Today’s guest post comes from the Real Learning for Real Life coalition, of which Illinois PTA is a member. The coalition helps families and communities understand how our education system is changing to provide the children of Illinois the best education possible. The article details how schools in Illinois are changing instruction as the Every … Continue reading Essence of ESSA: Growth versus Proficiency
Helping Your Child with Math Homework
Math homework has been a challenge for families at least since the “New Math” curriculum was introduced in the 1970s. With math standards and curriculum changing in recent years, many parents are discovering that how they learned to do math is no longer how it is being taught. That frustration helped one Ohio father’s Facebook … Continue reading Helping Your Child with Math Homework
New Hour of Code Activity from National PTA & ThinkFun
Computer Science Education Week begins December 4th, and with it comes the Hour of Code program that Illinois PTA has covered before. We’ve also covered the importance of computer science education and computational thinking for students. This year, as part of National PTA’s STEM + Families initiative, program partner ThinkFun has created an Hour of … Continue reading New Hour of Code Activity from National PTA & ThinkFun
New Parent Guide on Education Data
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a dramatic change from the law it replaced, No Child Left Behind (NCLB). An important part of ESSA, as well as Illinois’s plan to implement the law, is the use of data to inform policymaking, to help teachers improve student achievement, and to aid families in supporting their … Continue reading New Parent Guide on Education Data
Engaging and Retaining Members
PTA runs on its volunteer membership. Whether it is serving as an officer, helping out at a PTA event, or even just supporting the PTA by paying membership dues, members are critical to a PTA’s success. And the easiest people to get to join the PTA are those who have joined in the past. Even … Continue reading Engaging and Retaining Members
Youth Concussions: What Parents Need to Know
In 2014, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill into law to provide new protections for high school athletes regarding concussions. A recent NPR Illinois story indicates that while reporting of student concussions has increased in recent years, not every Illinois high school has the resources to fully implement the law. What is a Concussion? A … Continue reading Youth Concussions: What Parents Need to Know
What Parents Should Know About Distracted Driving
Today’s post is courtesy of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The information is also available as a PDF infographic that you can share. Driver inattention is the number one cause of motor vehicle crashes. Drivers are distracted about 10% of the time they are behind the wheel. Distracting … Continue reading What Parents Should Know About Distracted Driving
Does Advocacy Matter?
PTA was founded 120 years ago to focus on advocacy on behalf of children, and many things we take for granted today—child labor laws, the juvenile justice system, childhood immunizations, the school lunch program—happened because of PTA advocacy. But when we look back at those examples today, our thoughts may lean towards those being obvious … Continue reading Does Advocacy Matter?
20 John Wooden Quotes to Share with Your Child
Legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden accomplished a lot on the court—10 NCAA championships in 12 years, including an unprecedented seven in a row, and being named national coach of the year six times. For his players, though, it was what he taught them off the court that had a greater effect on their … Continue reading 20 John Wooden Quotes to Share with Your Child
What is Illinois PTA University?
The Illinois PTA University is an incentive program to encourage leadership development. The program is divided into three levels—Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate Degree. Each level recognizes the accomplishment of PTA members who have completed its requirements. Those requirements include attendance at a variety of workshops, training courses, and PTA events. Any PTA member … Continue reading What is Illinois PTA University?
Illinois PTA Advocacy Day 2017
Today is Illinois PTA Advocacy Day. Even if you can’t join us in Springfield, you can still participate. If you have a few minutes sometime in the next few days, send an e-mail to your legislators. The text is prewritten for you, though you can edit it or add more if you would like to. … Continue reading Illinois PTA Advocacy Day 2017
Go on a Painted Rock Hunt
Have you heard about the painted rock craze yet? It's a nationwide scavenger hunt meant to promote kindness and encourage art, creativity, and community spirit. From western Washington to the Florida panhandle, rock painting groups are brightening the days of strangers, one colorful rock at a time. I was first introduced to hiding and seeking painted rocks … Continue reading Go on a Painted Rock Hunt
Aligning National PTA and Illinois PTA Legislative Priorities: School Meals
As the number of students qualifying for free and reduced school meal programs increases, and the obesity epidemic spirals ever onward, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHKFA) takes on increased interest for PTAs as the act seeks to improve nutritional standards and access to nutritious meals for students. The National PTA calls for the reauthorized … Continue reading Aligning National PTA and Illinois PTA Legislative Priorities: School Meals
College-Bound Student? Fill Out FAFSA Now
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application period began October 1, and families in Illinois with a college-bound student should fill out the form as quickly as possible. The reason for that is that Illinois’s Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are depleted, and … Continue reading College-Bound Student? Fill Out FAFSA Now
October is National Dental Hygiene Month
Did you know tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States? Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. About 1 of 5 (20%) children aged 5 to 11 years have at least one untreated … Continue reading October is National Dental Hygiene Month
October is Fire Safety Month
Fire Prevention Week is scheduled for October 8-14, with Home Fire Drill Day on October 14. While no school is immune from the risk of a fire, the chances of it happening can be reduced or, if it does occur, losses can be kept to a minimum by following a few tips: Conduct fire drills … Continue reading October is Fire Safety Month
Help Your Child Develop Financial Literacy
As part of Illinois PTA’s continuing effort to implement the Resolution on Financial Literacy passed at the 2017 Illinois PTA Convention, we have been providing local units and councils with information to share with their families on the topic. A new financial literacy resource, Better Money Habits, has been created through a partnership of Bank … Continue reading Help Your Child Develop Financial Literacy
Engaging Teens at School
As high schools work to improve their graduation rate, a new study from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute highlights how teens engage with their schools. The report, What Teens Want from Their Schools, presents the results of a survey of over 2,000 high schools students. The authors of the study have also provided a short … Continue reading Engaging Teens at School
Aligning National PTA and Illinois PTA Legislative Priorities: Special Education
The National PTA Legislative Checklist calls for the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) that further supports and improves the lives of more than 6.5 million eligible children, from infants through youth. Reauthorization must: Include a statutory definition of family engagement in education based on National Standards for Family-School Partnerships within section 602 … Continue reading Aligning National PTA and Illinois PTA Legislative Priorities: Special Education
ESSA, Family Engagement, and Your PTA
Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) continues to make progress, with the US Department of Education approving Illinois’s ESSA plan. In Congress, the House of Representatives has included funding for the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) in its appropriations bill. With the approval of the Illinois ESSA plan, attention now turns to Local … Continue reading ESSA, Family Engagement, and Your PTA
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