Islamic Studies & Quran
Curriculum Objectives:
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To learn to glorify and adore Allah and love His prophets, to love whatever and whomever Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (Peace be upon him) love, and to willingly behave in ways pleasing to Allah.
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To develop an attitude of total submission to Allah’s divine revelation and to discern the validity of teachings, practices, and/or cultural adaptations through proper research and comparison with authentic sources, namely Qur’an and Sunnah.
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To understand that Islam is a comprehensive, balanced and perfect way of life; to learn the foundational Islamic beliefs, ideals, ethics, obligations, injunctions, and prohibitions; and to gain whatever knowledge is necessary to live a God-conscious life.
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To involve students in actively expressing their Islamic beliefs though their actions, to put Islam into practice in a balanced and moderate manner.
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To nurture the Islamic personality through a profound understanding of mankind’s purpose and place within all of Allah’s seen and unseen creation.
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To understand the characteristics and responsibilities of Islamic leadership, from personally enjoining good and forbidding evil, to ruling with compassion and justice as God’s deputy on earth, and to actively serve the Muslim community as well as the society at large.
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To develop a sense of genuine connectedness with the Muslim Ummah (world-wide community), appreciating its rich diversity and understanding the value of Islamic unity and brotherhood.
Islamic Education
Islamic Education is unlike other kinds of Education which primarily focus upon cognitive objectives. In that case a student gets knowledge for the sake of knowledge and is expected to soak all the information taught, like a sponge. However, Islamic education focuses, not only on the cognitive, but also on the affective and psychomotor domains. Here, learning objectives are designed to develop Islamic values, attitudes and behaviors (Affective). Skills and proficiencies in performing various Islamic obligations such as reading Qur’an, performing Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj, skills in dealing with others and giving Da’wah to them are also developed. (Psychomotor)
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We believe that the mission of Islamic education is “Tarbiyah”, or to educate students and take care of them and train them at all levels. Tarbiyah focuses on behavior modification and development in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Methodology of Teaching
Our Islamic Studies teachers are dedicated and professional. They have the mission of Tarbiyah in mind and are always eager to yield the best results. In order for that to happen, teachers, administration, students, and parents should work closely together to counter the strong influence of the popular culture. Remember that most knowledge outlets in our society, such as television, newspapers, magazines, novels, internet websites, friends, neighbors, extracurricular activities, etc. go against our mission of preserving our students’ Islamic identity.
Teachers in different school levels use different methods
Elementary School: At the early stage of this level, teachers use a lot of concrete and hands on techniques such as artifacts, clay, drawing and coloring, puzzles, Islamic songs (Nashid), role play, simulations, audio-visual materials, modern technology tools such as I pads, mimios, etc.
4th-6th grades get more teaching using the white board or power points, in addition to the previous methods.
Middle School: Teachers introduce new material through discussion using question/ answer techniques. They also use peer teaching and group work. Role play is a common practice, and students love it. Projects are assigned at least once every semester. Field trips, audio- visuals, and technology tools such as mimio pads are frequently used.
Quran
Students PreK-8th will focus on Quran memorization and understanding of the Quran. 3rd-8th graders are split into 2-3 levels depending on their ability to read and recite verses from the Quran. Each level varies in difficulty of material being taught.
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Upper graders will also focus on the Tafsir of the Quran (understanding and applications learned). Selections of the Quran will be discussed and will correlate with what is being learned in their Islamic Studies class.
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Quran class periods are separate from a student’s Islamic Studies class period.
Goals of Quran Curriculum:
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To be able to read the Quran in Arabic with proper Tajweed (rules of recitation)
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To understand the Surah’s of the Quran (Chapters of the Quran)
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To understand the general meaning of the verses in Quran
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To know the meaning of key words
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To apply the lessons learned from the verses
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To be able to teach verses of the Quran to others