Educational Dealer Nov 2017

November 2017

FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

Saved by the Bell Staffer Jennifer Olson straightens shelves at the School Shop, reopened by former teacher Charmaine Ringer

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Children’s Classroom Furniture Since 1988

THE ISSUE

Uncivil War

by Kevin Fahy

A

t the center of the little town where I went to college there is a fountain, and at the center of the fountain there is a statue of a bear.

I’m sure there is some colorful local legend that explains why the town’s early citizens erected a statue of a bear, but I never found out what it was.

I doubt that most other people in town knew why there was a bear there either, but everybody loved it.

At Christmas time, the village would decorate the statue, and occasionally college students would climb through the fountain to put clothes on it, or whatever.

The town where I live now is considerably larger, but as far as I know there is only one statue here as well. It is also in the middle of a fountain, which is located at the center of a park that was the original town square. The statue depicts a woman, sans clothing, who is sitting in the water.

Again, I have no idea who the person is or why she’s here in our fountain and I have lived and worked around here for almost 30 years. I assume she is some sort of mythical figure, rather than a historical one, given her state of undress. Locals simply refer to it as “the naked lady.”

My shortage of information about the subjects of these statues is not due to any lack of interest in history. As a kid, I was a voracious reader of anything historical but especially anything related to the American Revolution, the Civil War or the Second World War. Like a lot of kids I was fascinated with battles, but over time I developed a taste for the less violent aspects of the story as well.

Although I read mostly fiction now, I’ve never lost interest in the past and

still pick up a history book from time to time. I guess that I just never associated history with those big bronze castings that decorate our parks and public spaces.

That’s how I thought of them, as décor.

But some people have become very conscious of whom those statues depict, what those individuals represent and why they were erected where they are.

In particular, there are elements within the African-American community that object to statues honoring Confederate war heroes in public places.

Activists claim that the statues were not erected to mark historical events or honor the war dead, but rather to intimidate and degrade black people. To memorialize those who fought a war to preserve slavery is to suggest that the subjugation of one race by another is acceptable or even appropriate.

City councils often agree, and statues have been slowly coming down throughout the South and elsewhere, sometimes moved to museums or cemeteries. The city of Charlottesville, Virginia, decided last spring to follow suit and remove a statue of Robert E. Lee, the general who commanded the bulk of Confederate forces throughout the Civil War.

A lot has happened since then, but you will probably recall the weekend of August 11-13, during which a toxic mix of white supremacists and other extremists descended upon the city to protest the removal of the statue. They were met there by a variety of “counter-protesters,” some of whom were looking for a fight.

Ugliness ensued, capped off when one of the pro-statue demonstrators, a 20-year-old Ohio native named James

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(continued on page 5)

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November 2017 Volume 42, No 5 FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

8

3

The Issue

Uncivil War

8

The Store that Wouldn’t Close

When a teacher supply store in Bloomington, Illinois

made the tough decision to close its doors, Charmaine Ringer decided it was time to take it over.

12

Beautiful Schools

Edspaces gives you the opportunity to visit schools and look at innovative architectural designs.

14 16

Visit Our Advertisers A Learning Environment Experience

A closer look at the different classroom models that will be displayed during Edspaces this year.

18

RETAILERS RECOMMEND

20

Fabulous Products

Keep Money in the Local Economy

Building connections to keep small businesses afloat.

22

Meeting the Science Lab Challenge

How to get kids interested in the subject of Science.

14

28

31

Getting Back Together

An introduction to the new school supply

32

conference, We Connect.

It’s Not Science Fiction

Reforming education to better prepare for the future.

THE DEPARTMENTS

26

28

New & True

The latest launches and perennial bestsellers

Cool & Hot

Innovations in the furniture and equipment category

36

Eye on Education

38

Industry News

41

Business Notes

44

Index of Advertisers

46 Endcap

Learning in Motion

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THE ISSUE (continued from page 3)

Fields, drove his car into the crowd of anti-statue demonstrators. Nineteen people were injured, and a 32-year-old woman named Heather Heyer was killed.

Emotions throughout the country ran hot, and the president exacerbated the situation by claiming that “many sides” were responsible for “hatred, bigotry and violence.” It’s hard to equate anyone with neo-Nazis when it comes to those categories.

He went on to complain that “the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns, and parks will be greatly missed,” and to point out that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave holders. If by that he meant that there is a conversation we need to have about the historical figures we venerate in public places and public schools, I agree.

When I went to work in the school supply industry, my first assignment was to research and write biographies for a set of classroom posters called “20th Century American Women.” Most of the subjects were very famous individuals who were still living back then, and I contacted each one to tell her what we were doing and ask if she had any photographs that we might be able to use.

Some of the women were pleased to be included and others couldn’t have cared less, but the whole process of studying their lives and dealing with them was enlightening to me. Most of them had gained prominence by being the first at something or a trailblazer in a given field, but I learned that there was a lot more to their lives than that. Like the rest of us, they were complicated people who had made mistakes.

For me, the question was whether or not their iconic status was justified by their accomplishments. If we were looking for role models we wanted kids to emulate in every way, it was going to be a thin set of posters.

The same could be said of the people

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PUBLISHER J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com

MARKETING ASSISTANT Amy Colburn amy@fwpi.com

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tim Braden, Director tbraden@fwpi.com

ART Mark Stash Production Manager mstash@fwpi.com

ADVERTISING SALES Darlene Ryan darlene@fwpi.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tricia McKenna trish@fwpi.com E-NEWS & ONLINE ADVERTISING Rick Kauder rkauder@fwpi.com EDITORIAL Tina Manzer, Director tmanzer@fwpi.com

Jennifer Srmack Senior Designer jsrmack@fwpi.com Maia VanOrman Designer maia@fwpi.com EDITORIAL OFFICES PO Box 1080 171 Reed Street Geneva, NY 14456 PH: 800-344-0559 315-789-0458 FAX: 315-789-4263 WEB: fwpi.com

Rebecca Carlson Assistant Editor rebecca@fwpi.com Copyright © 2017

A brand of Fahy-Williams Publishing Inc.

RESERVE AN AD IN EDUCATIONAL DEALER Issue

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Fahy-Williams also publishes edplay edplay.com • • • ASTRA Toy Times Magazine a publication of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association • • • Art Materials Retailer artmaterialsretailer.com • • • Gradient a publication of the Association for Creative Industries craftandhobby.org

The Decorative Painter for the Society of Decorative Painters decorativepainters.org • • • Life in the Finger Lakes lifeinthefingerlakes.com • • • Robex The magazine for the Builders Exchange of Rochester, NY robex.com

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THE ISSUE (continued from page 5)

who are memorialized in public parks throughout the U.S.. Protestors have objected to Christopher Columbus because of his treatment of Native Americans, which also applies to President Andrew Jackson. William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt are thought by some to represent imperialism. A statue of Joe Paterno at Penn State has been highly controversial because he failed to prevent the child abuse that was perpetrated by one of his assistant coaches.

Most of the dispute, however, swirls around figures from the Civil War, and for good reason. Let me give you just one example.

James Longstreet and Nathan Bedford Forrest were both very capable Confederate generals, and were both among Robert E. Lee’s chief lieutenants, but after the war was over they went in very different directions. Longstreet supported reunification and civil rights for African Americans, while Forrest helped found the Ku Klux Klan.

Today there are numerous memorials to Forrest throughout the South, but the only statue of Longstreet that I know of is on the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. It’s pretty clear that the veneration of Forrest has little to do with the war.

I read somewhere that history is what we choose to remember about the past. It is also whom we choose to remember, and for what reason.

So let’s talk about the people we memorialize in the public square, and those we teach kids about in school.

Let’s be very clear about why those individuals merit the distinction.

That discussion will go a lot better if we first put down our weapons.

You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com.

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The Store that

Wouldn’t Close 8

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NEW

by Tina Manzer

FIND IT® GAMES based on these beloved characters!

Where’s Waldo? and Captain Underpants, TM&©, DreamWorks Animation.

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I

In January, the owners of The School Shop in Bloomington, Illinois, announced they were liquidating “the only store of its kind off of Route 55 between St. Louis and Chicago,” said the local newspaper. Peg Shea and her daughter had operated the store since 2013, and were moving on to spend more time with their families.

The former bookstore for Heartland Community College opened in 1992. Instead of closing when the college moved to nearby Normal in 2000, the store evolved into a teacher supply store.

When Peg put the business on the market there were no takers, so everything – merchandise, fixtures and even break-room appliances – was priced to go. “By the end of February, we hope the only thing we have left is dust to sweep out the back door,” Peg said. Teachers mourned the impending loss of the longtime and convenient resource.

At the 11th hour, in stepped Charmaine Ringer. “I had just decided to take a break from teaching and do something else, probably in insurance,” she explained. “At about the same time, I read about The School Shop. The teachers in the community were so disappointed about its closing. I wondered if it was the opportunity I had been looking for.”

Until May, Charmaine had taught special education. In fact, she had been the department chair. Charmaine loved teaching; loved the kids especially, but with the birth of a new grandson, it was time for a change.

In a recent interview, Charmaine told us about the store’s re-opening this June, her short-term goals for the business, and her hopes for The School Shop in the long run.

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After its first successful back-to-school season, the School Shop is showcasing toys to appeal to holiday shoppers.

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an opportunity came up to go back to school, I took it and got my teaching degree. I’ve taught for 11 years.

After you and your husband purchased the store this spring, what was your biggest challenge?

Owner Charmaine (Center) with store employees Janecia Statten (left) and Jennifer Olson (right).

