5.17: Teaching Children About Ramadan and Islamophobia

Happy Ramadan to all of our Muslim brothers and sisters!   If you are not Muslim, perhaps you’ve seen Ramadan listed as holiday on your calendar but don’t really know what it’s all about. Well, here at First Name Basis, we believe the best way to learn about traditions, beliefs and people that are unfamiliar to you is to get on a first name basis with members of that community, so my friend Felicity LeFevre is on the podcast this week to help us learn more!   Ramadan is the Muslim holy month of fasting, which started this year on April 2 and continues until May 1. And while my conversation will leave you with additional insight into why this is such an important holiday to our Muslim friends, this interview goes beyond that to tackle Islamaphobia, which continues to be a disturbing problem throughout the world.   In this episode, you will learn: What Ramadan is What you can do to show support during Ramadan How to talk to your children about Islamophobia Action steps you can take with your family to help stop Islamaphobia    Felicity is Muslim, an artist, a teacher, an illustrator and mother of six children. She was a classroom teacher for 18 years and has taught prekindergarten, kindergarten and high school art. She is passionate about creating education resources and loves to share those resources with teachers around the world. Felicity also recently had her first illustrated book published, “I Can Achieve Anything” by MoNique Waters, and hopes to continue to create books that can positively impact children.   I hope you’ll take time to listen and come up with an action plan for what you will do to be in solidarity with the Muslim members of your community.    Ally Elementary & Ally Elementary Jr.    Parents have been asking for a practical, interactive way to implement the anti-racist strategies that I lay out in the First Name Basis Podcast, so I created Ally Elementary — and registration is now open! And we’re also excited to announce that we will be launching our new program, Ally Elementary Jr., for kids in preschool through second grade at the same time.   During this five-week program parents will work together with their children to create a culture of anti-racism in their home, and I will be there to guide them every step of the way. We will use hands-on activities to teach our children about everything from the untold story of how race was created to how they can disrupt racism in their everyday lives. I am so excited to watch the families in our community make a meaningful transformation and improve their communities through anti-racist action.   Click here to access the coupon code, just be sure to use it before 11:59pm on April 5th Click here to register for Ally Elementary (3rd-8th graders).  Click here to register for Ally Elementary Jr. (preschool-2nd graders).    Don’t wait to register! Registration closes on Friday, April 8th!   Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   Felicity LeFevre’s Instagram account Felicity LeFevre’s Instagram account @palettebyfelicity   Felicity LeFevre’s Teachers Pay Teachers site   “I Can Achieve Anything” by MoNique Waters and illustrated by Felicity LeFevre   First Name Basis Bookshop: Featuring Muslim Characters Bookshelf   Monique Waters’ Instagram @itsmoniquesworld   Redistribute your resources by giving money to help provide iftar dinner for those in the Muslim community who need help at: Islamic Relief USA, Muslim Aid USA, Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center    Women's History Biography Poster & Coloring Book from Felicity’s Teachers Pay Teachers   Asmahan Mashrah’s free Ramadan activity book on Teachers Pay Teachers. Or here is a more detailed version you can purchase   Example letters that parents and teachers can use to communicate about Ramadan by the Muslim Educators Collective Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN