Middle school is a challenging time for kids, and talking with your tween about what’s going on in their life is especially challenging for parents. Dr. Atilla Ceranoglu, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School, explains the challenge with pets. Infants and toddlers are puppies—you can cuddle and hug them endlessly. But teenagers … Continue reading 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Talking with Your Tween
Parliamentary Procedure for Beginners
As a PTA leader, you probably know that you are supposed to use parliamentary procedure in your meetings, but looking at the more than 800 pages of Robert’s Rules of Orderin the PTA materials the previous PTA president passed on to you might have you thinking, “Really?” Yes, really, but parliamentary procedure isn’t nearly as … Continue reading Parliamentary Procedure for Beginners
Help Your Child Spring Ahead
Illinois PTA has often highlighted the resourcesand researchdone by Learning Heroes. As the annual state assessment, now known as the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), approaches, Learning Heroes has released a new resource for families called Spring Ahead. Spring Ahead provides tools and information to help families support their child as they get ready for … Continue reading Help Your Child Spring Ahead
E-Cigarette Update
When Illinois PTA first shared information about e-cigarette use among adolescents in 2014, we noted that use had more than doubled from 3.3% to 6.8% from 2011 to 2012. Today, the use of e-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) has risen to nearly 15% in 2018. The growth in the use of ENDS comes … Continue reading E-Cigarette Update
Make Your School a Healthy One with Game On
Action for Healthy Kids, who will be presenting at the 2019 Illinois PTA Convention, has created a flexible online program to helps schools become healthier environments for students, staff, and the communities they serve. The free Game On program focuses on both eating better and moving more. An online guide walks you through how to … Continue reading Make Your School a Healthy One with Game On
Creating a Social Justice Reading Group for Children and Their Families
Seeing an increase in intolerance shortly after the 2016 election, National Education Policy Center(NEPC) director Kevin Welner and associate director Michelle Renée Valladares were discussing how to address the issue with their young children. They decided to collaborate other parents and their children to create an intergenerational social justice reading group. The aim was to … Continue reading Creating a Social Justice Reading Group for Children and Their Families
Nominations and Elections—A How to Guide for PTAs
One of the critical roles given to a PTA’s general membership is the election of its officers, a process that begins with the election of the nominating committee by the general membership. Nominating and electing a good slate of officers is essential for a PTA’s success. Nominations and Elections Timeline Because the nomination and election … Continue reading Nominations and Elections—A How to Guide for PTAs
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
Children’s success in school isn’t limited to just academics. PTA has known this since our founding, focusing our advocacy efforts not just on children’s needs at school, but at home and in their community as well. Now, the education and public health sectors are aiming to better align their efforts to improve each child’s cognitive, … Continue reading Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
Advocacy Day 2019—A Challenging and Rewarding Day
Illinois PTA hosted is Advocacy Day in Springfield last Wednesday, February 6th. Though the weather did not cooperate, making travel difficult or impossible for some PTA advocates, Illinois PTA was still able to visit with every legislator’s staff and meet with a few legislators as well. A few of our advocates who had ducked in … Continue reading Advocacy Day 2019—A Challenging and Rewarding Day
New PTA Partnership Helps Families Advocate for Safer Schools
School shootings are in the headlines far too often, causing us to worry that our child’s school might be the next one. Accompanying that worry is often a feeling of not knowing how to change anything to make your child’s school safer and perhaps the thought that it would never happen here. That was Alissa … Continue reading New PTA Partnership Helps Families Advocate for Safer Schools
10 Steps to Deal with Suspected Fraud or Theft in Your PTA
Theft and fraud are relatively rare in PTA, but it does happen. For PTAs that are using best practices when handling money, making deposits, and writing checks, they are even less likely to occur. By being proactive and examining your PTA’s processes and controls, your PTA can better avoid being a victim of theft or … Continue reading 10 Steps to Deal with Suspected Fraud or Theft in Your PTA
New Study Links Youth Suicide with Gun Ownership
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24. A new study to be published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicineindicates that the single largest predictor of youth suicide is gun ownership. The report covers a state-by-state analysis of gun ownership in 2004 (the last year the Centers for … Continue reading New Study Links Youth Suicide with Gun Ownership
New Report Provides Additional Data Supporting Illinois PTA’s Emerging Adults Recommendations
Since the release of our 2017 Report on Young Adults Involved in the Justice System, Illinois PTA has been a leader in speaking out for differentiated treatment of those youth ages 18 to 25 involved in the justice system. Last Thursday, Illinois PTA President Brian Minsker participated in the Juvenile Justice Initiative(JJI) Reimagine Justice Summit … Continue reading New Report Provides Additional Data Supporting Illinois PTA’s Emerging Adults Recommendations
Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Education Issues
As we approach Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield on February 6, 2019, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on the substantial legislative gains Illinois PTA made on issues affecting our children and youth in the areas of health, including mental health, safety, gun control, social and emotional learning, and special education. Today’s article … Continue reading Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Education Issues
The 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle
Remember the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle campaign? The new year is a great time to expand your sustainability mindset and move to the 5Rs: Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle. The first addition of refuse (just say, “No, thank you.”) can go a long way in preserving the environment. Many teachers and families use the … Continue reading The 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle
Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Child Safety
Illinois PTA Advocacy Day in Springfield is coming on February 6, 2019, and as a lead up, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on the substantial legislative gains Illinois PTA made on issues affecting our children and youth in the areas of health, including mental health, safety, gun control, social and emotional learning, and … Continue reading Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Child Safety
Time to Plan for Take Your Family to School Week
PTA celebrates Founder’s Day on February 17theach year, and the week that includes that date is Take Your Family to School Week. National PTA has created a toolkit to help you plan your celebration for February 10-17, 2019. The toolkit walks you through the planning process and provides you with ready-to-use promotional materials. There are … Continue reading Time to Plan for Take Your Family to School Week
Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Children’s Health
This week, Illinois gets a new governor and a new General Assembly. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the substantial legislative gains on issues Illinois PTA supported affecting our children and youth in the areas of health, including mental health, safety, gun control, social and emotional learning, and special education. You can help … Continue reading Celebrating Legislative Successes in 2018—Children’s Health
National PTA Response to Federal School Safety Commission Report
After eight months of public input, commission meetings and field visits across the county, the Federal School Safety Commission released its report on ways to keep students safe at school. The report includes several recommendations aligned with National PTA positions and A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools–joint recommendations written and endorsed by our nation’s … Continue reading National PTA Response to Federal School Safety Commission Report
National PTA Response to Federal School Safety Commission Report
After eight months of public input, commission meetings and field visits across the county, the Federal School Safety Commission released its reporton ways to keep students safe at school. The report includes several recommendations aligned with National PTA positions and A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools–joint recommendations written and endorsed by our nation’s leading … Continue reading National PTA Response to Federal School Safety Commission Report
One Voice Illinois 