From National PTA It is hard to acknowledge that theft, fraud and embezzlement are pervasive in today’s society. In many cases, the person who commits these acts is someone you know, like and trust. Convincing a nonprofit to prosecute is often difficult. A nonprofit’s duty to its members, the community, and its donors are significant … Continue reading Preventing Theft, Fraud, and Embezzlement
Reading to Young Children is More Important than You Thought
From the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics’ Fall, 2015, Child Development Newsletter The journal Pediatrics recently published a study using functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity in children between the ages of three and five as they listened to age-appropriate stories. Researchers found differences in brain activation according to how much the … Continue reading Reading to Young Children is More Important than You Thought
The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction
From the National Institute of Mental Health Introduction One of the ways that scientists have searched for the causes of mental illness is by studying the development of the brain from birth to adulthood. Powerful new technologies have enabled them to track the growth of the brain and to investigate the connections between brain function, … Continue reading The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction
Busting 7 Common “I Can’t Volunteer” Myths
We’ve talked about valuing your volunteers as a PTA leader, but how do you get people to volunteer in the first place? There are all sorts of tips out there on volunteering like breaking jobs down into bite-sized pieces or attaching how much time commitment is required for each volunteer opportunity, but those ideas still … Continue reading Busting 7 Common “I Can’t Volunteer” Myths
Navigating the Illinois School Report Card
Last week, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released the 2014-2015 version of the Illinois Report Card. This online, interactive version of the report card was launched last year and provides significantly more information for parents about their child’s school than the old paper report card you might have seen a few years ago. … Continue reading Navigating the Illinois School Report Card
Top Ten Ways to Make the Most of Your PTA Volunteers
Without volunteers, PTA would simply not exist. From the PTA president down to the person who brings in a dozen muffins for Teacher Appreciation Week, volunteers are the ones who make things happen in PTA. Making sure that your volunteers have a successful and enjoyable experience is critical to your PTA’s success. Any volunteer can … Continue reading Top Ten Ways to Make the Most of Your PTA Volunteers
Join the Largest Learning Event in History—Host an Hour of Code Event
We live in an increasingly technology-driven world, and the number of computer science jobs available is increasing faster than we are producing computer science graduates. The creativity and problem-solving skills required help prepare students for any future career, but 90 percent of our schools do not teach programming, computer science, or even computational thinking. To … Continue reading Join the Largest Learning Event in History—Host an Hour of Code Event
Cyberbullying—A Primer for Parents
Most parents feel that they understand bullying. After all, there were bullies back when they were in school. But what many parents may not have a good handle on is cyberbullying, bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology is not just cell phones, computers, and tablets but also communication tools such as social … Continue reading Cyberbullying—A Primer for Parents
Be SMART by Promoting Responsible Gun Ownership
You may have heard the news that a 6-year-old boy in Chicago accidentally shot and killed his 3-year-old brother. The loaded gun had been stored on top of the refrigerator wrapped in a pair of pajama pants. While such incidents are called accidental shootings, they are not accidents—they are preventable. At least 211 child-involved shootings … Continue reading Be SMART by Promoting Responsible Gun Ownership
New Toolkit Helps Families of Autistic Children Navigate the Transition to Adulthood
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 68 children in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents of children on the spectrum often spend years researching, negotiating, and advocating for services and support for their child in the school system and in the community. … Continue reading New Toolkit Helps Families of Autistic Children Navigate the Transition to Adulthood
Protect Your PTA’s Tax-Exempt Status—File with the IRS On Time!
The IRS requires every 501(c)3 non-profit organization to file some variety of the Form 990 annually. Failure to file for three consecutive years will result in your PTA’s non-profit status being revoked and having to pay taxes on your PTA’s income. In addition, many businesses will not make donations to organizations that are not tax-exempt. … Continue reading Protect Your PTA’s Tax-Exempt Status—File with the IRS On Time!
Pediatricians Now Say Not All Screen Time is Bad for Kids
You may be familiar with the previous recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding screen time (including TV, games, and everything in between) for children: no more than two hours per day, and for children under two years old, no screen time. While having kids veg out in front of the TV is … Continue reading Pediatricians Now Say Not All Screen Time is Bad for Kids
Illinois Vision 20/20 Creates a 21st Century Learning Center
Illinois Vision 20/20, which includes the Illinois PTA as a supporting partner, has created a new resource for high school students, the 21st Century Learning Center. The learning center is currently hosted on iTunes U and provides over 1,100 digital resources aligned to the New Illinois Learning Standards in four core subjects: English/Language Arts (grouped … Continue reading Illinois Vision 20/20 Creates a 21st Century Learning Center
Is Your TV a Danger?
According to a new paper published in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, children are suffering an increasing number of severe head and neck injuries due to falling TVs. The rate of these injuries has increased over the past decade and is expected to continue to increase as TVs become both larger and more affordable. The … Continue reading Is Your TV a Danger?
Get Your Kids to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Wish your kids would eat more fruits and vegetables? A visit to your local farmers market can help. As summer turns to fall, farmers markets are bursting with a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Taking your kids to the farmers market can help make healthier eating into an adventure. Start by watching a short … Continue reading Get Your Kids to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Top 5 Takeaways from the ISBE & Illinois PTA Back-to-School Webinar
The Illinois PTA and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) co-hosted a back-to-school webinar for the second time on September 23, 2015. The webinar featured Illinois PTA president Matthew John Rodriguez, new Illinois state superintendent Dr. Tony Smith, and ISBE assistant superintendent for the Center for Language and Early Child Development Reyna Hernandez. Here are … Continue reading Top 5 Takeaways from the ISBE & Illinois PTA Back-to-School Webinar
New Study Shows Even Nicotine-Free E-Cigarette Vapor Damages Lung Cells
Illinois PTA has posted about e-cigarettes and “vaping” previously. Among middle and high school students, use of e-cigarettes has surpassed use of traditional cigarettes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The perception most people have is that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes. A new study in the American Journal of … Continue reading New Study Shows Even Nicotine-Free E-Cigarette Vapor Damages Lung Cells
8 Key Points Families Need to Know About the PARCC Score Release
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released preliminary statewide scores from this past spring’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment yesterday. District-level scores will be released in late-October, and families will see their individual student’s scores sometime in November. Here are the eight key points to know about the … Continue reading 8 Key Points Families Need to Know About the PARCC Score Release
Have the Smart Talk with Your Child
National PTA has announced a new, free resource for families that helps parents have clear conversations with their children about using technology and agree on ground rules together. Developed in conjunction with LifeLock called The Smart Talk, the digital tool is designed to empower families to make smarter, safer choices online and help build the next … Continue reading Have the Smart Talk with Your Child
Teen Suicide in Illinois
Today marks World Suicide Prevention Day. In Illinois, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young adults ages 15 to 34. Suicide deaths are only part of the problem. In Illinois, for every adolescent suicide there are an estimated 100 adolescent suicide attempts. Unsuccessful suicide attempts increase the risk of future suicide attempts. While … Continue reading Teen Suicide in Illinois
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