Creative Activites in Teaching and Learning Hijaiyah Letters

Hello Moms, Dads and Teachers,

Here I would like to share some activities that you might find it helpful in teaching Arabic/Hijaiyah letters. We can see that kids like to play fun games and activities. We can also make some of them in making kids familiar with Hijaiyah letters.

• How do you say it? You can do this activity by showing the complete Hijaiyah letters on a board or big paper (you might provide the letters along with the transliteration in alphabet letters). Provide some small pieces of paper for yourself to draw the letters. Pick one piece of small paper, draw any letter you want, show to the kids and let them find out how to say it. Kids are allowed to look at the poster of complete Hijaiyah letters. It could be more fun when some kids join and try to find as soon as possible.
• Guess what? It is almost similar with the previous activity but we do it in the other way. Give the kids some pieces of small paper to draw on. Showing them the poster of Hijaiyah letters with its transliteration in alphabets letters. Mention one of the letters and let them find out which letter it is then they draw it on one small piece of paper. They must show it to you once they have finished.
• Racing. For this, you need to provide the cards of Hijaiyah letters. Put all cards randomly on the table and/or chair around. Decide one spot as the start point for the kids to start racing. You mention one of the letters and let kids find the card. Once the kids have got it, they must give it to you.

Well, I think this is all for this time. I will share more next time.

For Private Iqro' & Qur'an Lesson, please contact:
Siti Fitriah
Phone: (+62)857-5856-6433
Email: siti.fitriah71@gmail.com
Facebook: Siti Fitriah Musadad

For Parents: How to Start Teaching Kids Qur'an

I'm sure that all Muslim parents want their kids to be able to read Qur'an. Even it's not only a matter of want, but it's parents' obligation to make sure that their kids learn about Islam and be able to read Qur'an, the Holy Book of Muslims. It doesn't take a short time of course. By giving the knowledge of Islam and Qur'an, hopefully the kids are becoming sholih and sholihah who always pray for the parents. For those parents who consider themselves for not having adequate competence in teaching Qur'an, they can take the kids to any TPA (Informal educational institution of Qur'an for kids) or to any courses of Qur'an. However, here is the simple steps that parents can do at home with their kids:

1. Introduce the kids to sounds of Hijaiyah letters. Find out a simple and fun song of Hijaiyah letters on YouTube. Once you search the keywords of "Hijayah Letters Song", you might find a lot of songs there. You can refer to this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7K3B9m2kXM. The more the song is sung with the kids, the more familiar the kids are with at least the sounds of Hijaiyah letters.
2. Introduce the kids to the shapes/writing of Hijaiyah letters. I have got an eBook that parents can refer to. You can print this out and daily guide your kids to trace and write. Here is the link Belajar Menulis Huruf Hijaiyah 1 http://ia600203.us.archive.org/3/items/bam_menulis_613/belajar_menulis_huruf_hijaiyah_1.pdf
3. Become a role model for your kids in reading Qur'an. Take your kids beside you when you are reading Qur'an. Even though you're not sure or confident about your reading, or may be you read so slowly, don't worry, what you're doing already becomes a motivation for your kids to be like you. How wonderful it is looking at parents reading the complicated and difficult Arabic writing in the Holy Qur'an.

Well, whenever we start, it's never late as long as we're still able to take a breath and our heart is beating.

For Private Qur'an Lesson, please contact:
Siti Fitriah
Phone: (+62)857-5856-6433
Email: siti.fitriah71@gmail.com
Facebook: Siti Fitriah Musadad

Where to Learn Reading Qur'an?

I started learning to read Qur'an since I was about 5 year-old. My home was close to a Mushalla where it had TPA (an informal educational institution for kids and teens) in every evening. My parents also became my teachers at home, every time after Magrib prayer.

You too, you can start learning to read Qur'an by joining any TPA, like what I attended. Usually masjid or mushalla has this kind of program for especially the neighborhood. Try to find one around your living area. It is fun to join because we can have such good friends with the people around our home.

If not, you can come to anyone around your home who can teach you. Normally the one who is good in reading Qur'an would be pleased when any one visits her/him to learn Qur'an. Or you can invite her/him to your house. Even if possible, ask your friends to join with you too, so it would be fun to study with friends.

The other option is to join any Qur'an courses. You can find a lot of information about it on the internet and decide the one which is reachable and affordable for you. Here, your schedule will be arranged in particular period of time.

However, it would be great if first you ask your parents to teach you before trying some alternatives above. I am sure your parents know what you need to do next.


For Private Qur'an Lesson, please contact:
Siti Fitriah
Phone: (+62)857-5856-6433
Email: siti.fitriah71@gmail.com
Facebook: Siti Fitriah Musadad

Why Learn to Read Qur'an?