You’re a special ed teacher – what compelled you to become a business owner?

Charmaine Ringer: I’ve worked in retail a lot over the years. I majored in business at Illinois State University

– the first time around. When I got my degree I became a retail manager, and then went into the insurance industry.

The world headquarters for State Farm is here in Bloomington. I enjoyed it, but decided I wasn’t a ladder climber. When

Filling it up! We wanted to open on June 17 so we could take advantage of the back-to-school season, but when we acquired the store, it was nearly empty.

The second challenge was that I had no clue what to order. Luckily, the previous owners were very gracious and helped a lot. They had hated to close the store and wanted so much for us to succeed.

Even with their help, it wasn’t easy getting all the merchandise in here on time to meet all of the demand during backto-school. We didn’t have everything we wanted, but we had enough to open the

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store. Sometimes, after processing new merchandise for what seemed like days on end, we’d put it on the shelves and it would fly right out the door. At other times, we were opening boxes for customers who were standing right there, waiting to see if it contained what they needed.

Another challenge was getting the word out that The School Shop was open. We did radio ads, newspaper ads, handed out coupons and delivered fliers to area schools. People are finding out slowly; some of them just come in to thank us for keeping it going. The community has been really supportive.

How important to your business is word-of-mouth?

It’s vital. Teachers talk within the educational community, and with

Customers love to shop in stores that support worthy causes

F

or the past 15 years, Bloomington has hosted a community-wide fundraiser called Day of the Dozer. The event at the fairgrounds features construction and farming equipment for children to see and experience. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the “Stay 4” Project, a local initiative that addresses the high-school dropout crisis, and helps low-income students who demonstrate the ability to succeed. The kids/family/education focus made Dozer Day a perfect promotional opportunity for The School Shop this year.

“We were a sponsor, so the name of our business was included with all advertising for it. Charmaine explained. “It’s held on the last Saturday of August, about a week after school starts. We sold tickets for it at the store.”

More than 10,000 kids have attended Dozer Day since its inception.

(continued on page 24)

EDspaces Booth #1246

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The Kore Chairs are Made In USA with a Patented design and many safety features. The Kore Chairs are tested by SGS Testing and pass all the most stringent safety requirements of children’s products, including Cal 133.

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Great for kids with ADHD and Autistic Kids just love the Kore wobble chair.

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Beautiful Schools

by Tina Manzer

E

Each year at EDspaces, our industry’s furniture, fixtures and equipment vendors get together with the professionals who design, furnish and manage schools. What results, eventually, from their discussions – along with the innovative products in the exhibit hall and the educational program – are beautiful schools. Each building, though, is more than just a pretty face. They are clever containers of the things that spark imaginations, build lifelong skills, foster positive relationships and radiate knowledge.

Even if you don’t sell furniture and equipment specifically, your store provides many of the “things” we’re referring to. You’re part of this, too.

EDspaces attendees have the opportunity to see some beautiful schools in person during facility tours that take place on Tuesday, October 24; Wednesday, October 25; and Friday October 27. Here’s what they look like.

“Flex-Studios” provide a real-world experience

From 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, EDspaces participants will visit the Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) for a short presentation; a panel discussion that includes students, administrators, and architects; and the tour. The 140,000square-foot Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit opened in August.

It was designed “to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s workplaces,” says the Kansas City Business Journal. The building houses the Missouri Innovation Campus, a partnership involving the Lee’s Summit district, UCM, Metropolitan Community College and more than 40 businesses; the Lee’s Summit R-7 Summit Technology Academy; the programs currently housed at

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the UCM-Lee’s Summit campus; and shared spaces that will be used by both UCM and the district. It was designed by local architects DLR Group and Gould Evans.

“The building is designed to be an open, flexible learning environment,” said Megan Krtek, a spokeswoman for Gould Evans, “so we created ‘flexstudios,’ which look more like the workplace than a regular classroom.”

The Missouri Innovation Campus opened in 2012. It focuses on preparing students for high-demand careers, and at the same time, accelerates the time it takes to complete a college degree. The end result is the significantly reduced cost of a college education.

An urban charter school expands its reach BNIM architects worked with the Crossroads Academy of Kansas City to expand its program from K-5 to K-8, and develop a downtown campus in the urban core. Phase I, completed two years ago, included the renovation of a 30,000-square-foot historic building to accommodate classrooms and multipurpose rooms for the K-8 charter school. The design – with small rooms, individual spaces, huddle rooms, group areas, and pods – facilitates collaboration. Interior de-mountable glass partitions provide openness within the floorplan. Teachers can move between students working in different

groups in the spaces, while maintaining line-of-sight to the entire class.

Phase 2, completed in 2016, was the renovation of another existing historic building to include a gym

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and two classrooms. The 15,000-square-foot facility is across an alleyway from the first building, connected by an elevated glass skywalk. The gym, which doubles as a space for large school functions, youth activities, and an afterschool pick-up location, is connected to the other school at ground level.

Crossroads is located just three blocks from the convention center, in the city’s urban core, to take advantage of downtown amenities.

Three cool schools The multi-stop bus tour on Friday includes stops at three innovative learning environments; two of which are brand new for the 2017-2018 school year. At each stop, administrators, students and architects will provide an overview of the school’s mission and the process of making these forward-thinking educational facilities a reality.

1. The new Hilltop Learning Center in Overland Park is an adaptive reuse of a former mega-church. The facility was acquired in 2011 by the Blue Valley School District, and PGAV architects directed a major interior renovation and two building additions. Today, it is the district’s early childhood education center and professional development campus.

Hilltop includes indoor and outdoor learning environments and a professional development center for teacher training and continuing education. Much of the interior was completely redesigned to include flexible, technology-rich classrooms and a welcoming entrance lobby.

2. Construction began on the three-story, 375,000-squarefoot Olathe West High School in 2014. With a focus on 21st-century learning, the building facilitates the use of technology and features open, modular learning spaces.

The “learning commons” in the three-story entrance area features student gathering spaces. It connects to the open-concept media center and the school’s four wings called “learning communities,” where regular classes are held.

Each community consists of active learning spaces, blended learning labs, and a makerspace, explains Stantec. They surround a large instruction space

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for collaborative group work and large lectures. Technology is provided seamlessly throughout the building.

Olathe West was designed by Hollis+Miller Architects and Stantec to accommodate 2,000 students. The school opened on August 16 with an incoming student body of about 900.

3. “Three weeks into the school year, the Shawnee Mission School District Center for Academic Achievement is starting to become the lively hub of advanced education opportunities administrators envisioned when they proposed the facility back in 2014,” reported the Shawnee Mission Post on September 5. The 130,000-square-foot building was constructed on the site of a

former middle school.

The west half of the new building contains administrative offices, a fitness center and a medical clinic where employees can get routine checkups, said the article. The east half is dedicated to state-of-the-art learning environments. The district’s culinary arts program and its bistro are based there, as well as a mock emergency room where medical-health-science students run response scenarios on medical dummies. There’s also an animation and interactive media program that teaches students to code video games, and Project Lead the Way, a program in which students create designs for local builds, including Habitat for Humanity homes.

“These advanced professional classes, called ‘signature programs’ by the district, have been around for two decades in Shawnee Mission,” said the Post. “But they’ve gained serious momentum in the past several years as administrators have looked for ways to create high-value opportunities that not only prepare students for real-world careers, but also get them energized about their education.”

The building was designed by ACI Architects to foster open discussion and idea sharing. The spaces are adaptable to accommodate evolving programs and changing needs. Technology-rich environments feature wireless media collaboration and floor-to-ceiling writable surfaces. Flexible furniture is integrated with power and data connections.

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The new adjustable height version gives kids of all heights the chance to experience it. The innovative Wobble Chair allows one’s knees, hips and back to find comfortable and ever-changing positions.

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A

Learning Environment

Experience

by Tina Manzer

T

The EDspaces 2017 Conference & Expo features 41 education sessions on topics that range from “STEAMing Down River: A Fresh K-8 Model” to “From Sloppy Joes to Sushi: Why Changes in School Cafeterias Matter.” But instead of being presented in generic convention-center meeting rooms, the sessions will be held in real classrooms, created by leading architects, designers and dealers. Each one of them – five in all – is outfitted with innovative new furniture and fixtures.

The state-of-the-art classrooms were designed by the winners of the EDmarket’s first-ever design competition. Firms submitted proposals to a panel of school purchasing influencers and architects, and they were judged on aesthetics, overall functionality, vendor engagement, relevance to the future of educational facilities, and learning space flexibility.

The winning firms are Demco Inc., Moseley Architects, Scott Rice Office Works/DLR Group/VS, School Outfitters, and Susan Gladden Interiors.

“It was great that so many architects and designers were willing to share the latest thinking about learning environments,” noted Stuart Pettitt, FAIA, LEED AP, Straub Pettitt Yaste Architects, a member of the review committee and AIA-CAE leadership. “Manufacturers worked in partnership with the A&D community to bring these new ideas to EDspaces and the AIA-CAE Fall Convention.”

Two of the classrooms will be located on the exhibit floor, and three will be in the convention center meeting-room areas. Here’s what they’ll look like.

“Engage”

Susan Gladden Interiors Based in Columbus, Ohio, Susan Gladden has more than 20 years of experience in commercial interior design including schools, healthcare facilities, senior living facilities, corporate offices, and retail banking offices.

Dealer Partners: School Specialty and Cheryl Davis Group Vendor Partners: Haskell Office, KI, Mediatechnologies, MooreCo Inc., OFS Brands, Oklahoma Sound, and Shaw Contract

“Students are as complex and unique as they are diverse,” said the design team.

