It’s that time of year. You’re scrambling to wrap up your annual lesson plan. And thanks to snow days (depending on where you live) or sick days… there just isn’t enough time to cover it all.

How do you and your students make the most of the end of the year?

Rather than rush to finish it all, why not reflect on the year’s successes? One idea suggested by The New York Times  is to allow each student to look back at what they’ve accomplished during the year by creating a portfolio of their best work.

This idea makes sense for several reasons. As The Times suggests, we remember things at peaks, or how they end. This means students will enjoy looking back at what they’ve created. Each student can feel a sense of pride in what they’ve produced for you. Not every assignment may warrant special attention, but collectively they comprise a body of work. You can feel a sense of accomplishment as well when you recall the great work they produced.

Another terrific idea from The Times: have each student write a letter to their future self, about memories of the year. You can collect them and return them at a later date. What a great way to help the student recall how they felt about themselves and their class.

Hope these shared ideas make the end of the year a smoother, more relaxed time. Just remember… summer’s right around the corner.

Over the last few days of Teacher Appreciation Week, we have seen plenty of well-deserved love and thanks being doled out to the special educators in our lives. During weeks like these, we remember just how much teachers have shaped our hearts and minds.

While educators have a huge impact on our lives, they are not always rewarded monetarily. According to an article in Monday’s New York Times, teachers were hit hard during the recession years. The article referred to a recent study by the National Council on Teacher Quality that looked at 41 of the nation’s largest public school districts. Data from 2008 to 2012 showed that in many of the school districts, salaries were frozen, raises were considerably smaller and some educators received pay cuts.

The article also pointed out that average teacher salaries remain lower than salaries of many other jobs that require college and graduate degrees ($56,643 is the average teacher salary according to the Department of Education).

In more encouraging news, data from a National Association of Colleges and Employers survey shows that the average starting salary in the Education category is up 5.1% over last year, going from $38,524 in 2012 to $40,480 in 2013. The average starting salary for education is still the second lowest among the eight categories listed.

Ever wonder what to do with old AV equipment?

Now you can recycle it, and get a little in return, thanks to a new partnership between Califone – one of our trusted manufacturers – and Funding Factory – a free recycling fundraiser for schools and nonprofits. When your headphones, laptops, MP3 players and old printer cartridges reach the end of their lives, donate them to Funding Factory and earn cash or points towards new technology for your school!

How it Works

1) Collect used headphones, iPods, digital cameras, printer cartridges and more – even if they’re damaged. Every qualifying item has a cash value (minimum $0.10)!

2) Ship recyclables with free boxes and prepaid UPS labels.

3) Receive a check or use your earned points to shop Funding Factory’s Rewards Catalog.

This 100% free fundraiser is an easy way to go green during Earth Month!

Whether you’re a student, parent or educator, it pays to pick up a copy of FAFSA: The How-to Guide for High School Students.

This comprehensive resource can make a big difference for college-bound students seeking financial aid. At a time of federal and state cutbacks, those seeking assistance can find information about the federal grants, college scholarships, work-study programs and educational loans that are available to them.

FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the guide helps to make sense of what is needed to effectively complete the application. An accurate and up-to-date application will provide a student the best chances for receiving aid.

The New School’s Center for New York City Affairs has just released the 2013 edition and it is estimated that more than $235 million in student financial aid is available each year (as reported by Student Aid Financial Services, Inc.). Sadly, millions of students aren’t aware of this and much of it is left on the table.

For first-time college applicants, low-income students and immigrants lacking knowledge about the application process, the FAFSA: How-To Guide can be a valuable first step in making college a reality.

Consult with your high school guidance office or view a PDF version via the The New School’s webpage: http://www.newschool.edu/milano/nycaffairs/fafsa.aspx. Users are encouraged to share this link as needed. Information about ordering print copies can be found here as well.

For more about The New School’s Center for New York City Affairs, visit: http://www.newschool.edu/milano/nycaffairs/.

by Tina Tomkins, Screenflex

The Common Core State Standards Initiative seeks to bring diverse curriculum into one common set of standards for schools nation-wide. The goal is to “raise standards, graduation requirements, improve assessments and strengthen accountability in all 50 states”. Incorporating Common Core Standards into our curriculum as well as our nation’s standardized testing could have monumental effects on students and teachers across the country. We hope that the goal for creating a common core of standards for every state will benefit all students but many are skeptical, and the impact of these changes will be revealed in due time.

