Assalam-o-alaikum
My teaching career started in 1999 when I became an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher in the British Council in Oman. When I came to Canada, I did my Bachelor Education from York University and worked in the Peel District School Board for three years. As a kindergarten teacher I loved how children enjoyed the kindergarten classroom and I wished to teach Islam and the Quran in a similar way. I was blessed with the opportunity to work at Al Huda Institute as a Kindergarten teacher. Although the kindergarten program is amazing for young children, I felt that I was not able to work with children at their pace. Recently, I was introduced to the Montessori Philosophy, which does exactly that, lets children work at their own pace so I did the Montessori Early Education (CASA) Diploma.
Alhamdolillah, I was able to work in reputed and well known Montessori schools namely, Bright Scholars Academy and Children’s Circle Montessori School.
My passion is to teach Islam and Quran to children using age appropriate and engaging methods. I wish for children to learn Islam in a fun way naturally without the burden of textbooks and tests. Children should be taught Islam by modelling and in order to do that Islamic knowledge should be integrated into all parts of the curriculum so that children see it as a way of life and not just an isolated subject.
I hope and pray that at Children’s Learning Garden while children learn to read or write English and Arabic and do math operations they develop a love for Allah, His Messenger, Prophet Muhammed (SAW) and His religion Islam.
Shazia Afzal, OCT
Experience:
- EFL teacher for 4 years at The British Council. (Oman)
- Elementary teacher for 1 year (Oman)
- Grade 2 teacher at Safa and Marwa Islamic School (Mississauga, Canada)
- K-6 supply teacher at Peel District School Board (Mississauga, Canada)
- Kindergarten teacher at Clifton Public School for 2 years (Mississauga, Canada)
- K-3 teacher and program coordinator at Al Huda Institute for 6 years(Mississauga, Canada)
- CASA co-teacher at Bright Scholar’s Academy (Mississauga, Canada)
- CASA lead teacher at Children’s Circle Montessori (Brampton, Canada)
Education:
- Master of Plant Sciences (Botany) Quaid-e-Azam University, Pakistan
- Certificate of English Language teaching to Adults, The British Council, Oman
- Certificate of English Language teaching to Young Adults, The British Council, Oman
- Bachelor of Education, (Primary, Junior) York University, Canada
- Additional Qualification: English as a Second Language, OISE, Canada
- Montessori (MACTE Diploma), CMTEI, Canada
