Why Do We Need Islamic School? – Education as well as Tarbiyyah

This workshop is designed for the Boards and Teachers of Islamic Schools, and the parents whose children are attending Islamic schools. There are now scores of “Islamic Schools” in North America. They all have some common factors in terms of their school program, such as, Arabic language classes, Qur’an memorization classes, performing of salah during school hours, etc. Yet, almost all of them suffer from behavioral and discipline problems amongst the students as well as low teacher morale, conflicts between teachers, administration and boards

This workshop’s objective is to have the teaching staff, admin staff and board members to discuss and understand what makes an Islamic school truly Islamic; and how can it be accomplished. The goals are:

1. To discuss and clarify the concept, purpose and objectives of Education
2. To bring a good understanding of why do we need Islamic schools
3. To discuss the concept of Tarbiyah and its importance in Islamic schools
4. What is needed to incorporate Tarbiyah with Education in Islamic Schools
5. Harmonizing values with the Public School system and the larger culture
6. Setting up new goals to incorporate effective Tarbiyah with Education
7. The Role of Parents in Education and Tarbiyah

What makes a good Teacher – Bonding with your Students Effectively

There are many young Muslim teachers in the Islamic schools around North America, generously giving their time and energy to educate our children in an ‘Islamic environment’. Most of them work for half, and in some cases less than half, of a salary than they can make in a public school system. They all have good intentions, Alhamdulillah; but are good intentions and willingness to sacrifice money, time and energy. sufficient to make a good teacher?

The objective of this workshop is:
1. To have the participant share their experiences as a teachein an Islamic school.
2. To discuss and learn the factors necessary in becoming a good teacher – a teacher who makes an impact in the life of the students and motivates them to excel not only in their goals for this life but the life hereafter as well, and
3. To learn to bond with the students.

Behavior Management in Classroom

Managing the classroom behavior of students has always been problematic for many teachers. How do you deal with a student who is continuously disturbing the class due to his misbehavior? How do you regain your control as a teacher when students continue to talk to each other, misbehave, and not pay any attention to the teacher?
These are the questions that are dealt with in this workshop.

The objective of this workshop is to:

1. Discuss and properly understand the dynamics of behavior – Every behavior serves a purpose.
2. Share personal experiences about the difficulties in managing misbehavior.
3. Learn skills of determining the purpose of a misbehavior instead of assuming it – the kid wants attention.
4. Learn effective methods of behavior management and disciplining.

Working with Parents

An Islamic school can never fulfill their goal of turning out successful students academically and morally without the participation and assistance of the parents. Schools always complain about the lack of participation of the parents in the school programs and the progress of their children. Some schools are trying some unique ways of getting the parents involved, but the success remains limited in this area.

This workshop is designed with the following Goals and Objectives:

1. Understanding how home environment affects the kids’ behavior and learning in school
2. Understanding parent’s role in Education and Tarbiyah
3. Understanding the need to educate the parents as well
4. Learning effective ways to communicate with the parents
5. Getting the parents to become team members with the school staff
6. Standardizing the Educational and Tarbiyah goals in school and at home.

Nurturing Spirituality in our Schools

Alhamdulillah, Islamic schools are rapidly emerging around North America and in other western countries. However, what is Islamic about these Islamic schools significantly varies from one school to another with some common features, such as, Arabic classes, memorization of some Surahs of the holy Qur’an, Zuhr prayer in congregation, and provision of Halal food, etc. There may be differences of opinions amongst the board members, teachers, parents and even the students about how Islamic should our Islamic schools be, and what would that mean?

With the on-going struggles about the Islamization of our schools, when we throw in the concept of nurturing Spirituality, things become even more complex. For example, how does one define spirituality, how does one measure it, how can it be promoted, what is required to promote it, and how may it be achieved?

This workshop attempts to tackle these questions. The objectives of the workshops are:

1. To provide an opportunity to the participants to discuss these questions and come to a common understanding of the concept, it’s implications and applications, and

2. To suggest and discuss some specific strategies to nurture Spirituality in our schools.

Self Awareness for Teachers

Personal development is at the heart of our journey as counsellors and therapists. It is the core condition of recognizing ourselves and one another as human beings and not human doings. Without it we are detached from the ideology of the meaning of human. What we are depends upon our lived experiences and feedback from others about how we impact on people with whom we come into contact and who we touch, emotionally and spiritually, and who touch us in a similar way. These are the fundamental core elements of our craft as therapists and counsellors. (Derek J. Lainsbury, a Dutch Psychologist)

Why is it that one teacher has a very difficult time with a student in his/her class, but other teachers don’t? Why is it that the same good or bad experience affects all of us so differently? Why is that one person gets easily offended by a student’s or a child’s using a swear word, and another doesn’t?

These are the puzzles this workshop assists to solve for the participants. It is a two-full-day workshop meant to:

1. Raise the Self-Awareness of the participants through various exercises, case studies, and self reflections.
2. Help them deal with their unfinished emotional and psychological issues, and
3. Provide them some tips and skills on how to recognize when their own emotions and issues subconsciously are affecting their relationships and their ability to function effectively in various aspects of their life.

