Last week, Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer at the American Psychological Association (APA), testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the role that social media plays in children’s mental health. His 22-page testimony is incredibly informative, and National Public Radio (NPR) has ten key points that families should know. Read the full article for … Continue reading Social Media and Teen Brains
Living Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy
Last week, our country celebrated the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Amid all the social media posts mentioning the I Have a Dream speech and sharing other memorable quotes, we can lose sight of the challenge Dr. King put before everyone to do the hard work for peace and justice every day, … Continue reading Living Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy
10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Tutor
As kids have headed back to the classroom from remote learning during the pandemic, it has become clear that many students have not been able to keep up with their grade level. Some school districts around the country are helping kids get back on track with extra tutoring, and some families are choosing to do … Continue reading 10 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Tutor
An SEL Primer for PTAs
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) has been in the news a lot the past year, often criticized alongside Critical Race Theory (CRT). And like CRT, SEL is often misrepresented by those critics in terms of what it actually is. Should SEL become an issue in your school district’s school board elections in the spring, here is … Continue reading An SEL Primer for PTAs
6 Ways to Make Homework Time Productive
Regardless of your child’s age, they will have homework at some point during the school year. Whether it is finishing work from the school day, handling worksheets assigned to do at home, or tackling a big project that can’t be done in a single night, learning to make homework time productive is an essential skill … Continue reading 6 Ways to Make Homework Time Productive
October is College Changes Everything Month
Today’s guest post comes from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), highlighting College Changes Everything Month in October, new changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and expanded financial aid eligibility for some students. High school PTAs and PTSAs can work with school guidance counselors to host FAFSA completion nights. October is … Continue reading October is College Changes Everything Month
Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Illinois PTA has highlighted Safe2Help Illinois when it was first announced in 2020 and covered the new 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline (an alternative to the 800 number) in our Weekend Update newsletter. As part of its efforts for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Child Mind Institute is sharing … Continue reading Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Team Up for Your Student’s Success
We’re big fans of Learning Heroes at Illinois PTA, not only for their fantastic family resources, but also for their enlightening research and commitment to meaningful family engagement. As the school year kicks off, Learning Heroes has launched their Ready to Team Up resources for families to help them partner with their child’s teacher for … Continue reading Team Up for Your Student’s Success
PTA Addresses Food Insecurity and Hunger
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), 37.2 million people in the US lived in food-insecure households in 2018. The pandemic has served to highlight how many families are struggling with food insecurity and hunger. In 2020, National PTA created a four-part webinar series designed to engage PTAs and families on food insecurity and … Continue reading PTA Addresses Food Insecurity and Hunger
Create a Plan for Summer Success
Remote learning during the pandemic worked for some students, but for others not so much or not at all. With the return to the classroom, many students have struggled to get back on track. If you’re looking to help your child catch up over the summer, the Summer Parent-Teacher Planning Tool from Learning Heroes can … Continue reading Create a Plan for Summer Success
Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids
The pandemic has put a strain on everyone’s mental health. The Child Mind Institute has partnered with the state of California to create The California Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids Project, a free video series available in both English and Spanish aimed at parents, educators, and students to help promote children’s emotional health and to teach … Continue reading Healthy Minds, Thriving Kids
Helping Your Child Blaze a Path to Success
We all want our children to grow up to lead happy, successful lives, but sometimes it’s a struggle to know if we’re helping them stay on the path to success. Learning Heroes has just updated their Paths to Success resources aimed at middle school and high school students and their families. These resources will help … Continue reading Helping Your Child Blaze a Path to Success
Creating a Family Self-Care Plan
The pandemic has highlighted the need for all of us to prioritize our health—both physical and mental. Our friends at Action for Healthy Kids have created a resource to help your family create a self-care plan (En español). While self-care is something one does on one’s own, having your family work together to create a … Continue reading Creating a Family Self-Care Plan
The 7 Most Meaningful Gifts for Teachers
As the holiday break approaches, many families are looking for gifts for their child’s teacher. If you’re looking to avoid adding another “#1 Teacher” mug to their collection, the folks at Edutopia have got you covered. They asked teachers what they most wanted for the holidays this year. These are the seven most popular responses: … Continue reading The 7 Most Meaningful Gifts for Teachers
Helping Siblings Get Along
The holidays can be a busy family time, and with a lot of time together occasionally comes some conflict. The Child Mind Institute has some suggestions for how you can help your kids get along with each other (also available in Spanish). Sibling conflict has been around as long as there have been siblings. Whether … Continue reading Helping Siblings Get Along
How to Know When Your Kid Needs a Mental Health Day
In September, Governor JB Pritzker signed SB1577 into law, providing all Illinois students with the ability to take up to five excused mental health days starting in January. Students taking a mental health day will not be required to provide their school with a doctor’s note and will be able to make up any work … Continue reading How to Know When Your Kid Needs a Mental Health Day
October is College Changes Everything Month in Illinois
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has launched its sixth College Changes Everything Month in Illinois. The month is designed to provide an intensive schedule of free college and financial planning support to students and families. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2022-2023 school year became available on October … Continue reading October is College Changes Everything Month in Illinois
Teen Suicide—What Families and PTAs Need to Know
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds. Northwestern School of Medicine has a resource page on teen suicide that will help you educate yourself and talk with your teen about the issue. In addition, a new law in Illinois will require school districts that issue identification cards … Continue reading Teen Suicide—What Families and PTAs Need to Know
Facing Fears, Supporting Students—New Mental Health Toolkit
Today’s guest post comes from Mental Health America, who have just released a new Back-to-School Toolkit to give families, teachers, and school personnel the tools and resources they need to support children’s mental health. This school year brings increased fear and trauma for many students after more than a year away from in-person learning. The toolkit, Facing Fears, Supporting … Continue reading Facing Fears, Supporting Students—New Mental Health Toolkit
Learning Heroes Helps You Team Up for Success
As back-to-school time means kids actually going back to school, Learning Heroes has a collection of resources to help families start the school year off right by partnering with their child’s teacher. Their Parent-Teacher Planning Tool helps you connect with your child’s teacher by walking you through the key information you should share about your child. And as they … Continue reading Learning Heroes Helps You Team Up for Success
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