Your Device Protection Checklist for Winter Break: Your cheat sheet for safeguarding school tech during the holidays

As the winter holidays approach, students and staff look forward to the upcoming break. School IT administrators face the additional task of safeguarding their school’s ed tech investment before signing off for some well-deserved downtime. Here are a few steps schools can consider taking to protect their devices over the winter break.

For devices going home– be kind and remind

If students are allowed to take their school-provided devices home over the winter break, it’s an ideal time to reiterate the school’s expectations around device use for both students and their families. For instance, one expectation might be that students should put their Chromebook in a protective case whenever it’s not being used to protect it from getting damaged, for instance, in a hastily dropped backpack.

Consider including your school’s Acceptable Use Policy when emailing students and caregivers ahead of the winter break. Remind families that content filters employed by the school aren’t likely to work while the devices are home. If devices are only to be used for schoolwork, reiterate that students shouldn’t use their devices for gaming or streaming purposes.

Temper your temperatures

If you live in a climate that experiences extreme temperatures, it’s also worth reminding students and families that their devices should be kept inside a climate controlled environment. Devices shouldn’t be left in a parent’s car (even if it’s parked in a garage), as extreme temperatures can damage electronics.

Get charged up

As staff and students get ready to return to school in the new year, they might need a reminder to charge up their devices.

For devices staying at school

For devices that will stay at school over the break, winter break offers an opportunity to check on your school’s device inventory, install software updates and security patches, and send damaged devices out for repair.

Back It Up

Students and staff whose devices will stay at the school should be sure to backup important documents before leaving for the break.

Storing and Charging

After devices have been backed up and updates have been applied, they should be stored securely according to your school’s procedures. If your school’s policy is to unplug devices before an extended break, make sure you have a plan to charge the devices before school starts up again.

Take stock of your school’s device coverage

Whether or not you’re collecting and updating devices over the break, it can also be a good time to check in on your school’s device coverage. Is it adequately covering your school’s repair and replacement needs? If not, it might be worth setting up a JonesCare Needs Assessment. By looking at your district’s needs, budget and device lifecycle, we’ll work with you to design a protection plan that’s just right for your school’s unique needs, and ensures that when devices do need to be repaired or replaced, there’s minimal disruption to learning.

Now that you’ve taken care of your school’s technology, we hope you can take time over the winter break to rest and recharge before returning in January. 

How to Teach Students to Care for Their Devices: Strategies for encouraging respect and responsibility for your school’s technology

As more public schools than ever now provide devices like laptops or tablets for their students to use during the school year, which increases digital equity and prepares students for higher education and the workforce. As a result, educators increasingly find themselves responsible for teaching their students how to care for their devices. Here are some ways teachers and administrators can encourage students to properly care for their school-owned devices.   

Clear Communication 

When it comes to your school’s policies for repairing and replacing damaged devices, communication is key. Start the year off by letting both students and their caregivers know about the expectations and policies around their devices. Be clear about the financial responsibility for repairing or replacing common items– for instance, how much families can expect to pay if a device suffers damage from spilled liquid or to replace a lost charger? Offer frequent reminders about device care and expectations to students and parents as you approach interruptions like school breaks– revisit rules like whether students are allowed to bring their devices home over break. 

Device Care as Curriculum 

Including transition time for students to put away their devices is a key part of showing them how to care for their technology. Build in time in your classroom’s schedule for students to place their devices in a charging cart or case. Depending on the age of your students, the amount of time needed will vary– young elementary students will probably need more time than tech-seasoned high schoolers.  

Consider Assigning Long-Term Devices 

One solution that may increase students’ ownership in caring for their devices is to assign them the same device for several years– for instance, from 6-8th grade or 9-12th grade. Knowing they’ll need to rely on the device for multiple years may prompt them to take better care of it than if they were only borrowing them for a single school year.  