Protecting the Faith and Identity of our Youth

An alarming number of our young boys and girls are going through an identity crisis, and, in many cases, the parents also suffer from the same confusion. In such a multi-value and multi-belief environment, it is not easy to figure out who you truly are and who you want to be. Our children struggle to be everything, and often end up with nothing, or something that has limited value in this life, neglecting the everlasting life hereafter. Many of our youth have begun to doubt their faith and have many questions about their beliefs that remain unanswered. They unknowingly and unnoticeably are moving out of Islam, and some are even openly declaring it to their parents.

The objective of these workshops is to:

1. Identify the some of the root causes of this faith and identity crisis in our youth, and
2. Share some case examples and personal experiences of the participants of these issues, and
3. Discuss ways of promoting and developing a healthy self-identity and self-image that is based on our true identity – being the servants and the representatives of Allah (swt) on this earth.

Cognitive Restructuring Therapy – Working with Muslim Clients

This workshop is intended for mental health prfessionals who serve Muslim clients.

This workshop is designed:
1. To have the participants develop an insight into the typical cognitive processes, beliefs, attitudes and dispositions of their Muslim clients and how they lead to 2. emotional, personality, relationship and social problems in Muslim communities;
3. To learn the steps of Cognitive Restructuring Therapy;
4. To share personal experiences with clients;
5. To discuss applicability of this model of treatment in various emotional, mental, behavioral and personality disorders.

Counseling Muslim Clients – Obstacles and Resolutions

This training workshop is intended for professionals who are involved in counseling Muslim clients. The learning goals are:

1. To identify and understand some of the obstacles faced by the counselor. These may be related to the clients, community, culture, religion, legal and the counselor/therapist him/herself.
2. To share case examples highlighting complications in the conseling and therepay process, and
3. To suggests some effective ways of dealing with these issues.

Basic Counseling Skills (for lay counselors)

Many Muslim communities do not have properly trained counselors and therapists. The local organizations in some communities provide some counseling services throuh volunteers who have some education and a good heart, but are not properly trained counselors. This workshop is designed for such lay community counselors.

The objective of this workshops are:

1. To provide an opportunity to the participants to share their experiences as lay counselors in the community and the difficulty they face.
2. To understand the concept of Counselling.
3. To become aware of your own strengths and limitations with respect to counselling clients.
4. To learn effective communication and relationship skills, and
5. To understand the ethical issues involved in working with the clients in the community.

Crisis Intervention (Managing Crisis Lines)

This is a full-day workshop designed to train volunteers and lay counselors in Muslim community who deal with crisis calls and provide some support to people suffering from trauma.

The objectives of this training program are:

1. What constitutes a Crisis?
2. How do you define the term?
3. What may be some examples of crisis you may have dealt with as a professional/volunteer?
4. How would you differentiate between a Crisis, a Problem, and an Emergency?
5. Who calls a Crisis Line?
6. Types of Crisis
7. Dynamics of Crises
8. Some Common Reactions to Trauma, and
9. The Process of Crisis Intervention

Self Awareness

Personal development is at the heart of our journey as counsellors and therapists. It is the core condition of recognizing ourselves and one another as human beings and not human doings. Without it we are detached from the ideology of the meaning of human. What we are depends upon our lived experiences and feedback from others about how we impact on people with whom we come into contact and who we touch, emotionally and spiritually, and who touch us in a similar way. These are the fundamental core elements of our craft as therapists and counsellors. (Derek J. Lainsbury, a Dutch Psychologist)
Why is it that one teacher has a very difficult time with a student in his/her class, but other teachers don’t? Why is it that the same good or bad experience affects all of us so differently? Why is that one person gets easily offended by a student’s or a child’s using a swear word, and another doesn’t?

This is a must have workshop for all health care professionals, especially those who are in the mental health field. It is provided as a week-long course or a condensed version over the weekend (two days).

This course is designed to:

1. Raise the Self-Awareness of the participants through various exercises, case studies, and self reflections.
2. Help them deal with their unfinished emotional and psychological issues, and
3. Provide them some tips and skills on how to recognize when their own emotions and issues subconsciously are affecting their relationships and their ability to function effectively in various aspects of their life.

An Islamic Perspective of Human Psychology and Human Nature

This is a one-day course for Mental Health professionals. The learning goals are to highlight and discuss the following topics.

1. A Brief History of Psychology
2. Western Theories of Human Psychology
3. Human Nature according to Islam
4. Origins of Mankind according to Islam, and
5. The universal human traits

Mental and Emotioal Issues in Muslim Communities

This workshops highlights the prevailing Mental and Emotional Issues in Muslim communities based on 20 years of experience serving Muslim communities.

The Objectives of this workshop are to discuss:

1. An Islamic Perspective of Mental Health
2. Muslims’ Perception of Mental Illness
3. Common Mental Health and Family issues in Muslim communities, and
4. Considerations in Assessment and Treatment of Muslim Clients