When I was a kid,  I didn't have any idea why my Dad took me to Taman Pendidikan Al-Qur'an (TPA) - a kind of informal educational institution of Qur'an for kids and teens. Not only that, my Dad used to ask me reading Qur'an in front of him after Magrib prayer so that he could correct any mistakes that I made.

Now, I am so grateful for those learning experiences. I am now able to recite Qur'an well, insya Allah. And I have just realized the importance of learning to read Qur'an:

• 10 Rewards for each letter of Qur'an that I read for my saving in the hereafter.
• Reading Qur'an is one of proofs that I love Allah swt. and Rasulullah saw.  
• The ability of reading Qur'an makes me interested in learning more what is in the Holy Qur'an
• Many beautiful prayers that I can practice every day, especially pray for me and my parents
• Many great stories of the life in the past with lots of lesson learned

Let's start learning to read Qur'an. May Allah saw. help us and make it easy. Aammiin.


For Private Qur'an Lesson, please contact:
Siti Fitriah
Phone: (+62)857-5856-6433
Email: siti.fitriah71@gmail.com
Facebook: Siti Fitriah Musadad

Sekilas Commuting di Jepang dan Indonesia

Hari ini ada beberapa hal yang aku pelajari. Berawal dari waktu belajar dengan Ms. Megumi, murid Bahasa Inggris di tempatku bekerja. Hari ini kami melanjutkan diskusi tentang 'Commuting'. Topik ini cukup menarik untuk kami bahas. Dari pembahasan ini, aku jadi lebih tahu beberapa hal tentang Jepang dan bagaimanakah perbandingan antara Jepang dan Indonesia jika dilihat dari beberapa hal.

How do people commute?

Masyarakat di kota Jepang sebagian besar menggunakan bis atau kereta dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Biasanya, mobil pribadi digunakan oleh orang-orang tertentu yang tinggal cukup jauh dari perkotaan. Tapi tetap saja, mereka akan pergi menuju terminal bis atau stasiun kereta terdekat dan menggunakan transportasi umum tersebut ketika beraktifitas di dalam kota. Terdapat beberapa alasan mengapa transportasi umum disana banyak digunakan. Pertama, karena harga bensin yang mahal (mencapai kira-kira Rp. 40.000/liter). Kedua, biaya parkir mobil pun mahal (kira-kira Rp 30.000/50 menit). Biaya parkir mahal karena wilayah Jepang yang tidak cukup luas. Sedangkan di indonesia, harga bensin sangat murah (bahkan sering kali demonstrasi terjadi kalau harga naik satu atau dua ribu rupiah) sehingga masyarakat lebih memilih untuk memiliki kendaraan pribadi. Alhasil, jumlah kendaraan meningkat dan kemacetan dimana-mana (khususnya di Jakarta). Lagipula, bayar parkir juga murah (yaa meskipun masih ada saja yang komplain kalau bayar parkir lebih 500 atau 1000 rupiah)

No phone on bus/train

Sangat menarik, di Jepang ada larangan untuk menggunakan telepon genggam (Handphone - HP) selama berada di dalam transportasi umum (bis dan kereta). Bahkan ada tanda larangan tersebut di badan kendaraan. Hp dianggap sebagai mengganggu 'pacemaker'  pada orangtua dan penumpang yang memiliki keterbatasan fisik. Oleh sebab itu, Ms. Megumi lebih senang membaca buku selama dalam perjalanan. Dan mungkin ini juga sebabnya orang Jepang terbiasa menghabiskan waktu perjalanannya dengan membaca. Meski demikian, masih saja ada penumpang yang secara sembunyi-sembunyi menggunakan hp nya di atas kendaraan.

Kneeling bus

Di jepang, semua bis adalah kneeling bus sehingga semua orang bisa mengakses (termasuk orang tua dan penumpang dengan keterbatasan fisik). Selain itu, halte bis tepat berada disisi jalan dan dapat dengan mudah diakses olah semua orang. Jika dibandingkan dengan Indonesia, khususnya Jakarta, sangatlah jauh berbeda. Bahkan sampai saat ini saya belum pernah menemukan ada kneeling bus disini (bisa jadi karena aku kurang informasi). Selain itu, Ms. Megumi juga cukup heran dengan lokasi halte bis Transjakarta yang berada ditengah kedua jalur jalan raya dan harus ditempuh dengan tangga dan melalui overpass. Bagaimana jika orang-orang tersebut (orang tua dan penumpang dengan keterbatasan fisik) ingin bepergian?

*Tulisan ini pertama kali digoreskan pada 06 September 2016