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Maria Montessori divided human development into Four Planes of Development, each defined by sensitive learning characteristics. The second plane, characterized by Montessori as “the Metamorphic Age,” is from age 6 to 12. This is the period of intellectual growth, socialization, reasoning, imagination, cultural interest and a heightened sense of social justice. To address all these needs, the Lower Elementary curriculum must be vast and engaging. At Unity Academy of Chicago, the Lower Elementary curriculum builds on the goals of the Primary curriculum and offers learning opportunities in harmony with the teachings and values of Islam.
The following are the highlights of our program:
The Montessori Curriculum for Lower Elementary is a spiral curriculum based on arousing the curiosity of the children, leading them to make discoveries and learn through hands-on didactic materials. The areas of language, math, geometry, botany, zoology, geography, and history are all taught in an organized scope and sequence that drives the child towards abstraction of the fundamental concepts in each subject area.
Language
The language area encompasses teaching reading and writing through phonetic analysis and mechanics of decoding, with a simultaneous emphasis on reading for comprehension and critical thinking. Grammar, punctuation, and word study for vocabulary building are taught. Creative writing, research skills, poetry and different genres of literature are important components of the language curriculum. Spelling work is individualized with several different spelling groups within a class community. Writing is an important part of each day with students writing research reports, stories, letters and other creative forms of writing for self-expression and communication.
Mathematics
The Montessori math curriculum teaches students to develop a logical and critical mind. Students are presented with concepts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, measurement, problem solving, money and time. With a range of Montessori materials, students gain conceptual mastery of math concepts. Through the three year cycle children move to more abstract materials, with procedures gradually moving from concrete to abstract manipulation of problems and ideas. We also work on memorization and calculation of facts, graphs and charts for developing data organizing skills.
Geometry
The geometry curriculum for Lower Elementary builds upon the sensorial area in the Primary program. Students are introduced to concepts and nomenclature for lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, angles, circles and three-dimensional solids. The concepts of symmetry, congruency, similarity and equivalence are introduced and practiced until a competent level of mastery is achieved.
Cultural Studies
The cultural area makes up a major part of the Montessori elementary curriculum. It includes the areas of botany, zoology, biology, history, geography and physical science. This area is presented through impressionistic charts, timelines, nomenclature cards and presentations that strike the imagination. The cultural subject area instills the concept of interconnectedness and purposeful creation of the universe in the learners.
In the area of botany, students learn about the structure, parts and functions of plants. They learn about the diverse types of plant life on our planet and how to derive connections between the world of plants and other living domains through research, demonstrations, and experiments.
In zoology, children learn about the classification of animals and their characteristics. Through nomenclature cards, stories and charts, students develop a deep understanding of the animal kingdom. The system of scientific classification is introduced. The children learn about the vital functions of both invertebrates and vertebrates. The Timeline of Life is studied as classes of animals are presented in the order in which the corresponding fossil evidence was discovered.
Through geography and history, children are given the opportunity to explore the universe, their world and different cultures of the world. Children work on the maps of the continents and develop a deep understanding about each continent through the study of the terrain, flora and fauna, and climate.
History is taught through the use of timelines and charts. In this area, students develop an understanding of their place in the world. Students are presented with the larger concepts first and then move on to the deeper details.
Astronomy lessons are given with an emphasis on the child’s place in the universe. Study of stars, planet research and the study of celestial bodies are examined.
The structure and formation of earth, types of rocks, volcanology, minerals, weathering, work of water, plate tectonics, oceans and mountains are a few physical science topics that are explored.
Practical Life
Practical life at the elementary level retains the important aspects of taking care of self, care of the environment, grace and courtesy and purposeful movement. However, at the elementary level there is an emphasis on connections and higher goals. Students perform jobs to take care of their classroom and school environment. Keeping the classroom environment clean is the responsibility of all the students. This gives them a sense of attachment and accountability towards their classroom environment. Elementary students routinely help to maintain their classroom and school environment.
Students engage in cooking, preparing and setting up snacks for their peers, washing dishes, loading and unloading dishwashers, folding laundry, vacuuming, taking compost out, taking care of the plants and gardening among other housekeeping tasks.
The students feel a sense of ownership and pride in community service projects such as raising funds for different causes. They engage in acts of charity – gathering food, clothes and toys to help the less privileged members of our society. Elementary students have a heightened sense of social justice, at times engaging in writing letters to raise awareness for social issues.
Grace and courtesy lessons take a complex turn, dealing with how to solve problems, facilitate peace among peers, stand up for the right things, and participate in class meetings. It is here that children learn sympathy, independence and interdependence, community involvement, social responsibility and peace-keeping, all important traits for building future global citizens.
Role: Administrator
Education: M.A. in International Broadcast Journalism
Certification: Montessori Basics Certificate, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Personal information
Ramalah Raza has a broad educational background ranging from Media Studies to Pharmacy. She has made three documentaries about human rights. Ramalah has also been an active member of the Commission on the Status of Women under the United Nations, where she delivered presentations about Iraqi and Pakistani women’s status.
