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
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
20 Important Questions Families Should Ask Teachers
It’s back-to-school time, which means new teachers for most students and families. It’s easy to find information online supporting teacher-student interaction and family-student interaction, but not much is available on the third side of the triangle, the teacher-family interaction. Students are best supported when families and teachers are working together as a team. Part of … Continue reading 20 Important Questions Families Should Ask Teachers
Three Key Things Parents Need to Know This Back-to-School Season
As kids head back to school, here are three key things that parents need to know. Family Engagement is the Key to Student Success Years of research shows that family engagement is crucial to children’s success in school and beyond. When families are engaged by reading together, monitoring homework, ensuring attendance, working with teachers, asking … Continue reading Three Key Things Parents Need to Know This Back-to-School Season
10 Ways to Get Community Support for Your School
As school budgets continue to shrink, school districts are turning to their local communities to enhance children’s education. The Family Education website has a slide show of 10 Ways to Get Community Support for Your School. Their ten ideas are: Organize workplace tours Have a career day Volunteer reading programs Interview local community members Attend community … Continue reading 10 Ways to Get Community Support for Your School
New Parent Checklist Provides Questions to Ask Your Child’s School and More
The first day of school is rapidly approaching (and may already be here for some schools on a year-round calendar). The US Department of Education has partnered with the National PTA and other organizations to create a new parent checklist of questions and resources for families to use to help ensure their children are getting … Continue reading New Parent Checklist Provides Questions to Ask Your Child’s School and More
News from National Convention—New Diversity Toolkit
As our country and school communities become more diverse, our PTAs are working to become more diverse in their membership and leadership as well. Tohelp PTAs with that process, National PTA released the new Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit at the 2015 National PTA Convention at a breakfast honoring this year’s Jan Harp Domene Diversity and … Continue reading News from National Convention—New Diversity Toolkit
News from National Convention—Education Secretary Arne Duncan
At the 2015 National PTA Convention, US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan unveiled a set of rights that outlined what families should be able to expect for their children’s education. These three key rights aimed at three pivotal stages of a child’s life are: Free, quality preschool; High, challenging standards and engaging teaching and leadership … Continue reading News from National Convention—Education Secretary Arne Duncan
Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
Research has shown that engaged families play a crucial role in student success, and today’s schools are reaching out to families more than ever for that support. Whether it is e-mail lists, robo-calls, Facebook, Twitter, websites, or the good old “backpack express,” schools are trying to provide families with more information about their child’s school … Continue reading Building Relationships Between Families and Schools
A Green Thumb’s Up for Science and Math in Your Garden
Spring is a time of renewal, and one great way to get children outside and connected with nature is through gardening. It’s an opportunity for them to learn not only about fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy eating but also about science, math, and language arts in a hands-on living laboratory. Whether your garden is a windowsill … Continue reading A Green Thumb’s Up for Science and Math in Your Garden
Starting a Run, Walk, or Bike Club
Many schools in Illinois participated in Bike to School Day on May 6th. Others participated in Walk to School Day back in October. But being active on theway to school shouldn’t be limited to one or two days a year. Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA partner, has a Game On! program designed to … Continue reading Starting a Run, Walk, or Bike Club
New Energy Balance 101 Enrichment Zone Program from National PTA
The key to maintaining a healthy weight is pretty simple—burn at least as many calories as you eat. National PTA has partnered with Together Counts to incorporate this simple rule into a program for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Energy Balance 101 is a collection of interactive lesson plans designed for teachers to use in the … Continue reading New Energy Balance 101 Enrichment Zone Program from National PTA
Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Families from across Illinois gathered this past Saturday at Millikin University for Spotlight: A Children’s Celebration of Art and Community. The event at Kirkland Fine Arts Center showcased approximately 500 PTA Reflections entries that advanced to the state level of judging, provided a wide variety of workshops, and recognized student artists and leaders from across … Continue reading Second Annual Spotlight Celebrates Illinois’s Amazing Children
Family Engagement and the Renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Today’s guest post is by Jacki Ball, the Director of Government Affairs for National PTA®. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which remains the most comprehensive federal education legislation in the United States today and is a key legislative priority of National PTA. ESEA was first … Continue reading Family Engagement and the Renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
Illinois Bicycle Safety Quiz Challenge—A New Program to Go for Illinois PTAs
Today’s guest post is from Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists. Illinois PTA partnered with the League of Illinois Bicyclists to bring a new Program to Go to local PTAs. Be sure to check out the League’s Facebook page for additional news and information on bicycling in Illinois. Here is a … Continue reading Illinois Bicycle Safety Quiz Challenge—A New Program to Go for Illinois PTAs
Southern Region Brings the Family Reading Experience to East St. Louis
Illinois PTA’s Southern Region partnered with the Academic Development Institute to bring in a 21st Century Grant to provide after-school programs for several elementary and middle schools in East St. Louis. The grant requires parent engagement and education events, and Southern Region helped meet those requirements by bringing two Family Reading Experience events to the … Continue reading Southern Region Brings the Family Reading Experience to East St. Louis
PTA Resources Embrace the Illinois State Family Engagement Framework
Decades of research shows that children with involved parents have better school attendance, increased motivation, better self-esteem, lower suspension rates, decreased drug and alcohol use, fewer instances of violent behavior, and overall higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has created the Family Engagement Framework, a set of … Continue reading PTA Resources Embrace the Illinois State Family Engagement Framework
March is National Reading Month
“The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss has inspired a love of reading for many generations. Many childhood memories include the sing-song rhythm unique to his writing. We learned to count, “One fish, two fish”; we learned our … Continue reading March is National Reading Month
Illinois PTA and Illinois State Board of Education Launch PARCC Primer Event
This spring, Illinois students in the third through eighth grade and some high school students will take the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessments that are replacing the ISAT (Illinois Standards Achievement Test) tests. Illinois PTA has partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to help educate families … Continue reading Illinois PTA and Illinois State Board of Education Launch PARCC Primer Event
Great Resources to Plan a Take Your Family to School Week Celebration February 17-21
In an effort to expand and enhance family engagement in education, PTAs and schools across the country will be hosting a variety of events from February 17 through 21 as part of PTA Take Your Family to School Week. The weeklong initiative is designed to spotlight the importance of family-school partnerships, and this year incorporates … Continue reading Great Resources to Plan a Take Your Family to School Week Celebration February 17-21
One Voice Illinois 