This year, 20% of our Illinois ISAT tests include Common Core Standards. The future impact of adopting these new standards is unknown. While standardized testing evolves to include the full implementation of Common Core Standards in 2014, we all hope for a positive outcome for all of our students.

Hopeful Benefits of The Common Core Standards

Parents, teachers and administrators await the outcome of adopting Common Core Standards across the country and hope for positive results. Here are some hopeful benefits of Common Core:

1. Supporters hope to prepare all students for a higher level of education therefore enabling students to become globally competitive.

2. Supporters of the Common Core Standards feel that once incorporated, schools will be able to offer stability for the mobile student. Students who move often will be able to pick up where they left off instead of trying to play catch up or repeating old material. No matter where a student lives, they will be taught these common core standards.

3. The Common Core Standards might allow for comparing scores accurately. Previously, each state had a separate set of standards which made comparing test scores difficult.

4. The Common Core Standards might lead to the development of a higher level of thinking. Students will need to give an answer as well as explain how they arrived at that answer.

5. The Common Core Standards could bring teachers together while they teach the same curriculum.

Concerns of Implementing Common Core Standards

Creating a uniform national standard raises concerns for teachers and parents across the country. Implementing a set of standards in order to enable all students the same opportunity to learn sounds promising, however the assumption that all students should be able to learn and perform the same is an impossibility. Here are some concerns of Common Core Standards:

1. The Common Core Standards may cause good teachers to find other career options. Teachers will need to adjust the way they teach. Teachers will have to teach specifically to these standards such as the way to do a math problem. Standardized testing will require the student to answer correctly as well as show the common core calculation. A teacher who has had success in the past may find Common Core frustrating.

2. The Common Core does not apply to students with special needs.

3. The funds to update technology to accommodate Common Core Standards might not be available. Time and money to get students up to speed on the new requirements might run out before Common Core is fully implemented in 2014.

4. Common core standards will eliminate remedial courses to provide all students with the same core set of standards. Essentially, some think that Common Core Standards will “dumb down” our accelerated students and at the same time, give an unfair disadvantage to low-performing students.

5. Curriculum may be “watered down” in some states where they have held more difficult standards in past years, slowing academic improvement and negatively impacting the high achieving student.

A new study researches the negative changes in math scores after the district policy required that all students take Algebra I. This study reports that in a classroom where there is a mix of low performing and high performing students, high achieving students suffered a slower rate of academic improvement, while low-achieving students did not show a benefit. What the study found, is that though the low-achieving students did complete their course work, their grades declined and failure rates increased. Unfortunately those students were no more likely to enter college even though they were able to complete the course.

Only time will tell whether adopting the Common Core Standards will revolutionize education positively for our students. The impact and the future of our students will not be known for several years, but we hope that the move to adopt these Common Core Standards will be a positive one.

Tina regularly writes about room dividers, utilizing space efficiently, and office fun at Screenflex Room Dividers. You can also find her on Screenflex’s Facebook page, Google Plus, and Twitter.

Finding coordinating chairs for your new tables can present a real challenge. Will a certain chair offer enough leg room when used with specific tables? What style looks the best with the tables you have chosen? How much will all of these separate pieces cost when added together? With help from our friends at National Public Seating and OFM, SCHOOLSin has put together dozens of table and chair sets that make outfitting your multipurpose room, science lab, office, classroom, training facility or cafeteria a breeze.

Since the tables and chairs offered in each set are made by the same manufacturer, you can rest assured that the quality, warranty, style and shipping is consistent. Some of the table and chair packages even come with chair dollies and table trucks, saving you the hassle of finding storage and transport for your new furniture. All of these packages are available exclusively at SCHOOLSin.

Shop now and enjoy sale prices on all table and chair sets. Packages start at $154.75 and you’ll find many great options that are sure to fit in any budget.

They say all the world’s a stage – but with the growth of online learning – all the world’s a classroom. Universities and colleges worldwide have been offering an increasing number of classroom courses in an online setting. Known as massive open online courses (MOOCs), they offer educational opportunities to all students regardless of their financial situation or location.

The Financial Times has reported on the rise of MOOCs both in the US and the UK. The overall sentiment is that MOOCs are expected to increase educational opportunities for the less advantaged, while leading to improved curriculum on campuses. Even Ivy League universities are offering free, non-credit courses in a variety of disciplines. As an example, an archived Yale course on The American Revolution taught by Professor Joanne Freeman offers downloadable course materials and lectures via the Apple iTunes store.