“Our solution addresses the individual as well as the learner.”

In the center of the room is a spiral-shaped herb garden with low and soft seating that encourages community. From that center, a variety of flexible furniture options radiate to support individual, small or large-group learning. The team incorporates technology to enhance, rather than overpower learning. Overall, the design encourages the teacher to move freely and engage with students throughout the classroom.

“Our design incorporates elements of nature,” notes Susan Gladden. “It engages all five senses, contributing to increased creativity focus and memory.”

“Thrive”

Moseley Architects With nine offices throughout Virginia and the Carolinas, Moseley Architects was founded in 1969 by William Ward Moseley. It serves clients across the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe, and China. Throughout its 38-year history, Moseley Architects has been ranked among the top design firms in the nation by Architectural Record, Building Design & Construction, and Engineering News-Record.

Vendor Partners: Arcadia Contract, Buzzispace, Extron, Fleetwood Furniture, HON, Interstuhl, KI, Mannington Commercial, Mayline®–Safeco®, Mien Company, MooreCo Inc., National Office Furniture and ViewSonic

“Envision the possibilities and THRIVE,” says the design team, who utilized flexible furniture, integrated technology and acoustical elements to create a classroom that can constantly transform to address new teaching and learning styles. It engages

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students, prepares them for the future and helps teaching and learning thrive.

There’s a focus on sound. Integrated technology facilitates interactive learning and provides voice amplification. Upholstered furniture and fixtures reduce reverberation in and around the classroom.

To encourage collaboration, there are multiple teaching walls, digital displays and mobile marker boards. There is also a variety of furniture and furniture groupings to create opportunities for individualized learning, group learning, collaboration, and student-as-teacher instruction.

“Interact”

School Outfitters For nearly 20 years, School Outfitters, based in Cincinnati, has offered the best furniture and equipment brands at the best prices.

Vendor partner: Learniture

The flexible, collaborative learning space lets students choose from a variety of workspaces. Café tables are mixed with booths and soft seating to create an informal atmosphere that helps students feel at ease, focus on their work, and provides comfortable spots for conversation. Some soft-seating options include power outlets to charge-up devices before the next class. Tables in various shapes and heights provide multiple seating options, and can be easily rearranged to fit student or teacher needs.

“Learning in Motion” DLR Group and Scott Rice Office Works

DLR Group K-12 Studio believes that a 21st century school fully integrates curriculum with technology.

Scott Rice offers complete solutions in integrated planning, tenant finishes, technology, construction, accessories, move management and furniture.

Vendor partner: VS America, Inc.

The EDspaces Classroom Demco Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Demco has served the needs of America’s libraries and schools for more than a century.

Vendor partner: 3branch, Akro-Mils, Community, High Point, Izzy, JSI, MooreCo, Muzo, OFM, Sims, Smith System

This design “layers” the learning environment by incorporating a variety of furniture systems. In lecture mode, the classroom can be set up in tiers with lower student desks in the front and high tables in the back. Then when it’s time to break out collaboratively, the same furnishings help zone different-sized groups for different functions.

Media centers and makerspaces organize the classroom into four zones.

The central zone uses mobile and reconfigurable table systems to create a flexible space for large-group instruction. Informal breakout zones with tiered seating and a mobile lounge provide adaptable collaboration spaces.

Small-group zones have high-level seating with power for digital literacy and technology-focused initiatives. The makerspace features mobile storage and flexible work surfaces.

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RETAILERS RECOMMEND

Fabulous Products

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1

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Karen Shaefer from KB Learning Center in Effingham, Illinois “Confetti Splash (1), the theme for a whole line of products from Eureka, has been very popular. The pastel colored patterns can be found in everything from bulletin-board sets and trim to letters of the alphabet and more.”

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Joann Stockenburg from The Chalkboard in Crest Hill, Illinois “‘Mindset’ is a big buzzword this year, and the What’s Your Mindset? banner (2) from Creative Teaching Press is a bestseller. It’s double sided – teachers really love that. We haven’t been able to keep it on our shelves. It sells out right away.

“All the products with the emoji theme (3) from Ashley Productions have been a big hit with our education consumers. The colors are vibrant and welcoming, especially for new students in a new setting. Kids seem to love the different faces.

“Loopeez (4) by Office Oxygen has been a great seller. The colored plastic pieces held together by two bands can be flipped around simultaneously. Educators give it to their students as a fidget toy, to help them stay focused during class.

Kids are into the big fidget toy trend right now. They find Loopeez fun to play with anytime, anywhere.”

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5

educationalinsights.com carsondellosa.com

7

6

8 sargentart.com

creativeteaching.com

John MacGregor from The Education Station in Le Mars, Iowa “Blue Light Filters (5) from Educational Insights are selling well.

I think it’s because of all the research. It points to the positive impact alternative colors of light has on learning.

“The Upcycle Style Designer Décor (6) from Creative Teaching Press is right on trend. Teachers love it.

“The Phases of the Moon chart (7) from Carson-Dellosa is selling great.

Moon phases are a key part of curriculum now that the next generation science standards have been implemented, so this is a very useful tool for teachers.

“During the back-to-school season, Composition Books (8) from Sargent Art sell really well. They are a classroom staple.”

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Reminder to local policy makers

Keep Money in the Local Economy S “Back to School And School Purchasing” from the Toy Times Magazine, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association

Steve Nordhus’ team at ABC & Toy Zone in the Minnesota area makes a point of visiting schools once a year – or sometimes as many as once a quarter. Doing business with local schools is all about relationships, he says.

At each school he finds out who is in charge of doing the order – the person is different at each school. It might be a teacher, the secretary, the principal or a purchasing officer. A little gift for the secretary helps ABC & Toy Zone to be remembered.

The start of the school year is a good time to think about making those relationships in your community. It’s not just the local toy store that will benefit, though Nordhus figures about 20 percent of his sales are to schools.

Keeping money in the local economy benefits the very schools you hope will buy from you.

Sometimes that idea comes as a surprise to local

policymakers. The Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) wrote in April about Hamilton, Montana, where local business owners wondered if their county officials were buying from Amazon for any county purchases. They pooled money for the records fee and discovered their small county had purchased $15,500 in supplies from Amazon

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instead of local businesses. In 2016 the local bookstore alone had given $8,000 in discounts and donations to organizations in the county, including three school districts.

The business owners met with the Ravalli county commissioners, who realized their lack of a local purchasing policy had resulted in a slow trickle to Amazon, which has no presence in Montana. The commissioners directed the business owners to meet with county purchasers once they realized the benefits of keeping the county’s money local.

According to the ILSR report, U.S. Communities, a purchasing cooperative that negotiates office and school supply contracts for more than 90,000 public agencies across

the country, announced in February that it had awarded Amazon Business a multiyear contract for 10 different product categories, including office, classroom and art supplies. Public agencies, including school boards, have been deciding whether to join in the contract, which U.S. Communities estimated to be worth $500 million per year.

An investigation by several state attorneys general found that former U.S. Communities contracts resulted in governments being overcharged.

“To compete with Amazon, do research on pricing, and be willing to cut your price to make that first impression,” Nordhus recommends. “Be willing to make 15 percent on your cost.”

Wikki_EdDaler_MagGlass_StarburstPRNT.pdf

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8/31/17

He suggests going to the local school board meeting and thanking them for their support and trying to keep dollars in the community. “I feel applying pressure on the fact of taxes staying here is a great thing for all,” he said. “You would not believe in a town of 150K how many on the board don’t know I am even here.”

With stores in Burnsville, Chanhassen and Rochester, Minnesota, Nordhus handles purchase orders from more than 15 different districts. But it isn’t easy to get in the door. “No matter if you have a connection or not, it all comes down to the almighty lowest, lowest bid,” he said.

“Going after private schools is probably your best bet.”

11:04 AM

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Meeting the

Science Lab Challenge

by Tina Manzer

E

Experts tell us that the best way to get students to consider a career in science is to get them hooked early. “On the attitude side, you’ve got to get kids interested some time before the sixth or seventh grade,” says Harold Pratt, a retired science coordinator and former president of the National Science Teachers Association. According to the NSTA, the best way to lay the groundwork in the early grades is with hands-on investigation through laboratory experimentation.

Today’s labs – especially for younger kids – may not look like a lab at all, at least not in the traditional Bunsen-burnerand-beaker way. In fact, they may not require much equipment at all as long as they give students the chance to interact directly with natural phenomena, or with raw data. “While reading about science, using computer simulations, and observing teacher demonstrations may be valuable, they are not a substitute for laboratory investigations by students,” states the NSTA. What happens in a lab introduces students to some pretty useful concepts, like scientific inquiry and the process of “questioning.”

Pratt, in an article on education.com, adds, “Kids love laboratories. They’re concrete thinkers and they love to tinker with things, manipulate things, watch things that move and things that change.” Standard experiments in early elementary schools do just that. They include planting and growing seeds, experimenting with the properties of liquids, studying animals (from hamsters to meal worms), and learning about electricity.

But science educators also say that if we are pushing our students to achieve in science at a higher level, they need to have access to better-equipped labs – even for children as young as 3rd and 5th graders. Thanks to STEM and the Next Generation Science Standards, the bar has been raised to provide students with authentic lab experiences.

“How we behave in and manage our environment – from natural resources to rain forests – is critical,” says Lamoine Motz, a science facilities and safety consultant, and former science educator. “We’re trying to design labs that will invite all kids into science. A lot of people felt that science wasn’t

ChildBrite’s spacious science habitat center (21 by 21 by 33 inches) allows teachers to create standard earlyelementary school experiments, from planting and growing seeds to studying butterflies or ladybugs. A 5-inchdiameter screw-on cap provides easy access. To facilitate study of the properties of sand and water, the dome can be removed.

