ABSTRACT
While learning how to teach students of diverse cultural backgrounds is recognized as an important consideration in teacher preparation and ongoing professional development, there is precious little work done to support teachers, school districts, and universities in working effectively with Muslim students and families. Especially given the stereotypes and hostilities toward Islam that exist in many Western countries, it is critical for teachers to be thoughtful about how to support their Muslim students. Of course, the overwhelming majority of the teaching staff in English-speaking countries has a Christian background. At the same time the numbers of Muslim youth in schools and colleges is rapidly growing; as discussed in the previous chapter there are over 10 million Muslims in America, Canada, Britain, and Australia. The failure to adequately prepare and support teachers working with Muslim students continues to lead to significant misunderstanding, conflicts, and controversies that only occasionally make the news.