Understand Device Protection 

Even with the best of care, it’s inevitable that devices will need to be repaired or replaced. Educators should familiarize themselves with their school’s program for repairing and replacing devices. For instance, if a Chromebook needs to be repaired, how long is that repair expected to take? Does the school have loaner devices for students (or teachers) whose devices are being repaired? Being familiar with the procedure and timeframe for repairs and replacements can help teachers know what to expect when a device is damaged or lost.  

Model Standards for Device Care 

By keeping a tidy workspace, storing your device in its proper case when you’re not using it and keeping drinks and snacks away from your devices, you’re modeling high standards of care for your students.  

Despite the best efforts of teachers, students and their caregivers, it’s inevitable that some of your school’s devices will sustain damage, be lost or simply reach the end of their lifecycle during the school year. JonesCare offers several options for schools to protect their devices, and provides a transparent repair process to ensure minimal interruption to learning. Reach out to learn more about your choices for protecting your school’s technology investment.  

Prepping Your School’s Device Management for Summer Break: Inventorying, assessing and planning for the break– and beyond

While the summer break might mean long, leisurely days at home or camp for students, it means something quite different for a school’s IT Team. Depending on the school and its policies, the break presents a window of time to collect, inventory, clean and update devices, as well as assess and plan for the next school year. 

Below, we outline some of the common action items IT teams prepare to tackle as the summer break approaches. 

Decide whether devices will be returned to school or go home with students

The question of whether districts should allow devices to stay with students over summer break is a controversial one. Proponents argue that allowing students to keep devices offers an opportunity for learning to continue over the summer months. Others, though, might view a summer take home device program as a logistical nightmare that increases the risk of devices being damaged or lost.  

Inventorying and inspecting

If your school does collect all school-owned devices at the end of the year, IT departments may commiserate with school librarians– you both spend a significant portion time attempting to track down and wrangle missing (and overdue) items.

Once the devices are collected, they can be inventoried and inspected for damage. 

Cleaning devices and identifying devices that are damaged or in need of repair

As students and teachers return their devices, your IT team will be looking for devices that have incurred damage over the school year. Devices will also need to be cleaned– for instance, laptop vents need to be dusted to prevent overheating, and 

Consider whether it’s time to retire aging devices

As you assess devices that are damaged, some will likely be at or near the end of their lifecycle. These devices will need to be recycled, and, depending on your school’s needs, replaced. 

Coordinate repairs for damaged devices

It’s likely that your team will identify many devices that need repair. Your IT team will want to coordinate the repair of these devices so that they’ll be ready for the new school year

Software and security updates 

The summer break presents an ideal opportunity for IT teams to perform software updates with minimal disruptions to students or staff. Security updates and device refreshes can also take place during this time. 

Arrange training for staff and students (if necessary)

Is your school introducing new technology to teachers and students? If so, you’ll likely need to schedule training sessions to familiarize staff to new devices. 

Reconsider your school’s device insurance 

Once your device inventory is complete and you’ve identified which need to be repaired or replaced, it’s an ideal time to decide whether your current device warranty or insurance coverage is adequate. Standard factory warranties for tech devices often don’t provide the coverage schools need, particularly as devices begin to age. 

Consider scheduling a JonesCare Needs Assessment. We’ll take an in-depth look at your district’s needs, budget and assess the lifecycle stages of your district’s devices. Then, we’ll work with you to customize a protection plan that’s tailored to your district’s unique needs. Our goal with JonesCare is to provide a seamless experience with minimal disruption to students and staff when devices need to be repaired or replaced.

Reach out today to book a JonesCare Needs Assessment.

How Intel and Microsoft are Harnessing AI to Transform Education: These programs and tools prepare students and teachers to make the most of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence has been with us longer than many of us realize, assisting us in the form of conducting a spell check as we’re writing an email or a chatbot popping up to offer help as we browse a website.

As AI continues to be refined and integrated into daily life, we expect it will bring significant benefits to education. As AI advances and evolves, many expect it to absorb a large portion of the administrative burden educators carry, freeing them up to focus on students. AI is also likely to be used for personalizing learning for students with diverse learning needs.