Teachers can chose a colored frame in blue, sandstone or chocolate – with a Mega-Tray, vent plug, and super plug. The center is on four 3-inch locking casters. Two snap-on caddies are included, and some assembly is required. childbrite.com

“Schools are requesting standing desks and stools for both standard classrooms and science classrooms and labs,” notes Michelle Klumb from Stand2Learn.

“Science experiments are conducted while standing and actively engaging in the lab process but, occasionally, stools are needed as a perch for stability in performing more delicate operations.” Stand2Learn’s simple, functional desk features an ergonomically designed footrest and a flat rectangular surface – perfect for aligning side-to-side in rows or back-to-back to create a pod for student collaboration. It offers flexibility and ergonomic posturing at an economical price. stand2learn.com

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Hop into the School Year - with -

NEW SCHOLASTIC PRODUCTS

The Ozark River Lil’ Splasher helps kids clean up after messy science experiments. The NSF-certified portable hot-water hand sink is recognized for its safety, quality construction, durability and age appropriateness. It’s simple to use – one touch delivers plenty of hot water so little ones can wash their hands. theportablesink.com

Our ALL-NEW resources are leaps above the rest!

Technology plays an ever-increasing role in delivering real-world experiences to students. Hamilton Buhl’s Spectra VIP Virtual Reality Goggles, for instance, transform smartphones into personal virtualreality systems. Their built-in surround-sound headphones combine auditory with visual to create a totally immersive experience.

Wearing the goggles, students have the opportunity to join in on engineering a suspension bridge, go inside the inner workings of the human heart, launch into space to deliver supplies to the International Space Station, and much more. Spectra VIP goggles provide immediate student engagement and an active – not passive – learning experience. hamiltonbuhl.com

important in their curriculum, so why improve their labs? That attitude is changing.”

Motz, who co-authored the “NSTA Guide to Planning School Science Facilities,” believes updating school science labs is a top priority in terms of preparing students for successful STEM education and careers.

But authentic lab equipment like telescoping tables, chemical-resistant epoxy floor coverings, and updated software and computer equipment, is expensive. 21st century science labs are excellent for districts that can afford them, notes an article in Education Insider, but they may be setting up other schools for failure, and giving low-income students fewer opportunities for STEM success.

“The reality is that STEM is an initiative that creates amazing learning opportunities in schools that can afford it, but increases the gap between haves and have-nots,” agrees science teacher Regina Hitchcock.

Some schools are finding science-lab money in unexpected places, including crowdfunding, and collaborations with colleges and universities, corporations, and even museums. An experimental program in Atlanta, through a partnership between the Michael C. Carlos Museum and Emory’s Center for Science Education, developed hands-on, project-based activities for science labs for high school students based on art conservation projects.

Science advocate, author and former teacher Willow Becker notes that the urgency to renovate and innovate school science labs will only increase “as we push forward to a future where students graduate STEM-literate, and segue into careers where they will be saddled with solving the world’s biggest problems.” Stay tuned to see how schools will meet the challenge delivering them.

To order, contact your Scholastic Sales Representative or call 888-724-1872

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The Store That Wouldn’t Close (continued from page 11)

customers driving here from Springfield three hours away, word about the store can spread pretty far. We want it all to be positive.

How many employees do you have?

We had eight during the rush. We have five now; most are part-time. My husband works full time at State Farm, but helps out when we need a handyman.

Did you bring in merchandise that the previous owners did not stock?

Yes, we expanded our children’s book category. Hundreds of books came in. I was a little worried about selling them all, but parents and grandparents love them. I was surprised by the high number of grandparents who like to shop here, and it’s good to see that books are still a thing.

What’s your next step?

Now that August is over and teachers have purchased their bulletin-board sets, decorations, and curriculum items, we’re looking to expand our toy section for the holidays. I would like to bring in some licensed items; I’m looking for vendors.

I’m a member of ASTRA, and went to the show in June. It’s ideal for small business owners.

We’ll also take advantage of the Black Friday tradition, and Small Business Saturday. We’re planning some special promotions and in-store events.

It should be fun.

Right now we have a lot of classroom materials: posters, name plates for desks, curriculum charts, rewards, and lots and lots of stickers. We’re in the process of expanding our spiritual section with

bulletin boards, Bible verse memory cards and trivia games – those sorts of items.

For me, the challenge has been sourcing them, but the community is really grateful we are bringing them in. There aren’t any religious stores in town anymore.

I’m also planning to expand our special-needs category. The School Shop always carried fidgets, some materials on sign language, and sensory items. Those sensory items – Crazy Aaron’s Putty and Slime – are among our bestsellers! But I’d like to bring in more equipment for students with special needs. There are very few stores where parents can shop for products that meet those needs. They have to do a lot of searching online.

I’d like to change that, and have them shop here. They can feel it and see

New. Cube Bin. Our new Cube Bin is large enough to fit over-sized books and toys, as well as tons of blocks and smaller play items. Featuring solid sides and sturdy construction, this new item is sure to satisfy your storage needs!

1.800.828.9587 info@romanoffproducts.com www.romanoffproducts.com

Copyright 2017 Romanoff Products Inc.

Item 725 Case Pack: 6 Dimensions: 11.5 x 11 x 10.5in.

Colors: Black, Blue, Clear, Green, Hot Pink, Lime Opaque, Orange, Purple, Red, Turquoise, Yellow. (Matte Finish)

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how it works, and then take it home with them that day if they want to.

How about an ecommerce site for The School Shop?

Expanding the website is our number-one goal. It’s going to take some time to learn how to do it – we want to do it well. Eventually, we’d like to start selling online.

In the short-term, we’d like it to feature more information about the products we carry. We’d also like to have a catalog. I’ve been invited to the Catalog Solutions event in November.

Teacher-Trusted Student-Approved Discover the power of the award-winning Time Timer® to manage routines, set goals and stay organized. It’s a simple concept: the colored disk disappears as time elapses, so students can see how much time is left.

It’s a classroom changer, guaranteed.

I’ve read that your location is convenient.

Yes. It’s pretty accessible in the middle of town, in a strip mall with good parking. Our retail space is 4,200 square feet, plus a small back room and an office.

We would love more storage space!

Towanda Plaza has been here since the late 1950s. It has more than 50 stores, restaurants and service providers, most of them independents. We get a heavy amount of foot traffic thanks to their loyal customers.

I am amazed at the way the community values its neighborhood stores. They buy things here that they could easily buy at Walmart at a lower price, but they want to support us and keep us here.

Time Timer P L U S ® 20 MIN, 60 MIN and 120 MIN

Learn more at TimeTimer.com/Distributors

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Do you have local competitors?

The closest teacher store is north, in Peoria. It also carries toys.

There is an independent toy store in downtown Bloomington, and there’s also a Toys “R” Us close by. Bloomington-Normal also has the typical big-box stores that carry toys.

FREE

So far, what have you liked best about your new job?

Discover the newest products

We are so appreciative of the support from our community. It helps us know that we did the right thing by keeping The School Shop open.

monthly

Product E-newsletter in the School Supply Industry.

Sign up at

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New True

Get the FREE sign from the Wikki Stix people; perfect for your American-made products area (17 by 5.5 inches).

800-869-4554

Ward’s Student Assignment Book has a sturdy coated cover, wire binding, and is three-hole punched to fit in a binder.

It features homework tips, student responsibilities, weekly assignment sheets and class/school-event schedules.

888-448-2227, or email ward@hubbardcompany.com

The colorful pages and engaging activities in My Take-Along Tablets from Carson-Dellosa will keep young learners entertained for hours. While building foundations for school success, this series will give children ages 4 through 8-plus the tools they need to think critically and master important basic skills. carsondellosadealer.com

In Elmo’s World Hide and Seek from Identity Games, Elmo talks! Try to find him! It’s Mom’s favorite game.

Call April at 877-346-3482, identitygames.com

The TWIST is a new, digital version of the Time Timer! All it takes is a quick twist to set it for up to 90 minutes. Thanks to the magnetic back, teachers can put visual time management right where they need it, like on the whiteboard, so it’s ready to use. timetimer.com

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Activity Fun Boxes are learning, storage, and creativity all in one! They are full of possibilities for parents, teachers and students. There is both a chalk and dry-erase side and magnetic and non-magnetic versions (11 inches wide by 10 inches tall by 2.5 inches deep). flipsideproducts.com, orders@flipsideproducts.com

Eureka is working with Capstone Publishing to bring the popular state books series to classroom walls. These bulletin-boards sets include a book and five panels with important facts, from maps to timelines. Available now: Texas, California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan.

1-866-394-5047, eurekaschool.com

Hamilton Buhl’s ChronoQuest Augmented Reality Timeline is an imaginative, knowledge-based, STEAM learning experience!

Comes out of the box ready for teachers with pre-programmed and regularly updated content in six subjects. Includes integrated lesson plans aligned to standards! “Make history” with ChronoQuest!

1-800-631-0868, hamiltonbuhl.com

Chewigem’s Chewable Jewelry and Fidgets are a FUNctional way to provide oral motor input for kids with ADHD, ASD, PTSD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and other conditions that require help with self-regulation. Made of silicone, they are safety tested and nontoxic with adjustable-length cords and a breakaway clasp. With many colors and designs to ‘chews’ from, Chewigems also make great fidget items.