Ramalah has three young children. She believes that children are powerful beings, especially when they have a prepared environment to enhance and explore their young minds. She enjoys working with children and loves to spend time with her family.
Role: Arabic and Quran Assistant Teacher
Education: B.A. in Arabic Literature, Lebanese University
Certification: Montessori Basics Certificate, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Personal information
Hasna has over ten years of experience teaching Arabic and Quran tajweed to primary school students. She believes each student is unique and should be given special attention to build their confidence and character. Hasna has been actively involved in the Baitulilm community as a Sunday School teacher where she helped develop the Arabic curriculum.
Hasna is a mother of four children. In her free time, she enjoys reading, nature photography, gardening, and home décor.
Role: Primary Lead Teacher
Education: M.A. in Psychology, Karachi University
Certification: Early Childhood Credential, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Personal information
Shaheen Qaisar taught 3–6 year-old children at Montessori Academy of North Hoffman (MANH) for 13 years. She helped children of different ages to hone their Math and English skills at Kumon after-school program. She has nine years of international teaching experience from Pakistan Airforce School, Islamabad.
Her greatest joy in teaching comes from helping students learn how to learn, thus creating lifelong learners.
Shaheen enjoys cooking and eating from a variety of cuisines, reading books, tending to her garden and traveling. She can speak several languages: English, Urdu, Farsi, and a little French. She has a daughter who is married and lives in Boston.
Education: B.S. (NED University Karachi), M.S. Mechanical Engineering (Wayne State University)
Personal information
Sajjad Zaidi has been an active member of the Baitul Ilm community since 2006 and has 16 years of experience in Engineering, Business, and Project Management. Br. Sajjad has also been serving as vice principal of Baitul Ilm Sunday School for the past several years.
He and his wife have three children, ages 13, 9 and 2. In his spare time, he enjoys playing cricket, table tennis and traveling with his family.
Speciality: B.S in Finance and J.D. International Comparative Law
Personal information
Sister Mariam Fadel has been an educator for the last 22 years in Saudi Arabia, Namibia, Lebanon, and the United States. Her experience ranges from elementary through middle school. Currently, she is a middle school science and math teacher at Elgin Academy. Mariam organizes many enriching programs for her students in order to broaden their minds in a safe environment. Her community-building initiative continues to be one of her many passions. Another one is cooking gourmet international dinners to share with her friends and family.
Mariam and her husband, Ihab Nasser, have two sons Ali (23) and Adel (19).
Education: B.S in Finance (Siena College), J.D. International Comparative Law (DePaul University College of Law)
Personal information
Heena Musabji has been a part of the Baitul Ilm community from the very beginning serving as a volunteer, Sunday school teacher, and board member. Heena has over 15 years of experience as an attorney working in the areas of international human rights, civil rights, immigration and public interest law. She is the co-founder and Director of Development of the Pro Bono Network, a legal aid non-profit that provides civil legal assistance to those in dire need.
Heena is currently on the board of the school District 181 Foundation, and previously served on the board at West Suburban Montessori School. Her children spent over 10 years in the Montessori school environment, and her family is a firm believer in its philosophy. She and her family enjoy cooking, traveling, and spending time outdoors together.
Role: Principal
Education: B.A. in History, Cornell University
M.A.T. Social Studies, University of South Carolina
Certification: Candidate for the Montessori Leadership and Administration Credential, Seton Montessori Institute
Personal information
Minhaj Arastu is a History teacher by training with 25 years of experience in classroom and leadership roles, in the US and in India. Most recently, Minhaj helped found Focus High School, a group of three schools in Hyderabad that aims to provide International Baccalaureate (IB) education that is accessible to children of all backgrounds.
He was active in the masjid community of Columbia, SC. He published a community directory and helped found a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Minhaj has two children. He enjoys carpentry, running, and reading.
Education: B.A. (Northwestern University), M.B.A (University of Michigan)
Personal information
Jawad Hussain has over 15 years of experience in financial services and analysis with a focus on credit analysis. He has been part of the Baitul Ilm community since its inception, taught at Baitulilm's weekend Islamic school since 2002 and is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Baitul Ilm Academy.
He and his wife have four children and in his spare time enjoys tennis, reading and community building.
Speciality: M.A. in English Literature (Punjab University Pakistan)
Education:: Primary Montessori Teacher Certification (Midwest Montessori Teachers Training Center)
Elementary I & II Teacher Certification (Midwest Montessori Teachers Training Center)
Personal information
Sister Saba Haider has worked for 27 years at Montessori Academy of North Hoffman as an assistant teacher for 1 year, lead primary teacher for 5 years, elementary directress for 21 years, along with coordinating the elementary program for six years.
She has conducted parent seminars, served on the steering committee for the school's self-study, organized school events, and served on the American Montessori Society's accreditation team. The Montessori Philosophy has been instilled in her as a child attending Montessori early education and has been a part of who she is ever since. She has been a partner with parents in guiding their children's social, emotional, and educational needs and development.
She has three children and soon-to-be grandmother insha Allah. She enjoys reading, gardening, home decor, and traveling.
