[2mrsdavis]

I am a second grade teacher and looking for suggestions on how and when to tell my class that we are adopting. I told the parents at our parent night a couple last week. We are waiting to exit FC right now and enter PGN, so I thought I would share with them in the next month or so. I will be taking a leave for atleast 6 weeks maybe more (still undecided). I'm just not sure how to share our wonderful news. Oh and I also have a little girl in my class who was adopted from China. She already knows about Colton and she is very excited about him coming home. But I want to consider the questions that may come up from the other children and how to answer them with her too. Her mother and I have talked and she is very open and said "J" would be fine with any discussion. I just want to be prepared.
I look forward to your suggestions!

[readytobeamommy]

I am a high school teacher and I told my students from the beginning..........after we had our I-171H and waiting for referral.......they were with me every step of the way and it was such an awesome experience to share with them.......now that Peyton is home he has soooooo many offers to be "babysat" it is not funny! I am taking the Family Leave Act with an additional 6 weeks and it gives me the entire semester to spend with Peyton. We go to my school monthly to visit....... Good luck!

[guatmom4113]

Both groups were very interested in my experience. I brought pictures on a cd rom and showed them via an overhead on a whiteboard. They learned a lot about adoption and about the country of Guatemala. They had a lot of questions. I think your elementary students will be interested in "what makes a family." Barney had an episode like that. You will love the response. Great bonding with your students!

[ashlind]

I teach sixth grade. I didn't say anything to my students until the end of the school year last year. I told them everything and showed them pictures of the little girl that we thought would be our daughter. Well, the following week after school let out we lost her. We did receive a second referral soon after, but now this year I keep getting kids stopping into my classroom and asking about Cinea (1st referral). I have to explain things to them over and over again. I wish that I hadn't said anything until this year. The kids are confused and it's so hard to get them to understand what happened. I have since shared our new little girl (Gabriella) with this years' sixth graders. They are very excited for both my husband and myself (my husband teaches PE at the same school).

I think that since you're so close to getting your child I would begin telling the class. Mentally preparing them in advance may help them with the transition from you as their teacher to the substitute. Good luck!!! I hope things move quickly!!

[spidermanteache]

I had 2 different classes go through the process with me! It took us that long. We also lost a referrral and I still remember my students crying right along with me. It was tough. I also told my classes from the very beginning. I also remember the day, March 31st, 2004: 3:40 PM (dismissal 3:45) when the phone rang in the classroom. At this point my students would gasp with me each time the phone rang. It was the CALL that we were out of PGN. We only had 5 min. to celebrate together, but that didn't stop alot of yeeehawwing that could be heard down the hall!!!!

Funny story!! On the day that we got the pink slip, there happened to be a school board member in our building doing a "chess club" with our 6th graders!! Well, I called up to the office to tell them I got my pink slip. All the staff members in the building knew what that meant when it was announced over the intercom by my good friend the secretary!!! Well, the board member called down to our District Office and wanted to know why they were announcing that "Mrs. D" had just received her Pink slip, aka firing notice!!!!! The Superintendent called my principal and she had to explain the whole thing!!!! I guess Pink Slip can mean something different to those of us not in the adoption scene!!! We still laugh about it every time we see her!!!!!!

[CarolShep]

I taught first grade last year and had a picture of the baby on my desk....a couple students asked and I told them. I thought it was cute that the first little girl to notice was hispanic. Her mother and I talked more about the adoption at parent teacher conferences than about the little girl. LOL

This year I have not told any students or parents (KDG)since my principal thought I should not mention it until I have an exact date when I am leaving. This is probably because it is so close to the beginning of the school year and I know some parents would have wanted to switch their children out of my class since I will be leaving for the rest of the school year and there will be a long term substitute.

It has been hard to keep. Although all that staff at the school know and everyday I get to talk about it with someone!!!

Now I am waiting on my GCBC, so I will be telling parents soon! Monday, the school is having a baby shower for me and two other staff members who are having babies.

[shortstack]

Thanks for posting this question! I teach third and fourth grade (combined!) & I was wondering when to tell them about our adoption. DH & I are just about done w/our HS right now. . .I was thinking of waiting till our referral, but I'm worried that something will go wrong & I'll wind up upsetting the kids. . .maybe when we get our pink slip. . .

[MLRJ]

In our first adoption- (VN) I was teaching first grade- I did not tell the class until we were about within a month of travel and I was sure everything was a GO- I read several books, When You Were Born In Vietnam, Over the MOON, etc. The kids were so interested. I was nervous that some questions about the birthmom/the fact why could I not have my own would come up- but they did not. I showed them where VN was and we read about the country- Then when our little ones came home I brought them in to show the class- It went very well- Much better than I expected. Good Luck! I think it will be great for the little girl from China to know that other families who she knows are doing this!

MLRJ

[ballerinagirl]

I am a learning disabilities teacher in the primary grades 3rd and 4th. My students have also known since the beginning. They have really been excited and supportive. One little guy went from telling everyone that we were adopting a little boy from "Guacamole" () to looking up and showing everyone where Guatemala is on our map. He is my official spokesperson and tells any new kids of our plans. He is also great for giving me hugs on the days when I am missing my little one the most. He seems to know when I am down. His grandmother was one of my closest friends and colleagues so I have know him since he was little.

I also am a ballet teacher and have many little girls waiting to meet our new son. One of my ballet students is adopted from China and she is very excited about the whole event. She asks at least 20 questions everytime I see her!

[Grandma2CiCi]

My daughter, Laurie, is a first grade teacher. I will tell her to post her experiences with her class but I wanted to show you what the children did for Alicia's homecoming. We took her to the school a couple of days after bringing her home and this is what we found on the hall bulletin board.

[Grandma2CiCi]

Here's the rest of the board. It was too big to take one picture.

[Grandma2CiCi]

And, of course, the proud mama and her beautiful new daughter!!!!

[2mrsdavis]

Cute pics. What a great idea to work it into the curriculum. I'm sure the children worked very hard on the bulletin board. It's really awesome!

[2mrsdavis]

I am having many of the same concerns that all of you did. So I'm glad to see that the children were very supportive and interested. I think I will tell them at some point after we enter PGN so they won't keep asking when he's coming home until then. I wanted to wait for the same reasons you all stated. I figure if we lost our referral it would be hard enough to deal with and then add 34 seven year olds you have to explain it to would just make it even worse. Hopefully that will not happen. Thanks for you thoughts on it. I really appreciate the advice.
Kim

[josiah1112]

I'm a Pre-K Special needs teacher and will waituntil much later to tell my class. (Due to their age and disabilities). I figure that when it gets closer I will read them a few age appropriate adoption stories and share about my trip and why I will be away.

I'm in a new school this year. I am slowly telling people
as the conversation comes up.