405-338-1125

Handwriting is back! With handwriting, including cursive, now in the adoption process in 30 states, and a bill in Congress mandating cursive handwriting proficiency in all 50 states, be sure to stock the Handwriting Skills Simplified Series from Essential Learning Products. It’s based on the Zaner-Bloser Simplified Method. essentialdealer.com

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Cool Hot

innovations in the furniture and equipment category

From the makers of medical-grade scientific equipment, C & A Scientific, the award-winning Duo Scope Starter Kit is the essential tool every child needs in his or her first step in scientific discovery. They can view 3D objects and prepared slides, or make their own with the included 40-piece science kit.

703-330-1413, myfirstlab.com

The Mobile Two-Tiered Round Table from Wood Designs gives teachers a place to store their belongings in an angle-free fashion.

The two-tiered design adds ample storage options for toys and manipulatives. Fully assembled on locking casters for easy mobility.

1-800-247-8465, WoodDesigns.com

Everyone grab a Take Away Seat from Children’s Factory and find a favorite reading spot! Each soft shape has a clear pocket, carrying handle and cushioned fold-down pad. Teachers and kids will love the lightweight design. childrensfactory.com, sales@childrensfactory.com

Kore Design introduces a new concept in Active Sitting Chairs: the Grow With Me Kids’ Wobble Chair. The seat adjusts from a height of 15.5 inches up to 21.5 inches, and holds weight up to 280 pounds. Easy two-minute assembly with a three-year limited warranty.

516- 662-0108

With eight optional styles to choose from, and attachment point heights up to 36 feet, IPI can provide any sports facility with a rigid, safe, and easy-to-operate and maintain ceiling-mount basketball structure. All IPI Y-Frame fabricated-steel components carry an industry-leading, limited-lifetime warranty and will likely last longer than the gym itself with periodic inspection and maintenance.

800-637-7968, ipibybison.com

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WB Manufacturing’s ELO series just got better with 2-inch Straight Round Legs (ELS), available on most ELO desks. These modernlooking legs can be easily adjusted from sit to stand and allow teachers to customize their classrooms in a way that helps students learn best. Available in both Junior and Standard sizes.

800-242-2303, wibenchmfg.com

Expanding its popular Rack-It Heavy-Duty Drying and Storage Rack series is A.W.T. World Trade’s new DR-32-40 and DR-32-50.

With shelf sizes of 22 by 32 inches, the racks are built on a welded steel frame with individually adjustable shelf tension. They provide safe and secure storage for drying or transporting substrates in industrial and production environments.

773-777-7100, dryingandstorageracks.com

The Marvel Focus Series 48-inch and 60-inch Activity Tables create a versatile, multipurpose work space for schools, libraries, and offices. The FeatherTouch Lift System allows the work surface to be adjusted from 28 inches to 42-inches-tall quickly, quietly, and easily, without assistance or disturbing class. No tools or electricity required.

1-800-621-8846, marvelfocusdesk.com

The Rock & Roll fidget board from Stand2Learn allows students to fidget while standing or sitting. Balancing improves core strength.

Michele Klumb at 800-641-7750, info@stand2learn.com

Award-winning ErgoErgo from ErgoErgo Inc. is for active sitting. It’s comfortable, durable, easy on the budget, and made in the USA. Moving and stretching addresses key aspects of UDL (Universal Design for Learning), including enhancing self-regulation through stress reduction, decreasing hyperactivity, and increasing focus. Made of recyclable technopolymer and comes in three sizes.

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Cool Hot

The new Cube Bin from Romanoff Products is large enough to fit oversized books and toys, and tons of blocks and smaller play items. Featuring solid sides and sturdy construction, this new item is sure to satisfy your storage needs!

800-828-9587 info@romanoffproducts.com

innovations in the furniture and equipment category

Kohburg’s 4 in 1 dramatic play kitchen set (WA0709C) is perfect for cooking, baking, and cleaning imaginative play. The set includes a microwave, stove, sink, cupboard and washer all in one. Made of CARBP2 particle board with beechwood finish, this unit is aesthetically pleasing and a space saver!

888-718-8880, kohburg.com

UniLine modular lab furniture systems are designed to meet your space and budget needs. We offer base and wall cabinets, countertops, sinks, fixtures, base tables, mobile work stations, specialty storage cabinets and pegboards. Casework Groupings incorporate our most popular casework styles in a complete package. Our services can also include a complete turnkey installation.

800-779-4362, HEMCOcorp.com/labfurn.html

The durable designer Classroom Privacy Screen from Teacher Created Resources brightens up any classroom and help students keep a positive attitude, even during test time! Ideal for reading, testing, or working on individual projects.

Folds for compact storage (22 inches wide by 16 inches high by 14 inches deep).

888-441-4826, tcrdealer.com

Jonti-Craft’s new STEM Mobile Creativity Board is perfect for STEM and STEAM projects in all learning areas! The double-sided Magnetic Write-n-Wipe panel provides a dedicated place for kids to write down their ideas and to work out problems visually. A pegboard panel allows for the addition of bins or hooks (not included) to store various supplies.

800-543-4149, jonti-craft.com

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Getting Back Together

by Tina Manzer

C

Catalog publisher Catalog Solutions, based in Orange City, Florida, is holding the first-ever We Connect School Supply Conference from Sunday, November 5 through Tuesday, November 7 in Orlando.

Catalog Solutions announced plans for the event shortly after the final EDexpo took place in Las Vegas. Since then, We Connect has generated significant buzz among school-supply retailers, manufacturers and reps searching for a “show” to bring them together to do business.

We Connect includes a day-and-a -half of exhibits, a half-day of education, plus dinners, box lunches, cocktails and entertainment. It kicks off on Saturday, November 4, with a golf outing. Exhibitor setup plus dealer education sessions are scheduled for November 5, and a welcome reception and dinner is slated for that evening, with entertainment continuing until 10:30 p.m. On the following day, November 6, exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Main EdVent Dinner Celebration will be held from 6:30 to 11 p.m. On Tuesday, November 7, exhibits are open from 9 a.m. until noon.

It all takes place at the Rosen Centre Hotel, an award-winning convention property.

To find out more about the conference, how it came about, and its future role in the industry, we recently spoke to Dana Flaherty, founder of 11-year-old Catalog Solutions. Here’s what he told us.

Ed Dealer: What is the mission of We Connect?

Dana Flaherty: To bring suppliers and retailers together in a positive environment and to preview products being introduced for the upcoming year. Based around catalog and online

presentations, We Connect could bring to market renewed enthusiasm, and earlier placement and promotion. Networking and content workshops add more depth of knowledge and understanding to help keep everyone informed.

When did you start planning it?

Do your plans include holding the conference again next year?

We started putting it all together about 14 months ago. As the current plan stands, depending on the response and the results of this year’s event, we will move forward with We Connect for next year.

We welcome feedback, and will respond to it by incorporating new and improved ideas each year.

Some people in the industry see We Connect as a replacement for EDexpo. What do you think?

By no means is this a replacement for EDexpo. This is a conference to support a catalog that is being distributed to parents, teachers and school districts in January. Retailers need the tools of product knowledge, product applications and trends in the classroom to continue to position themselves as a key source in their communities.

How many exhibitors are you expecting?

Currently there are 81 exhibitors

representing a high percentage of the vendors in our catalogs. The exhibitors are helping to cover some of the dealer cost with the booth rental fees. Keeping in mind budgets, we included basic booth components in the cost, along with meals and entertainment. Our goal was to make this an economical and a good investment for our manufacturers.

How many buyers are coming?

Are they your customers only, or are others invited?

As of today [September 26], we have 94 dealers who have registered. There will be 179 dealer staff representing more than 232 store locations. Most of them are our current customers with a few exceptions.

We are not charging Catalog Solutions’ customers a registration fee to attend.

What kinds of educational sessions are you offering?

It’s a diverse lineup, ranging from topics like “Selling into the Preschool Market” and “Inventory Management,” to “Rockstar Early Literacy.” We are thankful that many vendors are bringing some of their editors, teacher workshop presenters, or industry veterans. Frankly, they are the sources of the research and data collection that drives new product development.

To see the full lineup of We Connect workshops, visit weconnectssc.com.

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It’s Not Science Fiction Let’s start talking about the impact of smart machines on jobs and the next generation

by Tina Manzer

I

If you’ve been paying attention at all, you know massive changes are coming to the world of work. Specifically, a “technology tsunami” is roaring our way, poised to wipe out tens of millions of jobs. In fact, researchers at Oxford University predict that 47 percent of all jobs in the United States are likely to be taken over by technology in the next five to 15 years. The chief economist of the Bank of England predicted in 2015 that the U.S. could lose upwards of 80 million jobs during that time frame.

Even if the job loss doesn’t pan out

in these exact numbers, there will be a change and it will impact many of us in profound ways. So why aren’t we doing what we need to do to prepare? Business professor Ed Hess, a specialist in systems and processes, says we seem to be suffering from a severe case of denial.

“For the most part, we – individuals, organizations, and other institutions – seem to be on autopilot; doing what we’ve always done,” says Hess, coauthor with Katherine Ludwig of Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age. “I

think it’s human nature, like a couple on the verge of a catastrophic divorce. We’re avoiding the tough conversations we need to have now. We better start talking, the sooner the better.”

Here are some of the vital conversations Hess believes we should have.

Why are school systems, built on the Industrial Revolution model, still forcing students to conform to the old definition of “smart”?

To thrive in the future, employees will need to be willing to make mistakes.

However, our educational system discourages mistakes by forcing students to get the answers right to get the highest grades. It also drives competition rather than cooperation, which is antithetical to the needs of tomorrow’s workplace.

