One of the top topics at the 2015 National PTA Convention was STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education, as several panel discussions and workshops focused or touched on the topic. It is an important issue, as the US is producing fewer engineers and other STEM-related graduates at a time when the number of jobs … Continue reading News from National Convention—STEM Education
Spider Bite Do’s and Don’ts
Arachnophobia—fear of spiders—is pretty common, but spiders generally avoid humans unless threatened. As a result, most spider bites happen when webs are disturbed or torn down or when the spider is about to be crushed such as when it is trapped in a glove or boot. While most spiders in Illinois have bites that only … Continue reading Spider Bite Do’s and Don’ts
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
Health and Relationship Information for Girls Ages 10 to 16
The ages of 10 to 16 can be difficult ones for girls and their parents. It’s an exciting time, but also a time often filled with worry, concerns, doubts, and struggles. The US Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health created the girlshealth.gov website to promote healthy, positive behaviors in girls by … Continue reading Health and Relationship Information for Girls Ages 10 to 16
A Parents’ Guide to Student Data Privacy
Students are online now more than ever, both academically and socially, allowing students to learn about virtually any subject and connectwith people and places around the world. Teachers are also using technology to enhance instruction to meet the needs of every child while also making curriculum more engaging. However, as recent headlines remind us, online … Continue reading A Parents’ Guide to Student Data Privacy
Beat Summer Learning Loss with These Great Resources
Summer learning loss is a well-documented problem. Students lose approximately 2.6 months of learning in math skills over the summer on average regardless of socioeconomic status. For reading skills, the loss varies by income level, with middle-income students showing slight gains while low-income students lost more than 2 months of reading achievement over the summer. Here … Continue reading Beat Summer Learning Loss with These Great Resources
Teach Your Kids About Water Safety Before Heading to the Pool or Beach
With the warmer weather and summer months coming up, more people will be spending time taking part in swimming, boating, fishing, and other recreational activities in and around water. Before you and your kids hit the pool or lake, take the time to review some basics of water safety. Drowning is the number 1 cause of unintentional … Continue reading Teach Your Kids About Water Safety Before Heading to the Pool or Beach
Is Your Child Learning for the 21st Century?
Your child will graduate into a world far more complicated than the one you did. What will they face? An innovation and creativity-driven economy with a job market that rewards creativity, flexible thinking, on-the-job learning, and comfort with technology. A more globally-connected world where their classmates and co-workers may live in the same zip code or … Continue reading Is Your Child Learning for the 21st Century?
May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Focus on Trauma and Violence and Their Effect on Children’s Mental Health and Behavior
In honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Illinois PTA would like to bring awareness to the importance of the mental well-being of our children. Trauma and violence are widespread, harmful, and costly public health concerns. They have no boundaries with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. … Continue reading May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: Focus on Trauma and Violence and Their Effect on Children’s Mental Health and Behavior
Time to Get Active for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!
As the weather warms up, it’s important for all of us to get outside and be active, and May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. If your kids aren’t involved in soccer, baseball, softball, or some other warm-weather sport, here are some resources to help you get them off the couch and moving. The … Continue reading Time to Get Active for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!
Surviving the Teen Years—Kids Health has You Covered
At times, having a teenager in the house feels like having a giant toddler—it seems as if practically every word out of their mouth is “No” or “Why?” Liketoddlerhood, the teenage years are periods of intense growth both physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Kids Health has created A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Teen Years to … Continue reading Surviving the Teen Years—Kids Health has You Covered
School Nurse’s Guide Helps Keep Our Children Healthy and Safe—And Helps Parents Do the Same
Children spend most of their waking hours in school, which means that school nurses and teachers are on the front lines in the battle to keep kids healthy. In order to help nurses and teachers combat misinformation about children's safety and health, the team at RNtoBSN.org has created an online guide that includes: More than 15 … Continue reading School Nurse’s Guide Helps Keep Our Children Healthy and Safe—And Helps Parents Do the Same
Find the Best Education Apps for Kids
Many parents limit their children’s screen time, but more important than the amount of screen time is what they are doing on those screens. Katie Williams, M.Ed., a digital design teacher at the International School of Amsterdam with teaching experience in the US, China, Thailand, and the Netherlands, curates a page focusing on education apps … Continue reading Find the Best Education Apps for Kids
Helping Your Child with Test-Taking
The US Department of Education has a wealth of information on helping your child succeed in school. As students head towards the end of the school year, tests and final exams will begin to loom large. Here is a list of things you can do to help your child with taking tests. You can be … Continue reading Helping Your Child with Test-Taking
Celebrate the 45th Earth Day This April 22
The 45th Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, and it’s not too late to plan an event at your school or in your community. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lots of resources focused on students to help both parents and teachers engage students on the environment. Among the resources are: Teacher … Continue reading Celebrate the 45th Earth Day This April 22
Don’t Let Spring Break Be a Break from Healthy Activities for Your Kids (or You)
The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children be physically active for 60 minutes each day. During the school year, many get that exercise time in during PE class or recess. Don’t let Spring Break be a break from those healthy habits, though. Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA cooperating agency, … Continue reading Don’t Let Spring Break Be a Break from Healthy Activities for Your Kids (or You)
Time to Prepare for Severe Weather
Today, for Severe Weather Preparedness Week, we have a guest post from Danny Neal, an Evergreen Park Firefighter/EMTand owner of Northern Illinois Storm Chaser, a science website/Facebook page and associated YouTube channel. Danny is an amateur meteorologist and storm chaser who many turn to for accurate weather conditions and safety advice and was asked to … Continue reading Time to Prepare for Severe Weather
Protect Your Family—Check Your Smoke Alarms
It’s important to have enough smoke alarms in your home. Fire research has demonstrated that with today’s modern furnishings, fires can spread much more rapidly than in the past when more natural materials were used. Because of this, having a sufficient number of properly located smoke alarms is essential to maximize the amount of available … Continue reading Protect Your Family—Check Your Smoke Alarms
Make Your Valentine’s Party Healthy with These Treat Ideas from Action for Healthy Kids
Valentine’s Day parties often focus on cookies, cupcakes, and lots and lots of candy. Action for Healthy Kids, an Illinois PTA cooperating agency, has some ideas to help room parents and other party planners bring in some healthy treats to their Valentine’s Day parties. The ideas include two snacks that kids can help make themselves, Love Bugs … Continue reading Make Your Valentine’s Party Healthy with These Treat Ideas from Action for Healthy Kids
Parent Roadmaps to Help Your Child Succeed
Similar to the PTA Parents’ Guides to Student Success, the Council of the Great City Schools has created a series of Parent Roadmaps to support parents with the new standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. There are English and math guides for each grade level from Kindergarten through eighth grade, as well as for … Continue reading Parent Roadmaps to Help Your Child Succeed
One Voice Illinois 