Supporting Muslim Students: A Guide to Understanding the Diverse Issues of Todays Classrooms

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This book provides school professionals - including teachers, principals, counselors, psychologists, and administrators - with a practical guide for supporting Muslim students in PK-12 schools. It is important that school professionals are culturally responsive and understand students backgrounds in planning effective instruction and creating safe schools. However, in the post-9/11 world, negative biases and stereotypes permeate mainstream discourses. Muslim students and their families often find themselves in conflict with school practices, procedures, and policies and do not often find themselves represented in the curriculum. This book provides a practical guide to the important issues that may impact the lives and education of Muslim students. This books give essential information about Islam and Muslim students from authentic perspectives. This text will support teachers and other school professionals in their advocacy for all students to provide equitable and just educational opportunities for all students. Beyond basics such as food and clothing requirement, this text advocates for the implementation of anti-bias pedagogy for diverse learners. Through school-based vignettes and case studies, we situate experiences of Muslim students in lived realities and help school professionals think deeply and critically about who their students are and how to engage their experiences in the curriculum.

Reviews

Supporting Muslim Students is boldly and unapologetically designed to support and sustain teachers and other school professionals in their advocacy for all students. This very timely book will serve as a professional resource for those working in multicultural contexts who believe in social justice educationfor those equity minded educators who are seeking the nuanced understandings needed to extend those beliefs to the Muslin students they serve. Well-researched and powerful in its breadth and depth, this text will empower educators who endeavor to become more empathetic and knowledgeable as they strive to help all students in their journeys toward becoming more sensitive and better informed citizens. In this book, the authors provide background information for Muslim students beliefs, practices, and lived experiences in the context of classrooms and schools. Moving beyond essentializing, stereotyping, and superficial understandings, this book advocates for the implementation of anti-bias pedagogy. It will help school professionals think deeply and critically about who their students are and how to integrate their students experiences in the curriculum with sensitivity and a strong knowledge base. Now, there are no more excusesbecause these authors have made it possible for educators to succeed, going so far as to offer case studies, chapter summaries, critical points for consideration, discussion questions, and concrete strategies for school professionals interested in bridging the gap between school practices and students daily lives. Supporting Muslim Students is an essential must-read for educators who understand the importance of culturally responsive, culturally sustaining teaching. -- Arnetha F. Ball, Professor, Stanford University Graduate School of Education
Although the number of Muslim students in U.S. schools throughout the nation is steadily increasing, most schools are still unprepared to welcome and teach them effectively. Supporting Muslim Students is a much-needed, practical guide that will help educators learn more about these students, explore ways to make curriculum and pedagogy be more inclusive, and reach out to Muslim families. With school and classroom-based vignettes and case studies, this text describes many of the challenges faced by Muslim students in our schools today. It will be an excellent resource for teachers, schools, teacher educators, and policymakers. -- Sonia Nieto, University of Massachusetts
These authors have created a very valuable work that can assist anyone towards a deeper understanding of educating Muslim students. It ismeaningful, very readable, and very well organized. The case studies are excellent, in that they are positively oriented and model ways of thinking. Overall, Ican imagine this being an important book for educators, administrators and staff. Reading it, Ikept thinking, How can I use this in class It was easy to read and enjoyable,and I feel honored to review it. -- Jeanne Cofell, Assistant Professor, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

Author Bio

Laura Mahalingappa, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of education and the director of the ESL M.S. Ed. and Certificate Programs at Duquesne University. Her teaching and research focuses on teacher preparation to support linguistically and culturally diverse learners and bilingual language acquisition in marginalized communities. Terri L. Rodriguez, Ph.D., is a former secondary English teacher and currently an associate professor of education at the College of St. Benedict and St. Johns University in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Her research explores issues of social justice, equity, and diversity in schools. Nihat Polat, Ph.D., is an associate professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in the School of Education at Duquesne University. His teaching and research focuses on second language learning and teaching and second language teacher education.