Below, we’ll take a look at how two of our partners, Intel and Microsoft for Education, are already harnessing the power of AI to improve accessibility and inclusivity in education.

Intel’s AI for Youth program

Intel designed its AI for Youth program to empower students ages 13-19 by teaching them about AI. The intensive program breaks down what exactly AI is and isn’t, arms students with hands-on skills and then supports them as they craft individual social impact projects using their new knowledge and skills. For instance, an eleventh grader in Siberia created a prototype for an app that can help identify mental health issues in its users, while a group of young students who completed the AI for Youth program in Israel crafted an app that helps small retail clothing stores sort and display garments according to their color and design.

Intel’s AI for Youth program offers participants a variety of both technical and social skills and encourages diversity. It’s currently being used in several countries worldwide.

In its mission to \"demystify and democratize\" AI, Intel also launched an annual AI Global Impact Festival, in which students from 26 different countries participate in a competition of their AI innovations. In 2023, a group of teenage students from Brazil took the top prize with a device that can track eye movement to enable patients with ALS to communicate.

Microsoft

Artificial Intelligence is exciting, but it also comes with a learning curve. Microsoft for Education has built a suite of courses that break down the concepts of AI and show educators how specific tools might benefit them.

Microsoft for Education also created the AI Classroom Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to introduce AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to students ages 13-15.

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI assistant that’s currently available for educators. Generative AI is AI that uses data to create new content. For instance, teachers can use Copilot to tailor lesson plans for students who have different learning styles, assist with creating feedback on student work and help brainstorm classroom activities.

Microsoft has also previewed its Reading Coach tool. With Reading Coach, AI collaborates with readers to create stories and to identify and provide opportunities for practicing particular words a reader is struggling with.

As we learn more about the capabilities of Artificial intelligence and how it can assist educators, students, and the world at large, we’re excited to see what unfolds.

Looking Back, Looking Forward: A look at the evolution of Arey Jones, and technology.

As we head into 2024, it’s natural to consider our plans and goals for the year ahead. But the New Year also provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we began, what we’ve accomplished, and how we’ve weathered the inevitable changes we’ve encountered along the way.

A Common Theme

Did you know that our company’s roots stretch back more than 100 years? Founded in 1897 in San Diego, Arey Jones originally sold typewriters and stationary locally. While the last 120 years have brought innumerable changes to nearly every aspect of life, one thing has remained the same– our commitment to supporting student learning through technology that’s both innovative and reliable.

As Technology Evolved, so Did We

Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Scarpella family, who owned Broadway Typewriter Company, purchased Arey Jones. While the company has grown over time and now works with K-12 schools across the U.S., we pride ourselves on providing the high level of service and support that you’d expect from a close-knit family business.

Over the years, our evolution continued. In the 1980s, as technology like computers, Walkmans and VCRs became more integrated into daily life, our company honed its focus. Arey Jones found its niche in helping school districts choose, implement and service the educational technology that supports young learners.

As a company with a lengthy history, we understand the complexities that administrators, teachers and school boards encounter regarding evolving technology. Our goal is to make the process of choosing, implementing and supporting educational technology as smooth as possible.

Our seasoned senior staff have worked in the education technology market for decades. We enjoy long standing relationships with many of the school districts we work with, which has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of each district’s unique needs.

One of our best-kept secrets, though, is our customer service. Our support team is dedicated to troubleshooting technology issues so that schools can do what they do best– focus on their students.

Our Partners

A strong team needs solid partners. We’re privileged to work with some of the world’s leading technology companies, including Microsoft Education, Google for Education, Lenovo, Dell and HP. Partnering with these companies enables us to select and deliver excellent technology solutions to school districts of all sizes. Our relationships with these companies also allows us to stay ahead of the curve on emerging technology trends.

Let’s talk!

While our corporate office remains in San Diego where our company began, we have offices and fulfillment centers positioned across the U.S.

