Last year, Learning Heroes released the results of their parent survey that showed that nearly 90% of parents regardless of race, income, geography, and income levels believe that their child is working at or above their grade level. Yet national data shows that only about one-third of students are actually performing that well. This year, … Continue reading New Report Digs Into the Causes of the Disconnect Between How Families Think Their Child is Achieving and How the Child is Actually Achieving
7 Tips for Effective PTA Social Media
Social media is one of the most powerful tools a PTA can use to spread its message, but only if it is used effectively. Creating an effective social media presence for your PTA can help you gain members, recruit volunteers, and promote your PTA to potential partners and sponsors. Here are 7 tips to help … Continue reading 7 Tips for Effective PTA Social Media
PTA Board Responsibilities
For many PTA volunteers, serving on the PTA board is “just another volunteer job.” But in reality, your PTA board is running a non-profit organization, and with that comes responsibilities. Part of those responsibilities will be spelled out in your PTA bylaws and standing rules. Board Sourceprovides many free resources to help your board understand … Continue reading PTA Board Responsibilities
Winter Activities for Kids
Whether you’re a “frolic in the snow” or “cozy up around the fire” type of winter family, iMom has lots of suggestions for winter activities with kids. It’s a list of lists with all sorts of things to do with your kids for New Year’s Eve, the Super Bowl, or the “I’m bored” times. Among … Continue reading Winter Activities for Kids
Making Time for Your Kids
A parent’s life is busy, and the holidays are busier than usual. If you’re having trouble finding time to spend with your kids, All-Pro Dad has a list of ten ways to make time for your children. Among our favorites are: Commit to a family mealtime each day. Identify one thing on your weekly schedule … Continue reading Making Time for Your Kids
Making Indoor Recess Active
Now that cold weather has arrived in Illinois, along with a bit of snow, many schools will be holding indoor recess. Parents for Healthy Kidsrecently featured an article on how to work with school administrators and teachers to ensure that indoor recess still gives kids the opportunity to be active. The article provides several tips … Continue reading Making Indoor Recess Active
8 Keys to Getting Business Donations
Business donations can help a PTA offer programs and events and takes some of the financial burden off of your members by avoiding the need for fundraisers. But reaching out to businesses doesn’t come naturally to most people, and it can feel a little awkward when you first start. Here are eight tips to get … Continue reading 8 Keys to Getting Business Donations
300+ Digital Tools for Educators
Thomas Murray, who spoke at the 2015 National PTA Convention, has presented at Future Readyevents across the country. As part of that, he has had the opportunity to run sessions called “Tools for Engagement.” In these sessions, he would demonstrate a handful of tools for efficiency, management, and engagement, and then let the teachers attending … Continue reading 300+ Digital Tools for Educators
The Importance of Algebra I in 8th Grade
Access to Algebra I in 8thgrade is a critical course for students interested in going into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. A recent US Department of Education data storylooks at which students have access to 8thgrade Algebra I, where it is offered, and who takes it. Why 8thGrade Algebra I is Important Algebra … Continue reading The Importance of Algebra I in 8th Grade
PTA Membership Tips for November
Several months into the school year, your PTA is probably not attracting as many new members as it was during the start of the school year. Now is a great time to assess how your membership recruitment has gone so far and plan to build your PTA membership. Here are some tips to help. You … Continue reading PTA Membership Tips for November
5 Things to Know About the New Illinois School Report Card
Illinois’s school report cardwas released on October 31st, and there have been several changes this year due to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Here are five things families need to know about this year’s report card. There’s a new school rating system.Schools are now classified in one of four designations: Exemplary:Schools performing in the … Continue reading 5 Things to Know About the New Illinois School Report Card
Acute Flaccid Myelitis in U.S. Children
Families may have recently heard news stories about children suddenly developing weakness in their arms or legs. The condition, called Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) is extremely rare (the chances of having AFM is one in one million), but the number of cases has increased sharply in recent years (396 confirmed cases from August 2014 to … Continue reading Acute Flaccid Myelitis in U.S. Children
Building Real Family Engagement with Your PTA Events
PTAs tend to do a lot of events. From carnivals and fun fairs to class parties to PTA programs like Reflections, PTAs know how to provide fun and engaging activities for families. And while this type of family engagement does a good job of getting families through the school doors, PTAs could do better at … Continue reading Building Real Family Engagement with Your PTA Events
5 Things to Know About Illinois’s New School Funding Formula
Last August, Illinois adopted a new evidence-based funding (EBF) formulafor providing new state funding for schools. The new EBF formula estimates what it actually costs to provide a quality education to students in each of Illinois’s 853 school districts (called the adequacy target) as well as the local tax resources available to the district to … Continue reading 5 Things to Know About Illinois’s New School Funding Formula
Helping Your Child Cope with Stress
Life can be stressful at times, even for kids. Concerns about grades, peer pressure, friend issues, bullying, traumatic events, and more can lead to stress. Some stress can be productive—cortisol, the “stress hormone,” increases blood sugar, metabolism, and memory function, and provides a temporary boost to physical and mental ability. Those brief periods of stress … Continue reading Helping Your Child Cope with Stress
Every Student Counts, Every Day Matters
Eighty percent of success is showing up. Nowhere is that more true than for our kids in school. Chronic absenteeism—missing at least 10% of the school days in a year for any reason, excused or unexcused—is a primary cause of low academic achievement and a powerful predictor of those students who may eventually drop out. … Continue reading Every Student Counts, Every Day Matters
Illinois PTA Guide to the Midterm Elections
The midterm election is just three weeks away on November 6th. Here are some things PTA members should know before heading to the polls. Voter Registration It is too late to register with a mail-in paper voter registration form for the November 6thelection, but you can register online until October 21st. Illinois also has same-day … Continue reading Illinois PTA Guide to the Midterm Elections
What Do Top Students Do Differently?
When asked why the top performing students do so well at school, there are a couple common answers—high IQ and hard work. Douglas Barton and his team at Elevate Education wanted to find out if that was actually the case by spending 13 years studying the most effective practices used by the top students in … Continue reading What Do Top Students Do Differently?
Supporting Your Teen at School
Your child spends almost one-third of their day at school, which makes it an important influence on their life. In the teen years, that influence likely grows as their friends opinions begin to play a more central role in their lives. One of the most powerful indicators of teenagers’ success in school is their connection … Continue reading Supporting Your Teen at School
Local Unit Spotlight: STEPS PTSA Takes On The World!
Today's post kicks off a new series highlighting the good things that our local PTAs and Councils are doing. If your PTA or Council would like to brag a bit about what they are doing, send a short write-up to your District or Region Director, noting that it's for One Voice Illinois. Don't forget to … Continue reading Local Unit Spotlight: STEPS PTSA Takes On The World!
One Voice Illinois 