“There are many institutional, political, economic, and personal reasons why many of our public schools are stuck in this educational model,” says Hess.

“They will have to change because they are vital to the creation of opportunity for every child in our society. That is what our country has stood for from its founding. We can’t lose that.

“It will take leadership; more funding for public schools; and a coalition of passionate, concerned politicians, school leaders, teachers, and parents to drive the

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needed change – to transform our public education system to prepare students for the Smart Machine Age,” he continues.

“Education transformation needs to happen now because technology is advancing very fast. Some schools are doing this today.

Every school needs to be doing it.”

What can parents do to raise kids to be viable workers in the Smart Machine Age?

It can be very tempting to parent kids the way we were parented growing up. But now that the world has changed, parents need to be very conscious of the messages they are sending. They should role-model a love of learning and data-driven thinking, and teach kids how to think critically and how to manage their emotions. Also important is encouraging them to iteratively learn

every day by trial and error, and teaching them to not be afraid of making mistakes as long as they learn from them.

Showing them how to work as part of a team, rather than going it alone, is vital. In the Smart Machine Age, this is how work will get done.

“Parents should expose children to new places, to the mystery of science and to making stuff,” advises Hess.

“Curiosity should be encouraged, along with learning something new every day, reading every day, and having the courage to try when failure is a possibility. All of these things require role-modeling, not lecturing.”

What should businesses do differently in terms of culture and leadership?

The Smart Machine Age will

require most businesses to make four big transformations.

1 2

Installing smart technology in every part of their business and training their employees to use it effectively.

Creating a humanistic people-centric work environment (culture and processes) based on three psychological principles: positivity, self-determination theory, and psychological safety. It will enable the highest levels of human cognitive and emotional performance in concert with technology.

3

Transforming leaders and managers from directors and commanders into enablers of human excellence.

Kit

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4

Transforming employee training programs into human development programs that focus not only on teaching specific job skills, but also on teaching workers how to • think, • use data to make decisions, • quiet their egos, • be non-emotionally defensive, • reflectively listen, • relate and emotionally engage with others to build positive regard and trust, and • c reate and work effectively in teams.

In the absence of work, how can people live meaningful lives?

If 80 million jobs will be lost to technology, it stands to reason that a lot of people won’t be working. This will be one of the biggest existential challenges the Smart Machine Age will lay at the doorstep of the United States. We are a culture dominated by individualism and the survival of the fittest. We may need a different approach that promotes a “we are all in this together” community mindset if we’re to maintain social tranquility and our way of life. We must answer this question: In a world of smart machines, what type of society do we want to be? We may need a new story, an American Dream 2.0. That will require leadership and an inclusive national conversation. That conversation needs to start now because the smart machines are coming soon.

“We will have to learn from our ancestors. How did they find meaning in the hunter-forager days?

The Agricultural Age? How did they organize? How did they choose their leaders? How did they govern themselves? How did they appeal to and promote the best of what human beings were capable of doing?

“Without thoughtful and meaningful new stories that are humanity-centric, we run the risk

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of growing income inequality, lack of upward social mobility and opportunity, and, thus, social divisiveness and strife,” he adds.

“Maybe we will need to govern ourselves in more regional ways.

Maybe we will need to redefine the concept of work and success, taking the best of what we can from history.”

What can we do to stay valuable and employable in a world where jobs are scarce?

Simply put, we must upgrade our skills so that we can excel at tasks that smart machines won’t be able to do well, like thinking critically and creatively, diagnosing and solving non-routine problems, and rendering customized, emotion-based personal services to other human beings. _____________________

Hess admits he does not have the answers; his mission is to get conversations started so that people come up with the answers together.

“People feel scared and threatened,” he notes, “but humans are endlessly inventive and resilient.

Unlike machines, we can imagine new realities and reinvent ourselves. We can choose to look at this as an incredibly exciting time for humanity, but first we have to be willing to talk about it.”

Ed Hess is Professor of Business Administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence at the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business. He is the author of 12 books and more than 100 practitioner articles dealing with growth, innovation, learning cultures, and systems and processes. His work has appeared in more than 400 media publications including Fortune magazine, the Washington Post, the Financial Times and Money magazine.

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EYE ON EDUCATION ESSA – The Second Round

On September 18, 34 states were scheduled to turn in their accountability plans to the U.S Department of Education under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). If its plan is approved, each state will have the flexibility to keep track of the educational success of its schools. Essentially, each one may track its accountability differently so it can focus on the most effective method for the region.

“If states can select and properly implement comprehensive and holistic indicators, the indicators would be powerful tools for improving schools and student’s learning,” notes an article on The Huffington Post.

A group of 17 states, considered the “first round,” submitted their plans on May 18. As of September 21, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos had approved 14 of them,

and the District of Columbia. They are Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont. Education Week recently listed some of their highlights.

Tennessee has decided to measure student success by keeping track of “supersubgroups” – historically overlooked groups of students that include minorities, English-language learners and students with special needs.

Arizona’s approved plan gives lower-weighted scores in reading and math tests for students who have only been at a particular school for a short amount of time.

North Dakota is focusing on academic factors such as graduation and student engagement rates.

Light Lessons

Investments in lighting upgrades often have the quickest return on investment of any energy efficiency improvement in a school, explains architecture and interior design firm TruexCullins. On its blog, the Vermont company explains how natural light affects our 24-hour biological cycle, or circadian rhythm, and points out that natural light boosts wellness and learning.

But is there a natural-lighting solution for classrooms that don’t have windows?

“Yes,” says TruexCullins, and suggests these options.

“Roof monitors are the most effective

(and most expensive) daylighting solution because they allow for a high level of control of the light source and heat gain,” notes Managing Principal David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP. A roof monitor is a large site-built box with windows on one or more of its sides. It’s a custom build, and requires structural work to create the roof opening.

Skylights are less expensive, but offer less control over light quality and heat gain.

Solar tubes, small-domed skylights connected to reflective tubes, direct sunlight to a diffuser, often located in the ceiling plane. They are less

expensive than skylights. “Because they are small, they can be sized to fit between structural elements and, therefore, require minimal structural work to install,” he writes.

The tube directs the light laterally, or vertically down a full story. “However, because the actual dome is remote from the lens, there are no views to the sky, and the light, being diffuse, has a different feel than natural sunlight,” he says. Students can still feel connected to the natural world, however, since the lighting levels change based on changes outside.

The least-expensive option is installing glass in the upper section of an interior wall that borders a space that gets natural light.

“Ideally, the artificial and natural daylighting systems are integrated so that the lights automatically dim when the sun is shining bright,” adds Epstein.

To enhance student learning, lighting should be even and low-glare at the work surface. That goal has been harder to reach with the integration of technology in classrooms. “The reflection of a light source in a glass computer screen results in pupil dilation,

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which reduces contrast and causes eye strain,” explains Epstein. “Glare can be reduced by using fixtures that bounce the light off of other surfaces (“indirect lighting”) or by selecting fixtures with diffusers that screen the light source.”

Studies also show that cool blue lighting that mimics daylight – as opposed to fluorescent lighting – can increase student performance during intense academic activities.

“The Intoxicating Spell of Morticia and Gomez”

“The Addams Family” was the top musical performed by high schools during the 2015-2016 school year, according to a list released by the Educational Theatre Association in September. Based on a survey conducted by Dramatics, the monthly magazine for theater students and teachers, the list has been generated each year since 1938. In 2015, for the first time, National Public Radio compiled data from the past 77 years into an interactive database.

Here are the top five musicals, plays, and short plays performed in high schools throughout the U.S. in 2015/2016.

Full-length musicals 1. “The Addams Family” 2. “Mary Poppins”

3. “Seussical” 4. A tie: “Cinderella” and “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” 5. A tie: “Legally Blonde” and “Grease” Full-length plays 1. “Almost, Maine” 2. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 3. “Our Town” 4. “12 Angry Jurors” 5. “You Can’t Take It with You” Short plays 1. “Check Please” 2. “The Audition” 3. “The 9 Worst Breakups of All Time” 4. “This Is a Test” 5. (tie) “Sure Thing” and “The Other Room”

Education Summit Marks Milestone Anniversary

The 10th National Summit on Education Reform, presented by the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), is scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, through Friday, December 1 in Nashville. The opening keynote will be presented by ExcelinEd’s founder Jeb Bush.

The summit serves as a meeting ground for national policymakers, and education leaders and advocates, to learn about what’s working in education, what needs to be improved, and what is up-and-coming. Among the topics to be discussed at the summit are today’s evolving legislation, the realities of the teacher shortage, and advances in personalized learning.

ExcelinEd, launched in 2008, works with decision makers on developing and implementing reform policies. It provides model legislation, rule-making expertise, implementation strategies, and public outreach.

The 2016 summit was attended by more than 1,000 education leaders from 47 states. General session speakers included Governor Bush, ExcelinEd Board Member Dr. Condoleezza Rice, education innovator Sal Khan and three former U.S. secretaries of education.

Excelined.org is a “one-stop shop” for people who are working to reform education. It includes a depository of policies from all 50 states, model legislation, research papers, academic data, and media reports.

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INDUSTRY NEWS JAX Games, begun nearly 40 years ago by legendary entrepreneur Zelman Levine, has been acquired by Goliath Games.

Cindy, Kreg, and Debbie Levine will continue to lead JAX from its headquarters in Plymouth, Minnesota.

“JAX will produce its own products and maintain its brand while enjoying the benefit of Goliath’s significant global resources, including R&D, logistics, TV and digital marketing campaigns,” said Goliath President David Norman.

“Our companies share similar origins,” said Adi Golad, Goliath’s founder.

