We’ve talked about the “summer slide” before, and with this year’s shift to online learning due to the pandemic, many are concerned that the “COVID slide” could put students behind where they were at the start of the school year last fall. Longtime National PTA partners Learning Heroes has resources to help you determine what … Continue reading Make Sure Your Child Doesn’t Have a “COVID Slide”
Improve Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence
One of the things that has become clear during the pandemic is that supporting children’s emotional needs will be critical to a successful return to school. Great Schools has six suggestions for different age ranges on how you can help build up your child’s emotional intelligence at home. Students with high emotional intelligence (often referred … Continue reading Improve Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence
Preparing Your PTA for Next Year
Illinois PTA has provided information to PTAs about end-of-year actions that they need to take and has shared the value of using the summer to plan the upcoming year. With the current pandemic and its associated uncertainties, planning for next year is both more important and more difficult for your PTA. Here are some things … Continue reading Preparing Your PTA for Next Year
Online Learning and Mental Health
One of the things that stood out from the Illinois PTA-Advance Illinois Town Hall was the struggles families are facing around remote learning. Many parents reported that their children have not wanted to get on Zoom calls, turn on their video during class, or otherwise engage with their teacher and classmates. The sudden shift to … Continue reading Online Learning and Mental Health
National PTA Statement on Racial Inequity and Injustice in America
National PTA President Leslie Boggs and National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell released the following statement on Tuesday. Illinois PTA stands in solidarity with National PTA on this statement and encourages our local PTAs and PTA Councils to do so as well. National PTA condemns the inequitable and brutal treatment of all African Americans … Continue reading National PTA Statement on Racial Inequity and Injustice in America
COVID-19 and Education Town Hall Recap
On May 27th, Illinois PTA and Advance Illinois cohosted a Town Hall discussion on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected education, students, and families and what needs and concerns there may be when students return to school. The result was a lively discussion with dozens of PTA members from across the state. You can find … Continue reading COVID-19 and Education Town Hall Recap
Parents’ Guides to TikTok
As a parent, it often seems like your kid’s on a new social media app every other week. One of the apps that has popped up on every teen’s phone lately is TikTok. Two resources can help you understand this new social media platform. National PTA has partnered with TikTok itself to create TikTok Tips … Continue reading Parents’ Guides to TikTok
ISBE Begins Planning a Return to School
Last week, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released guidance for school districts on closing out the 2019-2020 school year and handling 2020 summer school. The guidance gives a first look at what reopening schools may look like when it is safe to do so. This topic, along with a discussion of how COVID-19 … Continue reading ISBE Begins Planning a Return to School
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 4: Additional Financial Issues
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous parts of this ongoing series are here: Part 1: Meetings & Elections Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds Part 3: Audit & Budget If you have … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 4: Additional Financial Issues
May is Mental Health Month
One in five people will experience mental illness during their lifetime, and everyone at some point deals with situations that affect their mental health. Mental Health America has created a toolkit of resources for Mental Health Month 2020 called Tools 2 Thrive. The kit contains practical tools that everyone can use to improve their mental … Continue reading May is Mental Health Month
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8
This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is certainly out of the ordinary. As schools closed and classes went online, social media filled up with posts from parents’ deeper appreciation for the work that teachers do. But without your kids in their classrooms, you may be unsure how to show that appreciation. National PTA has a Teacher … Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 3: Audit & Budget
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous parts of this ongoing series are here: Part 1: Meetings & Elections Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds If you have questions not addressed here, please … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 3: Audit & Budget
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous part of this ongoing series is here: Part 1: Meetings and Elections If you have questions not addressed here, please contact your Region or District Director … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds
Running Your PTA When School is Closed
The COVID-19 pandemic has closed schools across Illinois, and as of this writing, it appears that schools may be closed for the remainder of the school year. That has left many PTAs and PTA Councils wondering how they can handle their business when school is closed and in-person meetings are not permitted or advisable. Like … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed
Caring for Your Kids if You Have COVID-19
COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, has upended our lives—schools are closed, we’re working from home or our employer is closed, and we are staying at home except for essential trips. While this is difficult, it is also an essential step to preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed as the virus spreads. Though we’re busy adjusting … Continue reading Caring for Your Kids if You Have COVID-19
Free Kit Helps Families Address Screens in the Classroom
As a parent, you probably keep an eye on how much screen time your child is getting at home and what they are doing on those screens. But what about the screens your child sees in school? Are what’s on those screens really helping your child learn? What about the data collected by such technology? … Continue reading Free Kit Helps Families Address Screens in the Classroom
How to Talk to Your Child About COVID-19
Schools and restaurants are closed. You may be working from home. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has upended everyone’s life, and your child may have questions about what is going on, whether they are safe, and more. Today’s post is from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how to talk to your … Continue reading How to Talk to Your Child About COVID-19
Celebrate National Nutrition Month in March
March is National Nutrition Month, an annual nutrition education campaign led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage everyone to develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. Here are some ways your PTA can celebrate. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a National Nutrition Month toolkit. The toolkit has PDF handouts on … Continue reading Celebrate National Nutrition Month in March
A Parent’s Guide to ADHD
Every child is fidgety or easily distracted at times, but perhaps you suspect it might be something more with your child. Perhaps your child has already been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In either case, the Child Mind Institute has created a guide to ADHD for parents. Children with ADHD can struggle with settling … Continue reading A Parent’s Guide to ADHD
NO SMALL MATTER – High quality education for all isn’t just powerful — it’s possible!
The League of Women Voters of the Palatine area, in partnership with the Illinois PTA and the Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) hosted a showing of the powerful documentary No Small Matter. An in-depth look at the value of high-quality early childhood programs, No Small Matter presented compelling evidence on the difference high-quality programs … Continue reading NO SMALL MATTER – High quality education for all isn’t just powerful — it’s possible!
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