We started by mentioning our roots as a typewriter and stationary company more than 100 years ago. Now, it’s your turn! We’d love to learn about your school’s unique history, strengths and challenges so we can create a plan to deliver cutting-edge technology that serves your students now and into the future.

Want to learn more? Contact us to discuss how our educational technology solutions can benefit your school district.

Meet Our Partner, Promethean

We're absolutely thrilled to be a partner of Promethean, an industry trailblazer in the realm of educational technology. The company was founded by teachers, for teachers in Blackburn, U.K. in the 1990s. Since then, Promethean has grown, becoming an international innovator of interactive displays and educational software. With a presence in 126 countries, Promethean is headquartered in Seattle.

You might be familiar with Promethean’s interactive display panel, ActivPanel. A recent report announced that Promethean was the global leader in the volume of interactive flat panel displays shipped.

Promethean’s ActivPanel 9 just won both an iF Design Award and a Red Dot Design Award, two of the most coveted design awards. The interactive display panel was created to maximize student engagement while still being easy and intuitive to operate, as well as being capable of integrating with a school’s existing technology. ActivPanel 9 works seamlessly with the most common educational platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. Promethean’s ActivSync technology allows users to connect other devices to the ActivPanel via a single cable, which cuts down on the frustration of scrambling for different cords. A few other key features are screen capture, a proximity sensor and enhanced security, including remote sign-out.

ActivPanel LX, which provides schools with a more affordable interactive display panel, debuted earlier this year. Like the ActivPanel 9, ActivPanel LX is designed to work with a school’s existing technology, which cuts down significantly on training time for teachers and administrators.

The company also develops collaborative teaching software like ActivInspire, created to make learning on the ActivPanel more immersive. ClassFlow, a cloud-based software, helps teachers deliver engaging lessons in remote or hybrid learning environments.

Promethean has also taken a keen interest in harnessing the power of emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence, in order to enhance possibilities in education. With concern about what ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence means to the education system making recent headlines, Promethean partnered up with eschoolnews to deliver a webinar and report on how AI can augment education and improve the lives of teachers. A University of California, Irvine study showed that among educators who used Merlyn Mind, a digital assistant for teachers, for a period of seven weeks, more than half experienced an increase in efficiency. With Merlyn Mind, teachers can use voice commands to perform tasks like opening an app from anywhere in the classroom. Promethean’s software, Symphony Classroom,

Looking for professional development? Promethean provides a number of courses designed to orient educators to Promethean’s technology. The company also offers a two-hour Promethean Certified Teacher course. In July, educators can attend Camp Promethean, a day packed with free, online professional development sessions for educators. Sessions include "Gamify the Promethean Classroom with ActivInspire" and "AR/VR with Promethean." Other seasonal professional development opportunities include Teacher Tailgate in September and STEAM Forward in November.

Like Arey Jones, Promethean is accustomed to working with school districts of varying sizes, needs and budgets. If you’re interested in learning about how Promethean’s solutions might work for your district, reach out to us today.

Celebrating the Week of the Young Child®

As an educator or administrator, you’ve probably heard of Week of the Young Child®, the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) annual celebration of early childhood education.

NAEYC first launched the Week of the Young Child® in 1971 in order to increase awareness about the importance of early childhood education while recognizing the existing early childhood programs that provide support and resources to young children and their families. Still going strong after more than 50 years, this annual event continues to draw attention to existing resources while also illuminating gaps that exist, such as affordable childcare.

This year’s Week of the Young Child® will take place April 1 - 7th, 2023.

If your community doesn’t currently mark this special week, the NAEYC offers a toolkit with action steps on how to change that.

There are many ways to celebrate Week of the Young Child®; some communities have held festivals and parades, while others have used the time to advocate for quality early childcare and education. Some communities have decided a week isn’t long enough and have stretched out the celebration to cover the entire month of April! While the NAEYC invites communities to come up with their own unique ways to celebrate and advocate for early childhood education, they’ve created a themed schedule that can serve as a jumping off point when brainstorming for activities.

