Adopted and foster children have unique histories and, as a result, they also have unique needs when it comes to school. Tapestry recently hosted an event, Back to School: Strategies to Help Your Child Have a Positive School Experience, which focused on school-related issues from an adoptive and foster families’ perspective. 

Below is the list of resources that was provided to parents to help them learn and understand how to advocate well for their children in school. You can also download the slides from this event here.

Books:

• The Connected Child, by Purvis, Cross & Lyons Sunshine
• Wounded Children Healing Homes, by Schooler, Keefer Smalley & Callahan
• Answers to Questions Teachers Ask About Sensory Integration, by by Koomar, Kranowitz & Sklut
• S.A.F.E. at School, published by The Center for Adoption Support and Education 
• W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook (For Children Who Were Adopted), The Center for Adoption Support and Education (www.adoptionsupport.org) (Comment: An excellent resource to help empower your kids to know and be able to answer (or not answer) questions about their family and their adoption.  Highly recommended for all adoptive families with school-age children.)
• W.I.S.E. Up Powerbook (For Children in Foster Care), The Center for Adoption Support and Education (www.adoptionsupport.org) (Comment: Similar to the original W.I.S.E Up Powerbook for children who were adopted, this resource is a great way to help talk with and empower children in foster care to better understand, accept and handle their story.)
• Attachment in the Classroom: The Links Between Children’s Early Experience, Emotional Well-being and Performance in School, by Heather Geddes

Articles:

• Talking to Teachers About Adoption, by Kathryn Kaatz (from Adoption Today)
• How Does SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) Affect Learning, by Carol Kranowitz
• Attachment Influences in the Classroom, by Dr. Karyn Purvis (as modified by Casey Call)
• Advocating in School – Sample Letter to Schools, from the Institute of Child Development
• Help At Risk Children Navigating Educational Services, by Marsha Moore
• What Your Child’s Teacher Needs to Know, by Lois Melina (from Adoptive Families)
• Stepping Back at School, by Carrie Krueger (from Adoptive Families)
• Middle School Middle Steps, by Jean MacLeod (from Adoption Today)

Websites:

• The Out-of-Sync Child (http://out-of-sync-child.com/) — provides articles and resources from Carol Kranowitz (author of The Out-of-Sync Child) relating to sensory processing
• Advocacy, Inc. (http://www.advocacyinc.org/education.cfm) — provides information on advocacy, law and understanding policy associated with special populations
• Texas Project First (www.texasprojectfirst.org) — a website of the Texas Education Agency that provides a wide range of information and resources (organized by type of need and age of student) for parents of students with disabilities. This site provides detailed information regarding the rights of Texas families to special education and related services and provides step-by-step help for obtaining that help.
• Wrightslaw (http://www.wrightslaw.com/) — provides detailed information (and other helpful links) relating to special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities
• Adoptive Families Magazine: Adoption & Schools (http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/school/index.php) — provides a variety of articles and links for parents and educators offering inspiring ideas for adoption presentations and creative approaches to the family tree assignment, advice from experts about development and learning styles, suggested books and more