“We both used grassroots promotion to build games from the ground up. Globally, Sequence from JAX will be a great fit with our other evergreen titles.”

Goliath, an international manufacturer and distributor of a broad range of products, including Rummikub, Rubik’s Cube, Tri-ominos, Wordsearch, Pop the Pig, Doggie Doo, Gooey Looey and Catch the Fox, was founded in 1980, the same year as JAX. It is one of the few remaining family-owned global toy and game companies.

JAX’s Zelman Levine was also known for leading Lakeside Toys, the company that developed Gumby, Barrel of Monkeys, and Aggravation. Over the past 38 years, JAX has developed hundreds of critically acclaimed toys and games, and is best known for its Sequence brand of games, along with Doodle Dice, Kings in the Corner, and Solitaire Frenzy.

For more information, visit jaxgames.com or goliathgames.com.

PBS KIDS and the Carson-Dellosa Publishing Group recently announced a multiyear licensing partnership to create a wide range of PBS KIDS educational products – including a new series of affordable books, workbooks, educational cards and kits.

The new products will support PBS KIDS’ commitment to delivering innovative educational learning

experiences for children. One-hundred percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the books and workbooks will support the educational media company’s mission to help all children..

The partnership kicks off with a collection of PBS KIDS Stick with It! sticker workbooks and My Take-Along Tablet books, scheduled to launch at major retailers in April 2018. Appropriate for children ages four and up, the PBS KIDS Stick with It! workbooks will provide hours of interactive learning fun. The PBS KIDS Tablet books are compact, making it easy for kids to learn on the go.

“We are thrilled to introduce a new series of books under the PBS KIDS brand,” said Al Greco, Carson-Dellosa CEO. “It is the number-one educational media brand for children and ranks first in school readiness. Families already trust PBS KIDS and they know they can count on its high-quality and engaging learning resources.”

As the market-leading publisher of children’s supplemental educational products, Carson-Dellosa has provided teachers and families with innovative solutions for more than 40 years. PBS KIDS offers all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital platforms and community-based programs.

The annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) will be held in Atlanta, November 15 through 18. Steve Pemberton author of A Chance in the World & Voice of Change will present the opening keynote.

Pemberton was a ward of the state for much of his childhood, an experience he chronicled in his 2012 best-selling memoir.

The story of his life journey, featured in People Magazine, has been translated into multiple languages. The movie adaption of his life is currently underway.

Pemberton’s tireless advocacy for the

disenfranchised has earned him numerous accolades. His dedication to public service and personal and professional achievement have also earned him Honorary Doctorates from Winston-Salem State University (2014) and Boston College (2015). Also in 2015, Pemberton received the Horizon Award from the United States Congress, presented to individuals from the private sector who have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans.

NAEYC’s annual conference is the largest early childhood education conference in the world. It brings together 9,000-plus early childhood educators – including teachers, program administrators, day care providers, child advocates, students, researchers and teacher educators – to explore the latest research and learn from one another. There are more than 600 innovative sessions from which to choose, and 175 exhibitors at the NAEYC Expo.

Learning Resources has launched a new marketing campaign to help parents nurture a love of learning in their children and give them the educational skills they need to take on the world.

The campaign, called “Learning is Where We Play,” includes a 30-second TV spot, digital advertising, and a dedicated page at learningresources.com that features Danielle and Adam Busby and their all-female quintuplets from the television show “Outdaughtered.”

A recent survey conducted by Learning Resources reveals that 66 percent of parents consider themselves primarily responsible for their children’s education.

“Parents are taking the responsibility of educating their children more seriously than ever,” said Learning Resources CMO, Marie LaPlante. “We feel a responsibility to show parents how to create moments of learning through play every day.”

For more information and resources – like tips from the Busby’s and Spotify playlist designed to accompany playtime – visit learningresources.com.

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®

Made in USA

Effective November 1, 2017, Highlights Press titles will no longer be distributed

by Essential Learning Products to educational dealers and wholesalers in the U.S. and Canada territories.

Prior to November 1, 2017, Essential Learning Products will continue to service all Highlights Press titles on pages 16-27 of the 2017 Essential Dealer Trade Catalog. (The catalog can be viewed online at EssentialDealer.com) The last day of shipments of Highlights Press titles will be October 31, 2017.

Effective November 1, 2017, Penguin Random House will be exclusively distributing Highlights Press titles in most channels.

In early November, Essential Learning Products will be mailing the 2018 Essential Dealer Trade Catalog that will feature new Sensational Math™ manipulatives and games plus Sensational Classroom™ items, an all-new brand of classroom essentials.

Class Record Books Lesson Plan Books Teacher “5-N-1” Book School Nurse P.R.N. School Counselor P.R.N. Student Assignment Book

Good News

Teachers want their stores back, and three Midwestern entrepreneurs – Tyler Young, Julie Burczyk, and Charmaine Ringer – answered the call. Each of them opened bricks-and-mortar storefronts this year to meet the needs of their local teachers (see Charmaine’s story, “The Store that Wouldn’t Close,” on page 8).

For Tyler Young at the Teacher Store at Pieces of Learning in Marion, Illinois, the back-to-school rush was crazy, but enlightening. “We didn’t have enough merchandise!” he says. “We found ourselves reordering and restocking our shelves every day.

“But we welcomed all that business with open arms!” Tyler adds. “The experience taught us exactly what we need to keep on hand here at all times, and what specifically to bring in when teachers and students head back to school.”

Tyler is the owner and president of educational publishing firm Pieces of Learning, founded in Ohio by three educators in 1989. The company moved to Southern Illinois in 1998, and then to an 8,000-square-foot building in Marion this past January. Tyler has divided the space 50/50 between the print shop and teacher store. Both resulted from the place most businesses come from, says piecesoflearning.com: demand. “We have received numerous requests every year to publish and print books, make copies, send faxes, et cetera., so we decided to make it happen.”

Many of his customers are teachers who come in to have charts and classroom decorations printed. Most of them spend hundreds of dollars just to make sure their students have a welcoming and comfortable learning environment, he said in an interview with the local ABC affiliate WSIL. The last time they had a local teacher store to spend it in was before the Learning Zone – a 12-year-old store – closed two years ago.

During the back-to-school season, Tyler met teachers who had traveled to The

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Tools 4 Teaching

Teacher Store from as far as 50 miles away.

“They were very happy to have a place to go for their classroom supplies,” he reports.

Meeting the need to see, touch and feel the products

Third-grade teacher Julie Burczyk

watched with alarm as one by one, the teacher stores around Evansville, Indiana, disappeared. She became so alarmed, in fact, that she left her job last December to devote herself to opening a new store, Tools 4 Teaching, in partnership with her father and mother – a former teacher, too.

It’s risky to open a traditional classroom supply store in today’s challenging retail environment, but Julie is confident that the demand is high enough to make the store thrive. Between January and April this year, more than 40,000 people viewed the store’s facebook page, she told the local newspaper.

“There’s an outcry for this,” she said.

“Online stores are definitely huge competitors, but teaching is one of those fields in which you want to see it, touch it and feel it, and you can’t do that online,” she told the Evansville Courier & Express.

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“And Teachers Pay Teachers is great for resources that you want to print out and make yourself, but time is of the essence.”

Classroom educators teach less through themes, said the article, and more toward standards, so seasonal items like turkeys for Thanksgiving, and Christmas trees, “look like relics from the bygone era.”

So Julie didn’t stock her shelves with seasonal products; instead focusing on innovative items that were so new, teachers didn’t even know they existed.

“The products speak to educators who complain that lesson planning, committee meetings and administrative paperwork leave them pressed for time.”

In addition to its newly-built location at the site of a former flower shop, Tools 4 Teaching also sells merchandise at its online marketplace, tools4teaching.biz.

of Flipside

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BUSINESS NOTES Competing with Amazon Comes Down to One Thing: Your Customer

Here are some quick marketing reminders from marketingland.com to help your small business thrive as consumers gravitate to online shopping.

1. Engage your customers

Promote real customer engagement by finding marketing activities that create brand advocates, like featuring profiles of long-time shoppers on your blog, taking your best customers for coffee, and supporting a local charity that’s close to their heart.

2. Use your size

Amazon is far too big to be able to reach out to individual customers and hone in on one specific market. But you’re small so you can! Learn the names of your regular customers – learn their kids’ names, their dogs’ names. Ask them their opinions, find out what they love, discover their passions and then incorporate it all into your store and on your shelves. Share what you learn on social media to show that customer opinions matter.

Target Specific Age Groups with Social Media

Thanks to Facebook’s and Snapchat’s self-serve ad-buying tools, advertisers can configure the audiences they want to reach by location, age, interest and behaviors, reports marketingland.com, a daily publication about the digital marketing industry. However, for a variety of reasons including the ways social media platforms measure their audiences, and the frequency in which their numbers change, the statistics are really moving targets, says the article. In an effort to suss it all out for marketers, Marketing Land’s Tim Peterson offered a comparison of audience sizes across Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram in terms of different age groups and segmented by country (You rock, Tim). Because the numbers are so hard to pin down, he presents the data as “indications.” Here’s his breakdown.

For all ages

Instagram and Snapchat both have a story feature that lets you display a photo or text for followers to view for a 24-hour period. Instagram beats out Snapchat with its video advertisement popularity among businesses, and can actually reach a much larger audience.

For 13- to 17-year-olds

Snapchat is the most popular among high-schoolers. Visual apps appeal to this age group anyway, and Snapchat has remained mostly focused on photographs and videos – no captions or lengthy posts are needed. The app also provides geofilters and tags that give people in your immediate area access to your snap story – a great tool for showing off new products or simply engaging customers.

