Have you ever wished that your kid came with an instruction manual? Do things like homework hassles, sibling issues, and shutting down the screen when asked leave your nerves frayed? Great Kids has a new resource to help you with what to do when issues arise: Parenting Cue Cards. The cue cards were developed in … Continue reading Parent Cue Cards to Help Deal with Discipline
Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
Illinois’s primary election is coming up on March 15th and the presidential election is November 8th. While most local elections in Illinois are in odd years, your school district may have a bond referendum on the ballot. With elections dominating the news, it’s a good time to review what PTAs can and can’t do as … Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
Preparing Students with Autism for the Transition to College
For high school seniors, now is an anxious time. College applications are in, and the acceptances and rejections are starting to be sent out. It’s an anxious time for parents as well, whether is the first child to head off or the last. For parents of children on the autism spectrum, the anxieties can be … Continue reading Preparing Students with Autism for the Transition to College
New Report Evaluates Content and Quality of PARCC Assessment
In less than a month, the testing window for this year’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) will open and schools will begin assessing students in grades 3 through 8 and in high school. There was some controversy surrounding last year’s PARCC assessment, and this year’s assessment is changing to address … Continue reading New Report Evaluates Content and Quality of PARCC Assessment
Why PTA? Advocacy!
It is a question that is often heard—why be a PTA? Why not be an independent parent organization rather than paying PTA dues? For many PTAs, the answer is because of the many PTA programs like Reflections, the online training courses and other leadership resources, or even the member benefits. But the one thing that … Continue reading Why PTA? Advocacy!
Illinois Schools are Closing the “Honesty Gap”
Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), states were required to have annual assessments of students in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. For Illinois, those assessments were the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) for the younger grades and the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE) for high school students. Because NCLB set specific percentages … Continue reading Illinois Schools are Closing the “Honesty Gap”
Computer Science for All—Families and PTAs Have a Role, Too
In his weekly address on January 30, 2016, President Obama launched an initiative called Computer Science for All. As the President noted in his address, computer science (CS) is now a basic skill. It is something that nine out of ten parents want taught in their children’s schools, but only about a quarter of our … Continue reading Computer Science for All—Families and PTAs Have a Role, Too
Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
PTAs across the country celebrate Founders’ Day, February 17th, in recognition of the legacy and work of Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler to improve the lives of children. As part of this celebration, National PTA has designated the week that includes Founders’ Day Take Your Family to School Week. Family … Continue reading Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
One Voice Illinois 