Approximately 1.35 million Muslim children attend school in the United States, and this population is growing. However, because Muslims currently represent only a small percentage of the total U.S. population, they may be overlooked or misunderstood by people from other religious or cultural backgrounds. In fact, a 2021 survey found that more than 50% of participating Muslim youth reported feeling unsafe, unwelcome, or uncomfortable at school because of their Muslim identity. Fortunately, there are several ways teachers can be prepared to support Muslim youth during Ramadan.
Acknowledging Muslim students during Ramadan is one simple step toward fostering a stronger sense of belonging for Muslim students and deepening cultural understanding for others. While this alone can help build a positive school culture and align with best practices for inclusion, here are five additional tips for supporting Muslim students during Ramadan:
5 Tips for Supporting Muslim and Fasting Students During Ramadan:
- Show Compassion and Empathy
Liana Mubarak, a Palestinian-American educator at Innovation Montessori School of Ocoee (Florida), emphasizes that teachers should be extra sensitive to the needs of Muslim students fasting during Ramadan. She advises: “Supporting students during Ramadan requires patience and understanding. Many will be tired from waking up early for suhoor (the pre-dawn meal), leading to lower energy levels and difficulty concentrating. Show grace, but more importantly, offer acceptance and empathy. Most Muslims who fast appreciate when others try to understand the significance of Ramadan.”
Recognizing and respecting the experience of fasting students fosters a more inclusive and supportive environment. Nadia Ellis, a Muslim-American teacher at my school, echoed Liana’s sentiments and stressed the importance of non-Muslim teachers learning about Ramadan and its customs. She shared, “As a Muslim kid, I experienced microaggressions/pity that I know were not intended by my teachers, who were attempting to show compassion.” Education and information sharing are often the most powerful strategies to combat such experiences, leading to our next tip.
- Share Resources About Ramadan with Teachers and Students
To help teachers learn more about Ramadan, Nadia created a slideshow called Ramadan Resources for Educators, which includes facts about Ramadan and suggestions for acknowledging the holiday. Nadia was inspired to create this after reflecting on her own experiences growing up as a Muslim-American. She said, “As an educator, I’m committed to making sure our Muslim learners have spaces where they feel seen and they belong, as they are. This resource is my action.”
Nadia also shared a collection of books about Ramadan, a video, an infographic on Muslim foods around the world, and an activity related to Islamic art and geometry. Knowledge is power, and understanding is key!
- Create a Designated Prayer and Fasting Space
At Megan’s school, Muslim families worked with counselors and teachers to transform the library into an interfaith prayer space. This space was decorated with lanterns and positive messages. Details about the prayer space were shared with all community members before Ramadan began, along with suggestions for how the space could be used, such as making gratitude lanterns, decorating cards, writing messages, and praying or relaxing. The goal was to create a peaceful, inviting area for everyone to enjoy and to serve as a space for midday prayers during Ramadan.
Schools can also designate a no-eating, no-drinking space so fasting students have somewhere to go during breaks and lunchtime. Those not fasting should be mindful of eating and drinking in front of fasting students during Ramadan. This silent support can make all the difference in a student’s experience.
- Provide Positive Images of the Muslim Community
Ramadan offers an opportunity to share positive stories about the Muslim community. Islamophobia is on the rise in the U.S. According to Reuters, “Reported discrimination and attacks against Muslims and Palestinians reached a record high in the U.S. in 2023, with 8,061 complaints.” Teachers can help combat Islamophobia by sharing uplifting stories about Ramadan celebrations worldwide. Ramadan is a time of giving—many Muslim communities donate food to those in need and contribute to charity. Highlighting these positive actions helps challenge stereotypes and narrow viewpoints about Muslims.
5. Make Connections with Families
Finally, Ramadan is a wonderful time to reach out and build stronger relationships with families of Muslim students. Teachers can send Ramadan Kareem emails and make sure to wish families Ramadan Mubarak during pick-up and drop-off times. Teachers can also ask families how they are observing the holiday so they are prepared for student absences and can make arrangements to support students who may be away.
Additionally, families can be invited into the classroom as special guests to talk about Ramadan celebrations, help prepare the prayer room, read books to students about Ramadan, and/or answer any questions non-Muslim students and teachers may have about the holiday.
In the Ramadan Resources for Educators slideshow, poet Tamer Mostafa writes, “Ramadan is a time for reflection, filled with lightness… a time for us to intentionally practice the values intrinsic to Islam—love, amends, social consciousness, healing, and equity for everyone, not just Muslims.” This Ramadan, let us strive to better understand one another, support each other more, and commit to ensuring every student feels welcome in our classrooms and proud of their identity.
Megan Vosk teaches English Language Acquisition and Individuals & Societies at Vientiane International School in Laos. She is a member of AMLE’s Board of Trustees. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or Bluesky.
Marri Bayour is a humanities teacher and instructional coach at Sonoma Country Day School in California. She is a member of AMLE’s Teacher Leaders Committee. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
The authors offer special thanks to Nadia Ellis and Liana Mubarak for their contributions.