Education: B.B.A. and Masters in Accounting (University of Texas at Austin)
Personal information
Hasnain Jiwani has over 12 years of experience in M&A consulting and corporate finance. He has been part of the Chicagoland Muslim community for the last several years and has taught at various weekend Islamic schools.
He and his wife have two daughters and in his spare time enjoys cricket, hiking and reading.
Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering (University of Houston), M.B.A (Depaul University)
Personal information
Jaffer Syed has over 25 years of experience in engineering, business and operations management, and has worked in various industries. He has been part of the Baitul Ilm community since 2001 and has taught in its Sunday school in its formative years. He also owned and was lead instructor at a Kumon center.
Br Jaffer and his wife, who is a preschool teacher, have three daughters. He enjoys working on volunteer projects together with his family, playing a variety of sports and travelling.
Education: B.A. (Northwestern University), M.B.A (Harvard University)
Personal information
Abbas Kanji has over 20 years of experience in investment advisory and direct investments with a focus on real estate investments. He has been part of the Baitul Ilm community since its inception and has taught in various weekend Islamic schools across the United States for the past 20 years.
He and his wife have two children and in his spare time enjoys skiing, tennis and travelling.
Personal information
Hujjatul Islam Maulana Faezi is a senior theologian and patron of the Unity Academy of Chicago.
Maulana Faezi was the President of the Islamic Theological Seminary of North America at Medina, NY from 1988 to 1998 . Many of his students are now renowned scholars.
He moved to the Chicago area in 1998 with a dream to establish a model Islamic community.
He has organized a knowledge-based community by the name of Baitul Ilm, with the aim of building a seminary, school, and many other institutions to serve the multiple needs of our growing community.
Maulana Faezi is best known for his exemplary discipline, and dynamic and visionary leadership. Maulana Faezi enjoys serving his local community and mentoring young scholars around the world.
Role: Lower Elementary Assistant Teacher
Education: B.A. in Economics, University of Chicago
Certification: Montessori Basics Certificate, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Personal information
Saiyeda Hussain steps into the classroom as an Assistant Teacher in her second year at Unity Academy of Chicago. During the last 10 years, she has gained valuable teaching experience as a homeschooler and Sunday School teacher. She has helped to organize and assisted in many Baitulilm-sponsored events, such as Muharram workshops, Ramadan summer camps, Sunday School science fairs, and mother-daughter programs. At Unity Academy, she is grateful to be part of a compassionate, belief-centric environment that values a strong work ethic and promotes a joy for learning.
Saiyeda is the mother of 4 children. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking, and spending time with her family.
Role: Arabic and Quran Teacher
Education: B.S. in Chemistry for Secondary Education, University of Baghdad
Certification: Candidate for the Early Childhood Credential, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center
Personal information
Zainab has fourteen years of teaching experience and is a certified substitute teacher with the Illinois Board of Education. She was an active member of an Islamic homeschool group in the Chicago area in which she taught classes in various subjects and grades for over seven years. Zainab also taught Arabic and Islamic studies at a local Islamic school for two years. She is an active member of the Baitulilm community and has been a Sunday School teacher for the last 13 years.
Zainab Albaghdadi is a mother of three children. She enjoys gardening, nature walks, and reading.
Role: Primary Assistant Teacher
Education: B.S. in Biology (summa cum laude), University of Massachusetts
Certification: Montessori Paraprofessional Certificate, Seton Montessori Institute
Personal information
Fatema Kanji has over six years of experience as a Montessori assistant teacher working most recently at Rose Hall Montessori and the Montessori Academy of North Hoffman (MANH). She also spent two years as an assistant teacher at River Garden Montessori, an Islamic Montessori school. Prior to teaching in the Montessori environment, Fatema helped establish the Mom & Tot class at Baitulilm Academy. Fatema loves connecting with each child and especially loves watching children make discoveries and grow in their confidence and independence.
She is a mother of two teenage children. Fatema’s hobbies include traveling, reading and spending time with her family.
Role: Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
Education: M.A. in English Literature, Punjab University 1993
Certification: Early Childhood Credential, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center 1997
Elementary I & II Credential, Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center E1 2002 combined certification Elementary I & II 2018
Personal information
Having attended a primary Montessori school from an early age, Saba Haider was steeped in Montessori philosophy. She worked for 27 years at Montessori Academy of North Hoffman (MANH) as an assistant teacher for one year, lead primary teacher for five years and an elementary teacher for 21 years, along with coordinating the elementary program for six years.
She has conducted parent seminars and workshops on various topics such as:
She served on the steering committee for the school's self-study and organized school events such as elocution night. She served on the American Montessori Society's accreditation team. Saba has been a partner with parents in guiding their children's social, emotional, and educational needs and development.
Despite years of experience, she believes that learning is an exercise necessary for one’s mind and professional growth regardless of age. For this reason, she strives to expand her Montessori knowledge by attending conferences, staying up to date on the latest research, accumulating continued education credit hours, and being a receptive team member.
Saba has three children and is a grandmother. She enjoys reading, gardening, home decor, and traveling.