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Help Your Child with Dyslexia Learn Arabic Numbers

Learning to count, read and write, from one to ten in Arabic can be challenging when you experience difficulties in the language (English) of your home country (Australia)!  To say the least! We have a dyslexia and dysgraphia diagnosis in our house which causes some struggles in learning Arabic.

١ ٢ ٣ ٤ ٥ ٦ ٧ ٨ ٩ ١٠ 

 

From birth my children have been encouraged to speak my language (English) and my husband’s home language (Arabic) – My husband is an English teacher which causes some confusion for many people.

Help Your Child with Dyslexia Learn Arabic Numbers

A late dyslexia diagnosis, means that we still struggle with the basics but have developed some fun strategies for learning. When I started out with this exercise I was going to show you numbers from 1 to 100. Fortunately, reality set in, but not until after the cards were made (12 cards are a better fit on the A4 page so I made 1 to 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 – so I could use them later)! One step at a time! Numbers from 1 to 10 first!

I will add free link to .pdf file here: https://springbrookorbillabong.wordpress.com/2019/05/24/cards-for-learning-arabic-numbers/

Steps we use to learn numbers in Arabic:

Numbers and Names:

1 – one – ١ – wahad -واحد

2 – two – ٢ – ithnaan – اثنان

3 – three – ٣ – thalaatha- ثلاثة

4 – four – ٤ – arba3a – أربعة

5 – five – ٥ – khamsa – خمسة

6 – six – ٦ – sitta – ستة

7 – seven – ٧ – sab3a – سبعة

8 – eight – ٨ – thamaaneya – ثمانية

9 – nine – ٩ – tis3a – تسعة

10 – ten – ١٠ – 3ashara – عشرة-

Add Music

Adam as Mishmish on Youtube sing numbers 1 – 10: https://youtu.be/b5cOSaOu9lA

I love the tune for the first 21 seconds (numbers 1 to 10,  repeat) on this youtube numbers video. What follows after 21 seconds is an Islamic  song about numbers: https://youtu.be/fJ50Po9_yYo

I find counting the numbers on your fingers as you sing. So you learn to associate a picture of the right number of fingers with the number you are singing, not just a number on the screen. This way you can feel the numbers too. I just developed my own counting system with my fingers, however a much better idea would have been to use the Sign Language Numbers chart. (Most children at school in Australia  are taught to sign the Alphabet and Numbers).

http://localhost/raisingworld/2018/07/09/teaching-mother-tongue-children-foreign-country/

Card Games

Print three full number charts from .pdf above or any you like from the internet

  • The first copy I like to laminate so I can read the numbers and names in order.
  • For the other two copies – use two pieces of differently colored card, or two different A4 colored papers and laminate them. Then cut, following the black line, to make two separate piles of 10 cards. (12, or 20 cards)
  • Play card games:

Card Game 1

Matching card games – use two sets of matching cards and lay them face down on the floor. Then each taking turns turn over a card, read it number (for little count the number of spots to find the number), next turn over another card to see if it matches. (Having two different colored card sets means you can look for a card in either color to match so 10 cards to match is an easier task when you want a 6/٦ in red and green).

If it matches you keep the cards and have another turn. If it does not match, turn the cards back over and it is the next player’s turn.

Card Game 2

Play the adapted to learning Arabic numbers version of my favorite card game ever “Go fishing” –  So add number struggles and a game without pencil and writing paper needed. To play: With two players, two different colored sets of 1-10 cards. (Make the learning as easy as possible. If you have a red card you want the green one to match). For extra players either add another two sets of different colored 1-10 Cards or use 2 sets of 1-20 Cards.

Deal 5 cards to each player. Put the rest of the cards in the center to make the fishing pile. First person looks at their cards and chooses one to ask for. (Do you have… “ثمانية  thamaaneya (8) ٨ ” (If you don’t know the number count the spots).

If the person asked does. They give the matching card to the person asking. Then have another turn. If the person does not have the card they say “pick up a card (Go fishing)” and it is the next person’s turn. The person with the most pairs when all the cards are matched wins.

Card Game 3

Last card game is the “Arabic Number Card” version of “snap”. Deal all of the cards out to all the players. Don’t look at the cards. Taking turns, first person puts a card face up in the middle and reads and says the number on the card. If they do not know the name count the number of spots to work out the name.

Then the next person puts a card on top of it quickly, if it is a matching card, the first person whose hand covers the cards and says “snap” gets the cards. The game continues until all of the cards are with one person, who is then the winner.

Sweeten the Festival of Eid al-Fitr with Cookies Around the World

Sweeten the Festival of Eid al-Fitr with Cookies Around the World

The Festival of Eid al-Fitr is celebrated at the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic year.

In Ramadan, Muslims believe that God sent the Angel Gabriel to reveal the first oral verses of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

During the time of Ramadan, from sunrise till sunset, Muslims across the world fast.  In Ramadan Muslims try to be extra mindful towards others, give charity, and most importantly they try to read the Quran as much as possible.

Eid al-Fitr means “The Festival for the Breaking of the Fast”. It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shawwal, the month after Ramadan.

The  actual day of the festival day depends on the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the first day of the new Islamic month. This year the Eid al-Fitr Festival will fall on approximately the 5 June 2019.

After the Eid prayers in the morning everyone greets each other with “Eid Mubarak” which means “Happy Eid”.  The traditional response to ‘Eid Mubarak’ is “Kul aam wa antum bi khair” which loosely translates as “and a good year ahead for you too”.

During Eid, children receive presents from their family and close family friends.  They are usually gifted money for them to save or spend as they wish.

