As well as working through lockdown many of our learners and whānau from our Muslim community will have been observing the holy month of Ramadhan. In this conversation with Jane Taylor, ECE teacher from Christchurch, four very important points are served up for how we can inclusively support our Muslim learners and their families as they transition back to school. Fasting takes a psychological toll and has an impact on energy levels so flexibility is one of the keys.
Jane reminded us that the first Muslims came to New Zealand in the 1860s and settled in Cashmere, Christchurch which offers us a perspective and that the Muslim communities are made up of individuals from a multitude of backgrounds including Māori, Samoan, Tongan and Pākeha. My wondering is how can we raise our own awareness of the multiple spaces that our learners come from? Would love to know your thoughts on this Chrissie Butler @LindaOjala and of course the floor is open to everyone.