Adoption and the Schools Edited by Lansing Wood and Nancy Ng

Review by Allison Martin

Adoption and the Schools, edited by Lansing Wood and Nancy Ng, is a comprehensive collection of articles addressing adoption issues which arise in elementary and middle school. This useful guide also provides a number of practical ways to handle awkward situations and assignments in the lower grades. It is a excellent introduction for parents who wish to understand some of the ways that adoption affects their child's school experience. It also serves as a guide to educate teachers about adoption. Teamwork and communication within the family is supported, as parents are encouraged to be aware and actively involved when adoption issues arise. This is a practical book, which tackles educational moments every adoptive family will find very familiar - including the dreaded family tree assignment, explaining adoption to the class, teacher and classmates comments, and the parent-teacher conference. Important topics are covered by this book including transcultural adoption and racism, society's anti-adoption bias, adoption awareness at different developmental stages, and handling personal history.

The editors have considerable expertise in the arena of supporting adoptees in school and they use their knowledge to provide an invaluable resource. Lansing Wood contributed a chapter on the varying perspectives adoptees have toward adoption at different ages - from preschool to high school. Nancy Ng shares her awareness of adoption issues which can arise with school assignments (e.g., genetics, family tree, holidays), giving concrete and sympathetic advice for ways to handle these. In addition, over 60 parents, teachers, adoptees and professionals contributed articles, poetry, drawings and stories, which add a rich diversity of experience. You are encouraged to take what you can use from the book, xeroxing copies for teachers and parents, in a way that fits your family.

While it addresses important issues, Adoption and the Schools is not a dry or discouraging book. On the contrary, affection for adoptees - their strength and creativity, and the love and commitment of adoptive families is demonstrated with humor and poignancy. Recommended for anyone with a child in elementary or middle school.

Visit Fair (Families Adopting in Response) to order.