And the growth of MOOCs since 2008 continues in earnest. The New York Times recently reported on two new ventures that will bring together 29 and 12 universities respectively into larger, multinational MOOCs. 

One interesting tidbit about MOOCs as reported by The New York Times:  While some of the university online classes can have upwards of 100K students per course, only about 10% complete them.

Who says school furniture has to be limited to a school setting? Since adding the “Pin It” option to the product pages on our website, we’ve been able to see how Pinterest users are considering our products for their homes.

From bright and colorful classroom rugs to traditional school furniture like school chairs and desks, our products are great additions to home playrooms, study areas and even kitchens. Since our products are made by companies that specialize in school furniture, they tend to be safer and more durable than most store-brand offerings. Some are even backed by a lifetime warranty.

How can school furniture find a place in your home? Consider these ideas!:

• Storage Cubbies – Organize your play area with high-quality storage furniture that is sized just right for your little ones. Shop several top brands and still beat prices on less-durable cubbies and shelves found in stores.
• Rugs – Whether your child loves animals, maps or something a little more interactive, we have the right rugs for your playroom. These highly durable rugs are all stain resistant and tested to stand up to the wear and tear of your little one’s busy days.
• Stack Chairs – Give your eating area a contemporary touch by replacing traditional chairs with stack chairs in fun colors. Brighten your mornings by sitting in a vibrant and unique chair like a Sunset Orange Artco-Bell Discover Series HD Stacker Chair.
• Lift Lid Desks – Want to go retro in your child’s study area? Check out our Artco-Bell lift-lid desks for a classic look combined with today’s excellent durability.
• Whiteboards – Hang a whiteboard in your kitchen for a fun menu board or grocery reminder. Whiteboards are also a great way for kids to practice penmanship and to let their artistic side shine. We offer whiteboards in many sizes, so it’s easy to find the one that’s right for you.

For even more ideas on home uses for our products, check out our Pinterest page!

Over the years Hollywood has made many films about teachers and students. The truly inspirational films have been dramas with settings either in the inner city or at a picturesque prep school campus. The usual plot involves a teacher up against the odds, facing a brazen student or group of students and convincing them that learning is worthwhile.

Teaching in real life is nothing like in the movies. But at least these films shed a positive light on the profession. So think about the films that have won the accolades of moviegoers and critics. Which titles come to mind?  Here are a few to consider…

Stand and Deliver (1988; starring Edward James Olmos)

The true story of teacher Jaime Escalante (played by Olmos) who inspired poor Latino students to aim higher in life. This film displays Escalante’s drive and inspiration as he encourages an entire class of east L.A. barrio-based students to care about math and ultimately pass an AP Calculus test. A truly inspiring story.

Lean on Me (1989; starring Morgan Freeman)

Another true story. Freeman stars as a teacher turned principal hired to turnaround a high school that is out of control. This tough principal rids the campus of students interfering with his cause. He also encourages and demands scholarship from the students. The film was partially based on the story of Joe Louis Clark, a real life high school principal in Paterson, New Jersey, who fought to improve student test scores in his district.

Dead Poets Society (1989; starring Robin Williams)

Set in a conservative prep school, Williams stars as an out-of-place English teacher whose charisma and love of poetry inspires several boy students to revive a secret underground society. Williams adds touches of his usual improvisational humor, which contrasts with the subplot of one student’s struggle with his father to pursue his love of theater (this leads to the film’s emotional climax). When compared to the first two films mentioned, Dead Poets Society shows that teachers and students can face struggles regardless of the location of the institution.

In today’s age when many teachers are making news for the wrong reasons, these memorable films remind us that great teachers defy the odds — making a difference in the classroom — one student at a time.

Just like any other 4-year-old, Chase from Grand Rapids, MI, enjoys playing in his room to escape his troubles. But Chase’s troubles are bigger than an average 4-year-old’s – he battles daily against leukemia. When he decided he wanted a play set for his room, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan got on board and contacted us for help.

Thanks to the generosity of preschool manufacturer ECR4Kids, last week Make-A-Wish delivered a SoftZone Primary Corner Climber with Ball Pool to an excited Chase. According to Erica Hunt from Make-A-Wish Michigan, he loved the play set and was in the ball pool for more than an hour straight. “He refused to come out…I’m thinking it was a hit!” said Hunt. His little brother Nick even got some play time in, too! Now Chase, who also has Down syndrome, can enjoy playing and climbing any day he wants.

Thanks, ECR4Kids, for helping to make a little boy’s wish come true!

Chase and his brother, Nick, playing in the ball pool

Chase playing on the climber