooling. WATCH THIS VIDEO ht…

What is the best advice to share with parents so they can successfully homeschool their children? As an experienced homeschooler of four children, Gemma provides heartfelt advice she feels is essential in order to run your happy and successful homeschool in Ten Tips on How to Homeschool.In Episode 50 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share my top ten …

There is so much information out there about homeschooling it can be confusing. Trying to get your head around all curricula, the different philosophies, planning, and assessments... it can get so overwhelming. Launch Your Homeschool will provide you with the tools you need to find your own way, which will suit your beautifully unique family.In Epi…

When considering homeschooling or even whilst homeschooling many parents struggle with low confidence. Despite the fact that most homeschooling parents are going above and beyond what they need to do in teaching their children, there’s still this underlying fear that they aren’t doing enough.In Episode 48 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share how pa…

How long does homeschooling actually take? Do I really have time to home educate my kids? Here's a real-life look at a Muslim Homeschool schedule...When considering homeschooling, as parents we worry that we will have to fill so many hours of the day teaching our children. Homeschooling is not school, we are not replicating a school at home! The be…

Setting yourself up for success when you start homeschooling can be a challenge. As parents, we struggle with confidence when starting this journey. The key is to realise that homeschooling is a lifestyle. It changes the way you live and yet you need to design it around your family. In Episode 46 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share ways to reframe…

Many parents shy away from homeschooling as they doubt their own abilities to teach because they believe they do not have the 'right' qualifications. Does your level of education really determine your ability to homeschool your own children? Is the school teacher more qualified than the parent to teach their child? Do you need a degree to homeschoo…

All education philosophies have the child as the focus but why has Charlotte Mason Homeschooling gained so much popularity, and what is it? Many muslim homeschoolers are also adopting Charlotte Mason for their Muslim Homeschool, so how can it positively impact your children and your family?In Episode 44 of the Raising Mums podcast, I discuss Charlo…

When considering homeschooling many parents are worried about socialisation and homeschool. By not sending them to school, parents worry if their children will be socially 'deprived' if they will be able to fend for themselves from bullies, and as parents will we be holding them back? In Episode 43 of the Raising Mums podcast, I discuss socialisati…

Nothing sets your homeschool up for a good week like having a plan in place! Homeschool planning puts your mind at rest, help the children ease into the week, and actually helps you all to get more done. Homeschool Planning: How to Get Ready for Monday Morning!In Episode 42 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share the planning system I use on Sunday to…

Summer is the perfect chance to have more time outdoors. It's also the perfect time to enjoy a good book! You can help your children stay consistent with their reading habits and fall in love with reading with Our Summer Reading Challenge! It'll get even the most reluctant readers excited to read and join in the fun!Why is reading important?Reading…

Ramadan is almost here, you might be wondering what can you can do to prepare for when Ramadan starts? What can you do to make the most out of this Ramadan? The first thing you need to do is prepare! It's not too late! In fact, there are some very important things you can do now to get ready for when Ramadan starts. This blog-post may contain affil…

When kids experience Ramadan, they do more than watch their parents fast and help with iftar. During Ramadan, children build important memories which will influence how they feel about Ramadan and other Islamic traditions in later life. As parents, it’s our responsibility to do our best to make these memories and feelings positive, to show an Islam…

As homeschooling mums, we're constantly trying to find the right balance.We agonise over our homeschool plans and are always trying to learn how to homeschool better. But some days homeschooling doesn't follow the plan. On those days, when you're tired, or you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, what should you prioritise? What is the O…

Choosing books for children has never been so hard! With the huge numbers of ever increasing children's books available, deciding which one you're actually going to get is an indomitable task. Consider this. When you go to the library, how do you choose from the thousands of books that are there, which ones you'll actually take home? When you stumb…

Being outdoors is good for your children. It's good for everyone! However, finding outdoor activities that you and your children enjoy can be challenging. Scientific discovery continues to reveal all the benefits of being outside; including the benefits of sunlight, the microbes in the soil, and even the mood-boosting effect of the colours of natur…

Let’s talk about educating children under five at home. In this podcast and Youtube video I discuss a simple framework that you can use to create preschool activities for your youngest children. In this LIVE episode of Raising Mums, I give guidance on how & what to teach your young children at home! We talk about what homeschooling looks like for c…

As homeschooling parents, we have to overcome many obstacles and hurdles, to provide out children with the education and lifestyle we want for them. When you first begin, one of the biggest barriers to home education, is dealing with naysayers. In those beginning months and years of home education, many of us are fragile. The slightest bump in the …

As a homeschooling parent, we worry a lot! We worry that we're not giving our children enough of our time. We stress that we're not doing enough for them. And we agonise about how to fit it all in! Thie blogpost may contain affiliate links. See Disclaimer for more information.In episode 33 of the Raising Mums podcast, I share with you some practica…

The government announced that schools in the UK would not reopen this January 2021 for at least 6 weeks. This has thrown many families into a state of worry and, in some cases, panic as they come to terms with the fact that they will have to homeschool their children through this lockdown.Families are concerned how this lockdown will affect their c…

You want to Start Homeschooling but you don't even know where to begin!You might have questions like:?“What do I teach first?”?“Is there an order I need to follow?”?“What do I do?"?“What do I say?”?“How do I even begin?”In this episode of Raising Mums I lay out a step-by-step approach to begin homeschooling your children. Here are the 5 Essential S…

You're busy...I know! But despite all the things you have to do already, you dream of homeschooling your children. But how can you?! How can you find the time to homeschool your children?In this episode of Raising Mums I talk about how anyone can find the time to homeschool, or do anything else they need to do, with the right time management skills…

Let’s talk money! How much does homeschooling cost?If you're trying to plan ahead, and work out if home education is a feasible dream for your family, you need to know how much it's going to cost. You need real figures, real numbers! Typically if you’re searching online for the cost to home educate your children, you’ll hear a lot of advice that so…

Can the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education work for a Muslim homeschool? An increasing number of Muslim Homeschools are adopting and embracing the Charlotte Mason philosophy in their homeschools...but why?In this episode of Raising Mums, I discuss why we use the Charlotte Mason philosophy in our Muslim homeschool and discuss if the Charlotte M…

Listen to our story and learn how to start homeschooling! If you want to homeschool your children, one of the quickest ways to learn how to start is by learning from other experienced homeschoolers and their stories. Learn how to start homeschooling from our story! In this video I share:-Why do we educate our children at home?-How we started homesc…