Music Monday

Music Monday provides an opportunity to kickoff the week using sound, music and movement. Examples of last year’s Music Monday activities include children making their own maracas, listening to music from different cultures and the simple yet delightful ritual of throwing a dance party.

Tasty Tuesday

The possibilities for incorporating food into the curriculum are endless– activities could integrate subjects like math, nutrition, foreign language and farming. You could start an indoor microgreen garden and harvest it with your students, ask kids to share favorite family recipes or embark on a baking project.

Work Together Wednesday

Work Together Wednesday is all about collaboration, teamwork and team-building. For instance, last year, one community created a yoga lesson where pre-k students and third graders partnered for Work (out) Wednesday. Other possibilities include initiating a community service project or a group art project.

Artsy Thursday

Thursday is a celebration of creativity. Successful past Artsy Thursday activities include preschoolers creating self-portraits, going for a nature walk to collect and then paint rocks, and a project where students virtually collaborated with older adults to create masterpieces made with marbles and paint.

Family Friday

The last day of activities focuses on bringing families of young children into the fun– and the learning. Parents might visit a preschool to accompany their kids on a nature walk or stop by school for a family lunch picnic.For more ideas on how to get involved and plan activities for Week of the Young Child®, visit the NAEYC website. If your school or community has a favorite way of celebrating, leave us a comment and let us know!

Four Ways Schools Can Support Teen Mental Health

In 2020, the clothing company Hollister Co. declared March 2nd to be World Teen Mental Wellness Day. The day is intended to help reduce the stigma around mental health challenges while also promoting self-care. With the National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI) reporting that as many as 25% of teenagers will receive a mental health diagnosis during adolescence, educators are extremely likely to encounter students who are struggling with their mental health. Below, we rounded up some ideas for schools and teachers to support and educate students.

Incorporate stress relief tools

Having an array of healthy tools to deal with stress can be a great place to start the conversation around mental wellness. As educators, we know that what works for one student doesn’t necessarily work for another. Offer students a variety of tools to reduce stress so they can discover what works for them. Some might benefit from movement breaks or a quick nature walk, while others find that a short meditation or breathing strategy helps lower their stress levels.

Spend more time outdoors

Research shows that getting outside benefits us in multiple ways. Time in nature can improve attention and focus and lower stress. A Danish study even suggested that children with access to green space are less likely to develop psychiatric disorders as teens and adults. If getting outdoors isn’t feasible due to weather, listening to nature sounds and viewing images of nature can have positive benefits.

Normalize the need for support

Does your school make a concerted effort to bring school counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals into the classroom regularly so they become a familiar face for students? If not, consider giving it a try. Doing so reinforces the idea that taking care of our mental health is just another part of life to learn about, no different than physical education or science.

While teachers, school counselors and family members can all play a crucial role in getting support for students, there’s nothing quite as powerful as realizing that other classmates face struggles, too. If your school isn’t currently offering a peer support program, consider integrating a program into your district. Hope Squad, Mental Health First Aid and Sources of Strength are just a few of the programs which use peer support models to prevent suicide and increase positive mental health.

Get Novel

Mental health among children and teens is a serious topic, but sometimes sprinkling in a little novelty can help lower everyone’s stress levels.

One way to boost the mood of students (and staff) is to bring a friendly pet into the classroom a few times a week. A study in the U.K. found that bringing a dog into the classroom for two 20-minute visits a week was more effective at lowering stress levels among students than a meditation session.

Another idea high school educators could try is setting up a tea station in the classroom, as research indicates that drinking tea can actually lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

Coloring books, even for older students, is another fun activity that can reduce stress. One teacher introduced a monthly reading hour. She decorated the classroom with twinkly lights and invited students to bring snacks, blankets and pillows to the classroom while they read.

