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
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
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
Math Video Series To Help You Help Your Child With Homework
The New Illinois Learning Standards for Math, based on the Common Core State Standards, are a fundamental shift in the way our children learn math. These new standards don’t just spell out what a student needs to learn, but shift teaching in focus, coherence, and rigor. The standards focus on the skills that students truly … Continue reading Math Video Series To Help You Help Your Child With Homework
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
12 Bullying Myths
We hear about bullying a lot in the media these days, from cyberbullying to fights at school to children committing suicide after months of tormenting. As parents, we like to think we would know when our kids are bullied or are bullying, or that they would at least tell us that they were being bullied. … Continue reading 12 Bullying Myths
National PTA Helps Launch BeALearningHero.org
As families head back to school, a new effort will help parents prepare for the school year with the information and tools they need to become “learning heroes” for their children. Be a Learning Hero, a first-of-its-kind national public service partnership built exclusively for parents and guardians, launches today with support from the nation’s leading … Continue reading National PTA Helps Launch BeALearningHero.org
10 Tips to Get You Ready for Back to School
from kids.gov Back to school time can be both exciting and stressful for students and parents alike. Getting ready for the first day of classes is family effort. These tips from Kids.gov may help parents make this year’s back to school time easier: Schedule time with teachers. Keep an open dialog with school staff to … Continue reading 10 Tips to Get You Ready for Back to School
How to Talk About Bullying
from StopBullying.gov Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying. They can: Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids know how to get help. Keep the lines of communication open. Check … Continue reading How to Talk About Bullying
Resources to Help Navigate Special Education in Illinois
As the new school year approaches, parents of children with special needs may be a little more nervous than most parents about sending their child to school. Navigating the special education system can be a confusing and frustrating process for parents. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has a parents’ guide, Educational Rights and … Continue reading Resources to Help Navigate Special Education in Illinois
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—Clave al Éxito (Key to Success)
National PTA announced a new resource to help Hispanic parents support their children’s education-- Clave al Éxito (Key to Success). Developed in collaboration with Univision Communications, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GreatSchools, and many other non-profit organizations, the ground-breaking, mobile-optimized website empowers Hispanic parents and other family members to engage in their child’s education … Continue reading News from National Convention—Clave al Éxito (Key to Success)
One Voice Illinois 