ABSTRACT
A first glance of the Muslim Academy shows little to distinguish it from any other small school. Motivational posters brighten the halls; the curriculum includes the typical academic subjects, plus physical education, art, and computers; the core subjects meet state and local guidelines. Most of the teachers hold or are seeking state certification. In 2005, Samar served as the school's principal, and in that capacity, she observed classroom instruction and provided professional development activities for her teachers. Occasionally she took over a class and demonstrated a model lesson for the teacher. Samar's own teaching experience included three years in the elementary and middle grades, and she has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. Samar's approach to helping student develop the concepts is from a problem-solving approach in that she presents students with inheritance problems for which students have no immediate way of reaching the solutions.