Finally, please make sure you’re taking excellent care of yourself. Don’t be afraid to mention your own self-care strategies to your students. It’s good modeling, and as a teacher, it’s crucial to keep your own bucket full so you can keep showing up for your students.

Staying on the Cutting Edge

The New Year brings to mind resolutions and fresh, blank calendars– it’s a time for pondering the future and setting goals. But the change of the calendar can also be an ideal time to take a look at where we’ve been and how we’ve evolved. At Arey Jones, we have a rich and extensive history in the educational technology field that stretches back more than 100 years.

Our Humble Roots

Arey Jones was originally founded in 1897. The company was launched to support the stationary and administrative demands of the local education market in San Diego. As technology advanced, the company adapted to meet the shifting needs of educators.

In 1972, the Broadway Typewriter Company, owned by the Scarpella family, purchased Arey Jones. While our business has expanded over the years, at its heart, we’re still a family business. The Scarpellas, who bring their many decades of experience in the k-12 educational technology field, continue to be involved in the daily operations of the business.

We’re Laser Focused on Educational Technology

While Arey Jones has been serving the needs of school districts for more than 100 years, it was in the 1980s and 1990s that we discovered our true calling– harnessing technology to enhance and optimize the k-12 learning environment.

We have a deep understanding of the challenges school districts face amidst the rapid pace of evolving technology because our company has evolved and flexed as technology continues to become a more integral part of life and education. We know that technology can be overwhelming– and we consider it our job to make it less so. We provide hardware, software, integration, service and ongoing support to our clients. From choosing which specific devices are best for students in your district, to imaging and configuration, to setting up carts for charging devices, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Our staff consists of seasoned professionals who’ve been vetted through background checks to ensure safety within the many schools we serve. Like the Scarpella family, the other members of our senior staff bring decades of experience to work with them.

We Work With the Best

We’re proud to partner with leaders in technology, including Google for Education, Microsoft Education, Dell and HP, to create the best solutions for school districts with varying sizes and needs.

We’d Love to Work With You!

With offices and fulfillment centers located throughout the United States, we’re poised to help school districts nationwide.

Our regional configuration centers allow us to design and implement technology solutions that meet the unique needs of the school districts we serve.

Our services continue well past the sale and installation of technology. Our support team is primed and ready to help with any issues that arise, allowing classrooms to stay focused on learning instead of troubleshooting. Our skilled designers, installers, systems engineers and support staff are ready to help when needed.

Would you like to know more? Contact us to explore how our educational technology solutions can serve your school district.

Celebrate Your Teachers on World Teachers’ Day

A teacher can do tremendous things. They inspire, challenge, uplift, support and most of all, educate. Teachers have had a tough couple of years juggling their responsibilities with maintaining classroom safety during the pandemic. This year more than ever you should show your appreciation for all their hard work. One way to do that is by recognizing them on World Teachers’ Day.

History of World Teachers’ Day

World Teachers’ Day (WTD) has been held annually on Oct. 5 since 1994. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. According to UNESCO, this Recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment and teaching and learning conditions. World Teachers’ Day is co-convened in partnership with UNICEF, the International Labour Organization and Education International.

Ways to Recognize Your Teachers

The sky is the limit when it comes to recognizing your teachers on WTD. Here are some ideas.

• Hold a Recognition Assembly. Public recognition lets everyone in your school, teachers and students, take part in celebrating teachers. A short assembly, it can even consist of a game, is a great way to take time to show your teachers just how much you appreciate them.

• Ask the PTA to Bring Donuts for the Breakroom. Everyone loves a sweet treat. Reach out to your local PTO or PTA (Parent Teacher Organization or Association) and ask them to recognize their school’s teachers by providing snacks for the breakroom. 

• Send Handwritten Notes to Teachers. A simple thank you goes a long way and a handwritten thank you goes even longer! Recruit some of the administrative staff to write handwritten thank you notes to each of your teachers. Deliver the notes to each of the teachers on WTD.