For 18- to 24-year-olds

The appeal of Snapchat also flows into the college-age crowd for more reach than Facebook and Instagram.

“It could indicate that as Snapchat’s audience gets older, it is – and may continue to be – able to keep that audience on its platform, even as those users are more widely exposed to other social networks,” wrote Peterson.

But as people age and transition into adulthood, it looks like Facebook and Instagram take over. The reasoning behind the change, says Peterson, is that people who join the workforce are connecting with older colleagues who are

more likely to use Facebook, the social network they’ve used for years.

For 25- to 34-year-olds

Folks at the heart of the Millennial demographic are most likely to be found on Facebook. Some like to compare the platform to email, says Peterson. The older you get, the more likely you are to use it.

Instagram also appeals to Millenials, more so than Snapchat. Using Instagram, you can feature hashtags so users looking for a specific service can find you, and share what is currently happening in your store. The new story feature is also very popular for holding contests and gaining followers.

For 35-year-olds and older

It’s pretty clear: Snapchat and Instagram have more appeal for the members of younger generations who grew up using their smartphones.

People who have reached age 35 used Facebook on their desktop computers and then made the transition to mobile devices. For them, it remains the dominant platform.

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BUSINESS NOTES

If You Want Someone’s Attention, Whisper

Three marketing trends spotted by Retail Dive during the back-to-school season will continue to influence how brands engage younger shoppers during the holiday season. Retail Dive, the enewsletter that promises “a birds-eye view of the retail industry in 60 seconds,” noted that online shopping played a key role in back-to-school, the year’s second-biggest retail season.

As a result, stores and brands are embracing tricks like these to boost their digital strategies.

ASMR

Soft and methodical sounds like whispering or pages turning can give people a variety of soothing and stress-

relieving sensations, called autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR. Marketers are featuring the noises prominently in streaming videos and television commercials. For instance, during back-to-school, Ikea released a soft-talking 25-minute video describing a college dorm room decorated entirely with the brand’s products.

More than 5 million videos featuring ASMR are available for viewing on YouTube, says Retail Dive. The ones with the largest fan followings feature the sounds of crinkling wrappers or drink cans opening.

Social influencers

On the digital ad scene, influencer

marketing is new, untested and risky.

The FTC has issued warnings in the past to celebrities and brands alike for not properly disclosing sponsored content on their social media pages. However, marketers are giving it a try to reach young adults for whom traditional disruptive advertising, like television commercials, means little. “Social creators and branded content are now the heartbeat of digital storytelling,” Tim Sovay, COO at CreatorIQ, told Marketing Dive.

“Digital ad spend is at a point where it’s surpassing traditional TV spend.”

Young consumers use ad-blocking software, and are bypassing platforms that interrupt their experiences. As a result, marketers are creating short

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films, TV-like programming and other original digital content that can be quickly consumed and shared from a mobile device, reports Retail Dive.

Star power Here’s an example: in a promotional campaign for Converse sneakers,

Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven on the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” acts out 32 different emotions that teens feel heading back to school.

Her expressions are captured in GIFs, which can be found on BuzzFeed and Teen Vogue in North America, the U.K. and France, as well on Converse’s

website and social media channels.

“It’s clear that brands and retailers are trying to engage younger consumers on their terms, which means reaching them on their smartphones with content that provides value by informing, entertaining or solving a problem,” concludes Retail Dive.

The American Dream

How much would you pay for a good night’s sleep?

An uninterrupted night’s sleep is precious, but elusive. Thanks to our jobs, our families, and our addiction to social media, it’s harder and harder to turn off our brains at night. So if you could buy a good night’s sleep, would you pony up?

How much?

That’s what sleep product review website mattressclarity.com asked 3,000 people. It turns out, on average, we would be willing to spend $120 a night.

Retail workers, specifically, would pay $110.58. Doctors and nurses are willing to fork over the most money: $164.

Workers in the pharmaceutical industry value sleep the least, investing only $91.

The survey results also indicated that people in different states were willing to pay more than others. In New Hampshire, for instance, citizens consider sleep highly

important. They would gladly pay $200 per night for it. It’s least important to Oregonians who would pay $93.

The mattressclarity.com survey also revealed the steps insomniacs take to help them sleep. A significant 28.6 percent say they’d work or surf the internet. Just over 3 percent of people go for a workout if they can’t sleep, but exercising raises your core body temperature, increases your heart rate and prompts your system to release stimulating epinephrine (adrenaline).

According to experts at mattressclarity.com, you shouldn’t work, watch TV, or use your computer in bed or the bedroom. If you can’t sleep, it’s far better to leave your bedroom, try to read for a bit, take a bath or drink herbal tea, and go back to bed when you feel sleepy. The goal is to associate the bedroom with

sleep alone, so that your brain and body get a strong signal that it’s time to nod off when you get into bed.

To see more results from the survey, see the infographic on mattressclarity.com’s blog.

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ENDCAP (continued from page 46)

on his work. She got him a stool, and for about 20 minutes he went to town spinning and rocking on it. When the teacher called for writing time, he walked over to his table, sat down, and picked up a pencil. Her jaw dropped. She didn’t even know he could hold a pencil. He just needed to move while he was sitting.”

What about the stool’s design makes that happen?

The first thing it does is get you out of chair jail. How your body is held by a chair is horrible for your muscles, your health. But when you sit in the Kore Stool, you have the ability to move your core muscles. It also sticks your feet under your butt and lowers the angle from your back to your thigh. If you move around on it in a circular motion, you’re giving your back a massage of sorts; waking up all of the muscles and stretching them out.

About the boy in the story … we’ve talked to a few brain specialists about our products, and they’ve explained to us the idea of primary focus, especially in children with autism. If their primary focus is to move, they have to satisfy that need before they can deal with a secondary focus, like learning. I myself think better when I am sitting on a Kore Stool.

When I was working on this assignment in college, I wanted to come up with a sailing product – I like to sail boats. My imagination was flowing and I was trying to get the traditional four-legged stool I was sitting on to move like it was rocking on a boat. I thought such a stool would be useful to other people. I figured the design would work if I put it on some kind of dome, so I went straight to the shop to start making it.

What other kinds of people find the Kore Stool useful?

It works in every sitting situation: at a desk in an office, at a cash register, in a classroom.

Moms love this chair, especially after giving birth and during the process

of nursing. They can move in all directions, which babies love. When the baby falls asleep, the mom can easily stand up and transfer him or her to a crib.

As a college student, my daughter had one of the stools in her room.

Other students tried to convince her to let them borrow it – it helped them concentrate when they wrote papers.

We gave two stools to an autism center in Albany where a therapist was working with two teenagers, ages 16 and 17. Until he sat on a Kore Stool, one of the kids drew nothing but dinosaurs.

Now he draws birds, trees, landscapes, everything. His teachers discovered he has quite a drawing repertoire.

The other student had never spoken a word, to the therapist’s knowledge. After sitting on the stool for awhile, he started a conversation with the people sitting next to him.

There is something amazing in the way movement can affect people’s overall happiness and help them achieve.

How many different versions of the Kore Stool are there?

The Wobbles come in 12, 14, 16 and 18-inch versions. Kid sizes.

There are two kinds of Kore Stools for adults: the Everyday Stool, which adjusts from 15 to 25 inches high; and the Executive, which adjusts from 18 to about 32 inches high. If you’re tall, you want the Executive. It works well in sit/ stand situations.

We recently revamped the adult stools and we’re really excited about the improved design.

Our newest product, a combination of the Wobble and Kore, is called Grow With Me. The height is adjustable and it also pogos a little bit; more movement for kids who need to fidget.

What’s next?

We’ll launch a new fitness stool and a college range stool within the next year, and I’m always open to new ideas.

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ENDCAP

Learning in Motion

by Rebecca Carlson and Tina Manzer

K

ore Design’s Wobble Chairs, the stools that let kids move around freely while they’re sitting, have been tremendously successful in the school market, reports Jon Elmaleh. Jon designed the stool in the 1970s as a class assignment at the Rhode Island School of Design. His professor told him, “It may be the best idea you’ll ever have.”

Jon went on to found Out There Technologies, a product design firm based in Brooklyn. The company works with manufacturing and marketing partners to develop a variety of products in addition to the stools, including toys, furniture and home appliances.

With EDspaces approaching, the tradeshow that helped launch Wobble Chairs in our industry, we asked Jon to talk to us about the benefits of his unique design.

Ed Dealer: First, was your professor right?

So it was not originally designed for school students.

Jon Elmaleh: He may have been, but producing the stools was challenge.

I became so frustrated, in fact, that I shelved the idea in the 1980s. Then the Museum of Modern Art called – they wanted to sell the stools. I decided to tackle the problems to get the things made.

Even though there were a lot of obstacles, I felt I had to stick with it because the product really helped people. A brain surgeon performed operations while sitting on our stool!

Bad backs among surgeons are infamous – they spend so much time hunched over microscopes. The Kore Stool gives them the opportunity to move around a little.

It was designed for everyone, from toddlers to the elderly. I launched the Wobble Chair, the plastic version of the stool, about four years ago and introduced it to the school market. Since then, business has more than doubled every month, every year. We’re selling a lot of stools now, and we’ve hardly scratched the surface of the school market.

What makes it such a solid classroom product?

We received a Mind Spring Academic’s Choice Award, which recognizes products that help build cognitive skills, based on the recommendation of a teacher. She told us about a student of hers who was completely disruptive – he couldn’t sit still or focus (continued on page 45)

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