Adoptive Parents: School Issues

School-aged children can be exposed to hurtful comments from their classmates, or feel uncomfortable with certain types of class assignments or language used in the classroom. Here are resources to help parents and educators work together for the children's benefit.

Adoption and School Issues
School years can raise issues with young adoptees, and present challenges at different ages and stages of development. A factsheet from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse.

Adoption & Your Child's Teachers
Child development expert Rita Taddonio fielded questions about racial bullying, parent presentations, adoptees who don't want the teacher to know, and much more in this chat with adoptive parents. Chat transcript.

Adoption Resources for Teachers
Teachers are challenged to develop sensitivity in the classroom, expanding their own awareness while encouraging their students to do the same.

How I Explained Adoption to the First Grade
Making presentations at your child's school (with your child's permission and participation) is a proactive step parents can take to help both students and teachers understand the concepts, especially for young learners. Amy Klatzkin writes for Adoptive Families.

Learning the Language of Adoption: A Lesson for Teachers
Whether adoptive parents choose to tell their children's teachers about the adoption, teachers can benefit from staying current with adoption language and the effect words can have on their students. Author Rebecca Gold is an adoptive parent and elementary school teacher.

Making A Family Tree For The Adoptee
Parents don't need to wait for teachers to assign this in school, and when the assignment does come, it doesn't need to be stressful; by Lois Melina.

Rethinking the Family Tree
Age-specific ways to help our children visualize and express the diversity of their families. Great for adoptive and foster families, and teachers.

School, Teachers, Older Adoptees and New Parents 101
The author is an adoptive mom who lives with her husband and two children in Rome, Indiana.

Teachers and Adopted Children
From the Encyclopedia of Adoption

Telling the Teachers: Adoption & School
At the beginning of every school year, adoptive parents consider whether or not tell teachers that their children joined their families through adoption. Both sides of the discussion are presented to help you make your decision.

Your Child's World: Adoption at School
Because of the influence school has on children's lives, it is important that parents and teachers work together to ensure a positive learning experience for young adoptees. From C.A.S.E.