• Give Your Teachers a Break. A mental health break can do wonders for anyone but especially for teachers. Hold a lottery with the winning teacher receiving a free period when you take over their class. The winner can arrange with you the class he or she wants you to take over.

• Supply Them with New EdTech. So, this might not be able to happen just on WTD, but investing in new EdTech can make your teachers’ lives much easier. The latest technology from Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft EDU and Google for Education can make classroom learning more enriching and efficient. 

Arey Jones has been committed to supplying K-12 classrooms with personalized solutions from a variety of partners. We understand the unique challenges of EdTech. With over 45 years of experience working with K-12 schools, Arey Jones’ mission is to assist in the transformation of teaching and learning. We provide customized solutions that enable the creation of 21st-century learning spaces that support creativity, collaboration, innovation, and critical thinking.

Digital Resources for Learning At Home

The novel coronavirus is forcing people all over the world to change the norms of their every day lives. One of those norms is traditional in-school learning. Extended spring breaks that turned into indefinite closure periods have transformed most of the country’s schools into online forums. 

Parents and teachers are going to be tasked with the continuation of education in the home. Even for tech-savvy educators who are well versed in digitized tools are going to face challenges in the coming weeks. During this unpredictable time, many organizations and websites are offering free educational resources. These online opportunities allow learners the ability to continue to explore the world (and expand their minds) from the comfort of home. 

• Scholastic’s Learn at Home is providing 20 days worth of active educational material. It includes cross-curricular journeys to keep students engaged.  

• Students can embark on free, virtual field trips though Freedom Homeschooling. From Buckingham Palace to the San Diego Zoo to Mars, there is a relevant and interesting location for almost any unit. 

• Explore the Louvre, Sistine Chapel, and Guggenheim museum while remaining cozy on the couch. The Washington Post thoughtfully curated a list of historic sites that are offering virtual tours.  

• Tours of other iconic museums are available through with Travel + Leisure’s online offering. Peruse Van Gogh’s work up close at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or “stroll” through the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. 

• For as long as schools are closed, Audible is providing free story listening. The collection of audiobooks is available to stream on desktops, laptops, phones, or tablets. 

• Over 3,000 e-book titles are available to borrow through the New York Public Library. From Winnie the Pooh to Atlas Shrugged, there’s something for every age.  

School closures are difficult for all. These resources will help combat loneliness by providing a lens into the wonders of the world.

How to Get Kids Excited About Reading

Among the many healthy habits that parents hope to instill within their children is a life-long love of reading. In addition to the emotional and recreational benefits of reading, the academic advantages are innumerable. While most parents are in agreement about its importance, many parents and teachers struggle to motivate their reluctant readers.  

Luckily, there are plenty of creative strategies that adults can employ to help cultivate kids’ love of literacy. Below are five ideas about how to get children excited about reading. 

For parents: 

1. Start them young.  Studies show that exposure to a vast spoken vocabulary in infancy helps young ones with language development.  While it may feel silly at first, reading books to brand new babies is important; they are absorbing not just words, but the sound and cadence of your voice. The good news is that babies aren’t picky, so you can read aloud whatever you want.  
   
   

2. Set an example. Children will emulate what they see, so if you want to raise a reader, be a reader. When parents open up the newspaper or a new library book, they send cues to their kids that reading is an important use of time. Create a Saturday morning family routine where everyone spends 30 minutes reading silently in the comfort of the living room; carving out special time shows that reading is something to be prioritized. 
   
   

3. Change the format. Sometimes, a change in medium can pique kids’ interest enough to keep reading. There are countless tech toys that are both fun and educational: The Touch and Teach Word Book and LeapStart 3D Learning System are two great choices or younger children. Kindles ebooks work well to provide efficiency, choices, and fun for older children. For kids of all ages, audiobooks provide a different way to enjoy stories. 

For teachers: 

1.  Credit their opinions. Like everyone, kids love to share their perspectives. Allow them to assume the role of Book Reviewer for their peers. Designate a visible place in the classroom where students can display their book reviews, or carve out a spot on Google Classroom specifically for this purpose. Students will feel like their opinions are heard, and their reviews can help other kids choose a book that is well rated and loved by friends. 
   
