Ever since it became an “option” in middle school, all the way through my collegiate years, cheating has made me sick to my stomach.  I *hate* cheating.  I think it is a sorry and pathetic habit to have and hide.  I’ve always felt it was better to fail with honor than pass by cheating

I have a few students, unfortunatley, that are cheating right under my nose and I can’t catch them so they keep slipping by.  Sometimes when I grade their papers I want to pull out my hair and start screaming because I’ll see all the wrong work and then the right answer amidst a mess of numbers.  The work is not leading to this correct answer, so I have to wonder HOW DID YOU GET IT?? 

This is coming from the same students that turn in their homework right on top of the “smart” friend’s homework and it looks almost IDENTICAL to their friend’s.  I mean line-for-line, mistake-for-mistake, the EXACT same!! 

I’ve threatened to fail them, I’ve tried to emphasize the honor system, I’ve even tried the fear of God, but NOTHING is getting through to them.  Cheating is an addiction that is too hard to let go off. 

Yuck, ickh, gross.  Cheating is a shame for all students!  Bleckh!

I always have hated cheating, and I always will.

Okay, that above title is a major over statement, BUT there is some truth to it. I may not be a die-hard fan of any one specific Michigan sports team, BUT, I am a fan of Michigan sports, in general. And enough of a fan to miss being around it when I leave here.

First there was Michigan basketball in the early 90s. You know what I’m talking about.

The Fab Five

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As my husband so lovingly pointed out to me on Saturday afternoon, there are only 8 weeks left until our wedding. And while for the most part this idea is bringing me a lot of joy, excitement and happiness, I do find myself from time to time panicked and grief stricken with thoughts of, “I only have 8 more weeks in Michigan???”

I know for most of my life I thought life in Northville… forget that, life in Michigan was boring and mundane at best. But now that I have to leave this little town in Southeast Michigan nestled between 5 & 8 Mile, I am sad.

So to commemorate my time… or rather my life in Michigan, I will be periodically posting about all the things that I love about life in Michigan.

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Two weeks ago I was in Illinois during my Spring Break running some wedding errands with my husband. This was I think… my fifth time visiting him where he lives since our marriage in November of 2006. I’m adjusting well, (I think–alhumdu’lillah) with his family and the surrounding area. But there is one place where I think I feel the most awkward and isolated. It’s also the worst place to have this feeling: at the masjid.

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The theme at the last MMYC Spring Conference was:  The Prophetic Legacy–the North Star in Our Troubled Waters.  Throughout the weekend, speakers kept mentioning various hadith relating back to why it was so important to take the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi wasalaam) as an example and guide in our lives.  And how now, more than ever, during this troubling time for our ummah, it is vital for us to increase our love for him. 

One of the hadith that I think almost every single speaker mentioned was from Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 13, narrated by Abu Huraira: 

“Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in Whose Hands my life is, none of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father and his children.”

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Today was one of those days at school where no one wanted to pay attention.  It was the first day back from Spring break and to make matters worse the sun was shining and the weather was just right; not too warm and not cold at all.

Every period I had with my 4th graders they kept insisting we finish our lesson quickly and have free time to play.  Unfortunately for them the opportunity didn’t present itself until the end of the day during Science.  We finished early and I told them it was okay to go outside and enjoy the weather.

It is so much fun to watch them all playing together on the playground.  My three boys always go on the swings and compete to see who can jump off the furthest.   And all five girls manage to fit themselves on one tire swing and scream at the top of their lungs.

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