The 115th Annual Illinois PTA Convention will be held on April 7th and 8th at the Hilton—Naperville. Convention is a great opportunity to attend interesting workshops and network with other PTA leaders, but it is also the time that the Illinois PTA conducts its business. Part of that business is directing the legislative and advocacy … Continue reading Illinois PTA Convention Preview—Resolutions
Student Competitions You Didn’t Know Existed
Most PTAs are aware of the annual PTA Reflections program focused on the arts, and chances are you’ve seen the Scripps National Spelling Bee on the news. Those are just two examples of the many competitions that are available to students each year. Kudoswall has created a list of 50 competitions in a variety of … Continue reading Student Competitions You Didn’t Know Existed
President’s Corner
We were blessed to meet with quite a few Representatives in the House and both of our Illinois Senator's offices. Everyone we met with was SO passionate about kids and families. They were very informative as well as reinforcing that they NEED PTA's voice to be loud, front, and center, as it has been these … Continue reading President’s Corner
Parenting Film Festival
Parenting is tough. We do our best to raise our kids and hope we don’t leave them with years of therapy. TED is a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in conferences of short talks (generally 18 minutes or less). Those talks are shared through video online. Here is a parenting film festival from selected … Continue reading Parenting Film Festival
4 Ways to Stop Siblings from Fighting
Sibling conflict has happened for as long as there have been siblings. With spring break happening for many families across Illinois, the opportunities for siblings to get on each other’s nerves abound. For those times when you feel more like a referee than a parent, iMom has four suggestions to stop siblings from fighting. Create … Continue reading 4 Ways to Stop Siblings from Fighting
New Research on Kids and Reading
Reading is the key to learning, as reading is a part of every subject. Here’s the latest research on kids and reading. Children Read Paper Books More In a study of Australian children in 4th and 6th grade looked at their reading habits and access to devices with reading capability (e.g., Kindles, iPads, and mobile … Continue reading New Research on Kids and Reading
Humor Helps When Teaching Your Kid to Drive
It’s a challenge for any parent to help their child learn to drive. For the parent of a child with extra issues, whether it’s ADHD, anxiety, or autism, the challenge can be even greater. Gina Gallagher, co-author with her sister Patricia Konjoian of the book Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid, recently shared a post … Continue reading Humor Helps When Teaching Your Kid to Drive
Helping Your Child Prepare for Assessments
Spring is here, and with it comes assessments. For third through eighth graders, that means the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). For high school juniors, that means the SAT. Just like some schools may play up the assessments with pep rallies and such while others treat them as simply another … Continue reading Helping Your Child Prepare for Assessments
7 Keys to Creativity
When we think about creative people, we tend to think of artists, writers, painters, and the like, but creativity is an essential part of almost everything we do. Whether it is figuring out the best bridge design to span a river or cooking dinner for our family, the opportunity to be creative is always there. … Continue reading 7 Keys to Creativity
The Free-Range Kids Project
Chances are that when you were a kid, you did not have “helicopter parents.” You might have gotten yourself to and from school. On a Saturday, you might have headed out the door once the cartoons were over, only to return for lunch, dinner, and when the streetlights turn on. But as parents now, we … Continue reading The Free-Range Kids Project
One Voice Illinois 