Everyone enjoys dressing up in their special new clothes for the Eid al-Fitr Festival.  Eid is a special time for Muslim families to visit their family and friends.

Many people also attend special celebrations across the city held in the parks so children may play together.  Many food tents are at the festival so you can try traditional Eid celebration food from many different countries from around the world.

Many delicious foods are made especially for the festival celebrations. All the food is made for sharing.

I love Eid cookies! ♡♡♡

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Making a huge shift from All-Purpose Flour to Whole-Wheat Flour and from White Sugar to Brown Sugar…starting with the kids fav chocolate chip cookies! Healthy beginnings to some happy endings! 💝 Whole-Wheat Double Chocolate Chip Cookies 🍪🍪🍪 Ingredients for 2 dozens 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 + 1/2 cup fine brown sugar 2 sticks butter (200 gms), room temperature 2 large eggs, room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup hand-cut dark chocolate bits Method In a glass bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar. Mix well with a whisk or a fork, until light and fluffy. You can use your electric hand mixer too. Personally, I prefer making this cookie batter with hand tools. Then add the eggs, vanilla essence and salt. Beat until all the ingredients are mixed well. Now add the whole wheat flour and baking soda. Mix well until all the ingredients are combined. Add the chocolate chips and chocolate bits. Your cookie dough is now ready. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Line your baking trays with baking paper. Drop a tablespoon of cookie dough about 2 inches apart from each other. Bake for around 10 minutes, until the cookies are golden at the edges and soft at the center. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Don't forget to store them in an air tight container. ENJOY! #WholeWheat #DoubleChocolateChip #Cookies #ChocolateChip #Homemade •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #CinnamonCardamom #foodblog #foodblogger #food #foodies #foodtalkindia #foodnetwork #chefsofinstagram #fbai #ndtvfood #feedfeed #buzzfeedfood #foodgawker #f52grams #foodblogfeed #indianfoodbloggers #kuwaitfoodbloggers #StayAtHomeMom #SAHM #MomBlogger #KuwaitBloggers #indianbloggersinkuwait

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My favourite Eid Cookie is called Klaicha. It is a traditional Iraqi biscuit made with fine Semolina filled with dates. Some people like to fill them a with pieces of Turkish delight or coconut and sugar mixture. Either way they are very delicious. Link to a recipe here:  http://globalcookies.blogspot.com/2007/10/iraq-klaicha.html?m=1

Maamoul cookies are made in Syria and Lebanon. These are shortbread style cookies filled with dates or pistachio nuts, and dusted with icing sugar.

Maamoul Cookies (Date Filled Cookies)

Egyptian Kahk – These are Egyptian Eid cookies made with pistachios and honey filling.  You can find more information and a recipe at the following link:

https://amiraspantry.com/kahk-eid-cookies-pistachios/

Reference:

Islamic Finder https://www.islamicfinder.org/special-islamic-days/eid-al-fitr-2019/

Sweeten the Festival of Eid al-Fitr with Cookies Around the World


 

When Your Teen Faces the Loss of a High School Friend

When Your Teen Faces the Loss of a High School Friend

There is nothing fun about going through the pain of losing a loved one. For any average adult, the grieving process can bring them to their knees in anguish. This is why it can be even more traumatic for a teenager who’s faces the death of a high school friend. When children are young, they’re not used to losing loved ones or embracing the concept of death.

While teens are more capable of understanding loss, they are still new to it and will need guidance to handle it in a healthy manner. As their parent, consider the following ways you can help your teen through the loss of a high school friend.

When Your Teen Faces the Loss of a High School Friend

Facing the death of a High school Friend

Keep an open dialogue about loss

Make sure that your teenager knows that you are open and available for a conversation at any time they need you. Oftentimes, people tend to bottle their emotions up in order to cope with pain. This ends up leading to unhealthy practices such as binging, excessive sleeping or substance abuse. In order to help your teenager fight through the tough emotions, invite them to speak with you on a regular basis. You can ask them questions. Give them space to breathe. Also, do your best to avoid judgment. They need to know they can be vulnerable in a judgement-free zone.

Find counseling services

Do your best to find local counseling services that will cater to your teenager. If you don’t know where to start, you can always contact friends and family members who might have their own recommendations. Keep in mind that the first counselor you speak with may not be the right fit for your teenager. Take the time to bring your teen to a variety of consultations to find who they connect with the best in order to get the best results from your teen’s therapy. You can speak with youth counselors, or find specialized grief counseling for young adults, depending on the level of guidance your teen needs.

Talk to the school administration

If your school administration knows what your child is dealing with, they’ll be able to notify the teachers and extend grace in their case. When a teacher knows that a child is dealing with a lot of emotional difficulty, they tend to be more understanding when it comes to their ability to function at optimal levels in the classroom. The school administration should be a part of your support system. Working with them can help give your teen better support while dealing with their loss and allow the administration to better coordinate the care of all affected students.

Help reduce daily stressors

http://localhost/raisingworld/2019/04/30/20-steps-towards-finding-calm-within-self-family/

When someone is stressed, this can exacerbate any negative emotion. This is why it’s wise to find different ways to decrease the amount of stress your teenager is facing. Whether you take them out for ice cream one night after school or allow them to enjoy a few laps in the swimming pool, find ways to help them cope and enjoy a new pace in life.

Though the process won’t be easy, continue to be patient. You know your child. You know how they tend to deal with different issues. If you notice something uncommon, don’t ignore it. Embrace the process, and know that it won’t last. Your teenager will experience brighter days ahead.