The Barrior Project I'm very excited to announce the opening of the The Barrio Project Play on August 11th. Hope to see all of you there. Click Here for a short intro on the play. National Convention Roundup We had an amazing time at the national conference in Orlando. Not only did we meet with the leaders … Continue reading President’s Corner
8 Things to Do to Get Back in the School Routine
Our summer schedules tend to be more relaxed, with vacations, events, and evening activities changing our regular family habits. As back-to-school time approaches, here are things your family can do to get ready for the tighter schedules we tend to have during the school year. Reestablish a regular bedtime routine. Over the summer, it’s easy … Continue reading 8 Things to Do to Get Back in the School Routine
Inexpensive Ways for Dads to Build Lasting Memories with Their Kids
Fathers and father figures play an important role in helping children grow, as Illinois Fatherhood Initiative founder David Hirsch noted in his TEDx talk. Children with engaged fathers develop: Better friendships Fewer behavior problems Better results at school Higher self-esteem and life-satisfaction Lower chances of becoming criminals or abusing drugs More satisfying adult relationships But … Continue reading Inexpensive Ways for Dads to Build Lasting Memories with Their Kids
The PTA President’s Guide to Happiness
So you’re a new PTA president getting ready to start your first term. Maybe this is your first position with the PTA; maybe you’ve been involved for years. Either way, leading your PTA is a big new step. Here are our suggestions for finding happiness as a PTA president. You Can’t Do It All Yourself … Continue reading The PTA President’s Guide to Happiness
Using the Summer to Build Your Child’s Vocabulary
We all know the importance of building our vocabulary even as adults. A broad vocabulary ties into everything in our lives—reading, speaking, writing, singing, and more. It is one of the foundations of education. But when it comes to helping our children build their vocabulary, many of us are at a loss of how to … Continue reading Using the Summer to Build Your Child’s Vocabulary
Cool Things Kids Can Learn Online for Free
With summer moving into its final month, your kids may have reached the “There’s nothing to do” stage. While it’s certainly okay for kids to be bored, sometimes you need to find an activity for them so you can get something done (even if that something is just preserving the last of your sanity). Common … Continue reading Cool Things Kids Can Learn Online for Free
The New Illinois Arts Learning Standards
Illinois has been revising its learning standards from the old 1997 standards to encompass what our children need to know to be successful in the 21st century. New standards for Math, English/Language Arts, Science, Social Science, and Physical Education have been revised in recent years. This summer, new Arts Learning Standards have been adopted and … Continue reading The New Illinois Arts Learning Standards
News from National Convention—Plan Your PTA Year with National PTA Programs
One of the major benefits of having a PTA is being able to take advantage of National PTA’s numerous free turn-key programs. A workshop at the 2016 National PTA Convention spelled out how PTA leaders can plan their entire PTA year using these programs. By taking advantage of these programs, PTAs can easily and effectively: … Continue reading News from National Convention—Plan Your PTA Year with National PTA Programs
News from National Convention—STEM + Families Initiative
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers are in the news a lot these days, and with good reason. STEM jobs will grow 17% by 2018, and over the next ten years, STEM job opportunities will grow 55% faster than non-STEM jobs. Despite this growth, the US is likely to see 2.4 million STEM jobs … Continue reading News from National Convention—STEM + Families Initiative
News from National Convention—Partnering with Educators and School Administrators
One critical component of running a successful PTA is working well with the teachers and administrators in your school building. A workshop at the 2016 National PTA Convention in Orlando focused on what those teachers and administrators want when working with their PTA. The panel discussion was moderated by Deb Strauss, National PTA Vice President … Continue reading News from National Convention—Partnering with Educators and School Administrators
News from National Convention—The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law, a significant change in how federal, state, and local governments will guide your child’s education for the next decade or more. While you can read the full 449 pages of the bill, a workshop at the 2016 National PTA Convention … Continue reading News from National Convention—The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
News from National Convention—Resolutions
At the 2016 National PTA Convention in Orlando, four resolutions were adopted by the convention delegates. PTA resolutions and position statements are official documents outlining the opinion, will, or intent of the association to address national problems, situations, or concerns that affect children and youth and that require national action to seek solutions to the … Continue reading News from National Convention—Resolutions
Dealing with Summer Boredom
Summer vacation has just begun, but you’ve probably already heard it: “Mom! I’m bored!” Your first response might be to offer suggestions of things to do, but those are often greeted with a series of no’s. Experts suggest that an alternative approach to the “I’m bored” lament can be good for kids—let them be bored. … Continue reading Dealing with Summer Boredom
National PTA Back-to-School Kit Now Available
It's that time of year again! The 2016-2017 National PTA Official Back-To-School Kit launched on Monday, June 27. As always, it's jam-packed with tools, resources and info—all specially designed to help you run your PTA. It's a one-stop click for everything you need to know. For the second year, the kit is completely digital and … Continue reading National PTA Back-to-School Kit Now Available
Free Resources for a Safe and Healthy Summer
Summertime bring lots of outdoor activities like cookouts and swimming. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have bundled a collection of free resources for summer that will help plan safe cookouts, prevent mosquito bites, and protect children and guests … Continue reading Free Resources for a Safe and Healthy Summer
How High-Poverty Schools Can Engage Families
Academic achievement is often correlated with students’ socio-economic status—students from wealthier families tend to do better. But there is an increasing amount of research that shows that high-poverty schools can have students who achieve at the same level as their wealthier counterparts. The key is family engagement. High-poverty schools have additional hurdles to overcome when … Continue reading How High-Poverty Schools Can Engage Families
President’s Corner
Years of research have demonstrated the detrimental impact the absence of a father or father figure have on the future of our children. The Illinois PTA continues to work with the National PTA and other like-minded organizations to ensure that our children's future are positively affected through the Father Engagement Initiative. One of our primary … Continue reading President’s Corner
10 Great Ways to Get More PTA Volunteers
PTA is the largest volunteer organization in the world focused on the welfare of children. From the person sitting at a registration table at open house on up to the National PTA president, almost all of the work done by PTA is done by volunteers. Here are XX ways your PTA can get more volunteers. … Continue reading 10 Great Ways to Get More PTA Volunteers
Illinois Atlas of Austerity Maps the Costs of the State Budget Impasse
The state of Illinois has currently been without a budget for almost one complete year. Illinois PTA focused on the budget issue at our 2016 Legislative Conference and has called for PTA members to contact their legislators and the governor to urge them to pass a budget. A new website provides an interactive visual representation … Continue reading Illinois Atlas of Austerity Maps the Costs of the State Budget Impasse
Breakfast After the Bell Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
These days, it is hard to believe that the entire Illinois legislature could all agree on whether the sun will rise in the east tomorrow, but unanimous agreement has actually occurred. Senate Bill 2393 (SB2393), which amends the School Breakfast and Lunch Program Act, has passed the House with a 113-0 vote and the Senate … Continue reading Breakfast After the Bell Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
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