As the school year comes to a close, many PTA leaders look forward to an opportunity to put their feet up and relax until school starts in the fall. However, there is one thing that PTA leaders should be planning now to make their PTA more successful in the coming year—planning on how to welcome … Continue reading Create a Welcome Packet to Bring New Families into Your PTA
How to Teach Your Child that Failure is the Key to Success
When your child comes home with a math or spelling test that they didn’t do well on, what is your reaction? Is that failure an opportunity to learn, or is it a negative experience that hinders their success? How you answer that question can have a significant effect on whether your child develops a growth … Continue reading How to Teach Your Child that Failure is the Key to Success
7 Tips for Getting Your Reluctant Reader to Pick Up a Book
If you love to read, few words from your child strike you to your core like, “But Mom (or Dad), I hate to read!” Even children who are good readers would often rather do anything but pick up a book. For boys, the situation is glaring: in every state and in every grade, boys lag … Continue reading 7 Tips for Getting Your Reluctant Reader to Pick Up a Book
New Website Helps Families Turn Teens into Safe Drivers
Most high school students would much rather sleep late, play video games, and perhaps work at a summer job than go to summer school, but the one class that changes that decision for many teens is driver education. Handing the car keys to your child is a big turning point for both parents and teens, … Continue reading New Website Helps Families Turn Teens into Safe Drivers
Helping Your School Go 1:1 with Technology
Technology is becoming ever more necessary in our society, in our jobs, and increasingly in our schools. Many school districts are now planning on “implementing 1:1”—providing each student with a networked device, whether it is an iPad, Chromebook, laptop, or other technology. Just as PTAs were asked to help put computers in the classroom in … Continue reading Helping Your School Go 1:1 with Technology
Help Your Child Be the First in the Family to Go to College
May 1st was college decision day for high school seniors—the day they let the college of their choice know they were coming. Some of those students will be the first in their family to attend college, and they face challenges that those whose parents went to college don’t deal with. But helping your child become … Continue reading Help Your Child Be the First in the Family to Go to College
Recognize Your PTA Volunteers to Keep Them Coming Back
One of the most important ways a PTA can get the most from its volunteers is to acknowledge their efforts. Perhaps your school had a volunteer recognition event back in April during National Volunteer Week. As your PTA year wraps up, be sure to thank your volunteers both publicly and privately for their work, and … Continue reading Recognize Your PTA Volunteers to Keep Them Coming Back
FDA Issues New e-Cigarette Rules
E-cigarette use has been booming in recent years, especially among teens and young adults, and the nicotine liquids used in e-cigarettes have caused a corresponding increase in child poisonings. Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new rules regulating e-cigarettes as well as cigars, hookahs (water pipes), pipe tobacco, and nicotine gels. … Continue reading FDA Issues New e-Cigarette Rules
PTA Advocacy is Easier than You Think
Like many Illinoisans, you are probably concerned about the lack of a current state budget and the outlook for next year’s budget. You might be wondering if your child’s school will be able to stay open for the full 2016-2017 school year or if it will open at all. You would be willing to contact … Continue reading PTA Advocacy is Easier than You Think
President’s Corner
Greetings, I hope all of you were able to join us in Decatur, IL at Millikin University last Saturday for our 3rd Spotlight event. For those who couldn’t we had over 350 families registered for the amazing celebration of the arts. Not only is it a chance to celebrate all of the creativity expressed by … Continue reading President’s Corner
PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
What an amazing day was had by all at this year’s SPOTLIGHT: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community held at Millikin University in Decatur, IL. This year, 298 participants viewed the galleries, participated in workshops, and celebrated our children, a 39% increase over last year’s attendance. While the weather outside was gloomy, smiles brightened … Continue reading PTA SPOTLIGHT 2016: An Amazing Day of Art and Celebration
Helping Your Child Develop a Growth Mindset
You may have recently heard about the importance of children having a growth mindset as part of the tools needed for success. We’ve even discussed its importance on One Voice Illinois. But how do you help your child develop a growth mindset? The Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS), a research center in the … Continue reading Helping Your Child Develop a Growth Mindset
New Readiness Roadmap Helps You Pave Your Child’s Path Forward
A new Readiness Roadmap from Be a Learning Hero in partnership with National PTA, Univision, Great Schools, Scholastic, Common Sense Media, and other organizations helps parents navigate the sometimes confusing path from childhood to adulthood. The roadmap is based on the Parents 2016 survey that identified the key things that families want and need to … Continue reading New Readiness Roadmap Helps You Pave Your Child’s Path Forward
Free Tools: National PTA’s 2016 #ThankATeacher Toolkit
This post by Catherine Llamido originally appeared on National PTA’s One Voice blog. Catherine Llamido is the Digital Communications Specialist at National PTA. Everyday teachers touch the lives of millions of children for their hard work and impact beyond the boundaries of the classroom. We’re so excited to celebrate these real life superheroes during National … Continue reading Free Tools: National PTA’s 2016 #ThankATeacher Toolkit
Improving Your Student’s Study Skills
End of semester exams are approaching for many students, and some may be experiencing some test anxiety. A new article by Study Medicine in Europe provides some science-based tips on how to study effectively and reduce test anxiety. While aimed at college students, the study tips are useful for any student preparing for an exam. … Continue reading Improving Your Student’s Study Skills
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Assessments
Illinois is currently in the middle of its annual state assessment of students with the PARCC exam. We have highlighted the video series discussing the role of assessment and how they inform teachers. At the 114th Annual Illinois PTA Convention, Dr. Kay Dugan, Assistant Superintendent for Learning at Bensenville School District 2, shared what her … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Assessments
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Resolutions
Resolutions are how PTAs can make a difference for every child in Illinois. Many current policies and laws that have made a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families began as a resolution, often from a local PTA unit: establishing a Juvenile Justice System, ensuring complete vision exams for children before starting school, … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Resolutions
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Membership Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement
Illinois PTA understands there are challenges to PTAs in recruiting and retaining members. We believe we can best address these challenges by communicating with you, the local unit members, in finding out what works for your PTA and what doesn’t. Through online conference events and convention networking workshops, we have discovered some of the challenges … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Membership Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement
President’s Corner
Welcome back, We just ended our 114th annual convention and it was an absolute blessing to have all of the speakers, workshops, members, and guests present. Hopefully you were able to learn great things and had an opportunity to meet other advocates. We are all in the same boat and can learn from each other’s … Continue reading President’s Corner
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Leadership
At the 114th Annual Illinois PTA Convention, National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell gave a presentation on Tomorrow’s Leaders: Attract, Develop, and Orient Leaders through Transition that focused on an issue that every PTA faces—recruiting and developing new leaders. He began his presentation with the PTA mission: To make every child’s potential a reality … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Leadership
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