This week’s teaching tips provide insights into the upcoming celebration of Ramadan. Please keep these strategies in mind throughout the month of April!
- Learn about Ramadan: Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, takes place throughout April 2022. Ramadan features many traditions that may impact students in your class. For example, fasting (abstaining from both food and water) during hours of sunlight can affect students’ energy levels during afternoon or early evening classes, and students may need to leave or adjust their class times due to prayer. You can learn more about Ramadan traditions and practices here or by watching this short video.
Acknowledge Ramadan: Acknowledgement of the holiday and that some of our students may be fasting can go a long way. It is important to not single any one student out - but acknowledging that now is a time of fasting and worship for many of our students can be useful. You may also consider using this time to share information about Ramadan with your students as a way to counter Islamophobia.
Be Flexible during Ramadan: Be prepared to accommodate students who are fasting. As Lasell University notes, students have different thresholds when fasting - you may want to consider when projects are due or exams take place (such as allowing a student to take an exam earlier in the day, and/or extending assignment deadlines to 11:59 pm). MIT offers more tips about making adjustments to your teaching during Ramadan here.
Ramadan Mubarak to all who celebrate!
What did you think of today's teaching tips?
