Q. What does a typical session look like?
For our younger students, a typical day begins with welcoming the students, reviewing the lesson from last week, and introducing the topic or concept of the day. Students hear a story, which may be a Prophet story, a modern Islamic children's book, or another book related to the day's lesson. They then complete an activity, game, or project designed to reinforce the concept and make it concrete for them.
After a short snack break, students return to the classroom to discuss a daily short surah or ayah of Qur'an. They go over common Qur'anic vocabulary and then break into groups to work on Arabic at their current reading level. Finally, the whole school prays Zhuhr in jama'a (congregation).
Older students will often read about current events, watch lecture clips from Islamic scholars, or perform their own research in order to gain an in-depth understanding of a topic. They are also assigned a surah to memorize and present/discuss with the class each month.
Homework usually only consists of surah memorization practice and discussion questions for parents and students to explore how Islam is lived in our day-to-day lives. Middle school and above also will occasionally have Qur'anic vocabulary quizzes and surah presentations.
Q. What curriculum do you use?
Our curriculum was developed through our Former Head of Curriculum and Lead Teacher, Georgia Halliday, who received guidance from the Islamic Center at NYU. Georgia received her Masters of Education in Curriculum Design from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2018, where her thesis on Islam, disability and special education received a rating of Pass with Distinction. She is a New York State certified teacher for grades K-12 with three years of experience working in the NYC public schools. She has worked as a curriculum consultant and teacher for an Islamic after-school program and summer camp. Georgia has expressed that applying her love of education, teaching, and child development to an Islamic program is a dream come true.
Q: Does my child need to know Arabic well to enroll?
While Arabic is covered on a basic level and stressed as an important and integral part of the Islamic practice, our curriculum is focused on a more holistic and applicable approach to our faith, going beyond recitation and memorization. Whether your child is a native speaker or is just learning, we can accommodate them. We encourage families to supplement their children’s learning of the language outside of the classroom as well to improve proficiency. We also can provide strategies and resources to help supplement the learning of Arabic.
Q: How long are the classes?
Our class sessions are from 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM, dismissing after Dhuhr Prayer at approximately 1:15 PM. Each school year is 28-29 sessions in total.
Q. Who are your teachers?
We are committed to finding people who have experience teaching children as well as are committed to Islamic education and our vision. Our teachers are young professionals or students who come to us through our own network and the Islamic Center at NYU community.
Q: Can I enroll my children anytime?
We have two periods of open enrollment, one for the Fall Semester in the late Spring and one for the Winter/Spring Semester, beginning in early December. Most spots are taken during the Fall Semester for the whole year, but there are some openings mid-year and we keep a waitlist of interested families (please email director@ilc-nyc.org for more information).
Q: Can we visit the Sunday School?
We offer tours once a semester for interested families during in-session Sundays. If you are interested in joining a tour for the following semester, please email director@ilc-nyc.org to join the next group when it is scheduled.
Q: What ages are the students at the ILC?
Our students range from 5-17 years old and are divided into classrooms by age.