Idea Bag

  • My Tip of the Week: Create Your Own Parent Leader Network

    Get out and smell the coffee. That's my tip for this week. I wrote a column for PTO Today magazine with this title a couple of years ago, and it remains one of my favorite simple but underused ideas.

  • My Tip of the Week: Put Thank-Yous at the Top of Your To Dos

    While many groups thrive at organized volunteer appreciation and teacher appreciation, they often fall short on the more basic and more important everyday thank-yous that can make a huge difference in long-term engagement.

  • The Voting has Begun - Cast Your Vote!

    Now it's up to you! Which fun phase would you like to see on the 2012 PTO Today Expo giveaway t-shirt? Two random voters will each receive 5 free t-shirts with the winning slogan. Be sure to tell your fellow school volunteers to vote too!

  • Trend Watch: School Book Clubs

    School-based book clubs have increased in popularity in recent years, in part due to the support of parent groups. PTOs and PTAs often sponsor the clubs, sometimes leading discussions, providing refreshments, and even donating books.

  • My Tip of the Week: Act Like the Group You Want To Be

    In employment circles, they say you should dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. For PTOs, you should act like (and talk about) the parent group you want to be, not the parent group you currently are.

  • 6 Easy Family Events for the New Year

  • School Staff Slide Show

  • Canned Goods Drive “Turkey Court”

  • Cafeteria Staff Help at PTO Events

  • Dinner at Family Nights

  • "Warm and Fuzzy" Winter Collection Program

  • New Family Movie Night Kit -- You're Gonna Love It!

    Check out the new kit. It has a professionally designed poster and banner to promote your event, that we've been getting rave reviews about! Also, be sure to visit Family Movie Night section on our message boards to get and swap ideas.

  • My Tip of the Week: How Your PTO or PTA Group Can Help Keep Kids Safe Online

    Is your group helping parents understand and manage the Internet and all its related risks and opportunities? If not, you're missing out on a great chance to serve and connect with parents. I know I really appreciated when our school HSA put on an educational evening for parents at our school.

  • Parent Groups in the News Round-up 2/4/11

    Parenting is a tough job. If parents don't compare notes and support each other, it's even more difficult. School parent groups have a tremendous opportunity to forge community at their schools by hosting parent education nights. The programs are a great way to facilitate support and conversation. Nice to see an uptick of these events in the news. Take a guess at the two hottest topics. Don't look ahead...

  • Parent Groups in the News Round-up 3/18/11

    Hope you all had a happy St. Patrick's Day! Here are some my favorite ways that schools celebrated: This PTA showed their school and Irish spirit by hosting a breakfast with a Leprechaun. Is the boy in the photo the most adorable Leprechaun you've ever seen, or what? Actually it's the only one I've ever seen, but he's still pretty cute!

  • Teacher Appreciation Week Give-Away

    Teacher appreciation is top of mind for PTOs and PTAs this time of year. Year after year, we are amazed by the energy and creativity that groups put into thanking their teachers. This is why we are so excited to tell you that we’ve teamed up with Febreze for a teacher appreciation give-away.

  • My Tip of the Week: Avoid This Teacher Appreciation Gift

    With teacher appreciation week coming up, I've got one very simple tip...

  • My Tip of the Week: Recognize Your Parent Group

    If you've been reading these weekly emails, you know we here at PTO Today believe it's important to thank your volunteers loudly and thank them often. We encourage you to reach out to new families. Help out your school's teachers and staff. Give public kudos to the principal for her vital support. But with all that, don't overlook the accomplishments of one of the most important players at your school -- your parent group.

  • Parent Groups in the News Round-up 6/17/11

    A hearty congrats to all parent group volunteers for a job well-done in the 2011-12 school year! It's exciting to see articles cropping up about how PTOs and PTAs are spending the money they worked so hard to fundraise this school year. So fun and inspiring to read about the range of ways that fundraising funds are spent. Several caught my eye:

  • My Tip of the Week: Every Group Can Afford "Thank-Yous"

    No matter your budget, frequent thank-yous -- to your volunteers, your fellow leaders, your principal, your custodians, your office staff, etc. -- are the best investment you can make as a PTA or PTO.
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