   

2. Start a tradition. Create a classroom culture that values books and celebrates their value. One way to do this is to start a tradition based on the excitement brought by a book. After finishing a book as a class, think about hosting a movie event; spend time afterwards comparing and contrasting the upsides to the book and movie versions of the same story. Another fun tradition is a “read in”. Designate an afternoon for silent reading only; encourage students to bring in a cozy blanket and a book of their choice. Oftentimes, these simple, extra details work well for nurturing that extra bit of enthusiasm.

Motivating young readers, although sometimes challenging, is worth it. With a little creativity, parents and teachers can encourage a life-long love of reading. 

The Tech-Lover’s Holiday Wish List and 2020 Classroom Must-Haves

As silver white winters melt into spring, many parents complain of the already-forgotten holiday things; toys have been discarded, and gadgets are broken or low on battery. That’s why, when selecting a gift, it’s crucial to consider the long-term engagement potential and usefulness. The perfect gift is one that captures the recipient’s interest for months or years to come.

As leaders in the field of technology, we’re familiar with hundreds of noteworthy and interesting devices. For the end-of-year holidays and for 2020, here are a few of our favorite things.

For babies and toddlers.

· Anyone with kids knows that everything farm-related is a huge hit with the little ones. Leapfrog’s Sing & Play Farm contains several fine motor-enhancing features to push, pull, and switch. Paired with five play areas and animal sounds galore, this toy is sure to keep their attention.

For young children.

· Vtech’s Touch and Learn Activity Desk features dozens of educational, interactive activities. Four double-sided cards introduce letters, numbers, animals, and people. From vocabulary words, to an easel and chalkboard and musical melodies, there is always something new to explore.

· Let their imaginations run wild with these KidiGo Walkie Talkies. These two-way radios are kid safe and keep conversations secure from other radio users. The backlit, LCD screens also allow for the exchange of messages. Talk about endless entertainment!

For middle and high school students.

· Give the gift of gaming adventure with the Xbox One S Two Controller Bundle. The system, which includes two controllers, 3-month trial of Xbox Game Pass, and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold, has impressive 4k Resolution. And with over 1,300 games to choose from, it will truly take your gift-ee to another world.

· Whether it’s for a backyard birthday BBQ or a classroom dance party, this HP portable Bluetooth speaker makes getting the perfect tunes for any event, easy.

For any age.

· ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is sleek, stylish, and boasts an amazing 87% screen-to-body ratio. It’s no wonder that this beauty has attracted countless positive reviews from across the Internet universe.

· The SmartThings Hub provides the user with connectivity to all of their devices, such as lights, locks, speakers, and thermostats. Additionally, the SmartThings outlet, directed via app, gives the user the ability the control whatever is currently plugged into the outlet. Both of these make the perfect gift for a practical tech aficionado, or a husband who’s tired of turning the car around to make sure the hair straightener is off.

· Anyone will feel like an incognito Inspector Gadget with Google’s Wear OS watch. Keep track of fitness goals, get reminded of meetings, and become notified about texts and calls all from one smart piece of jewelry. Choose one to go with every style, and read more about the countless ways a SmartWatch can help simplify life.

For classrooms.

· Teachers have enough to do without having to answer a million, repeated questions. A Digital Vision Viewer Document Camera is a game changer in this regard; teachers have the ability to project a physical document for the whole class to see. Whether it’s modeling a complex math problem, or projecting answers for a trade and grade, this helps save the teacher’s voice (and sanity).

· With up to 14 hours of battery life, this Chromebook 3100 Education by Dell is durable, practical, and affordable, making it the perfect match for the classroom.

Here’s hoping that one of our favorite things will also become a treasured belonging to one of your favorite people.

How to Celebrate the Holidays While Staying on Task in the Classroom

When the holiday season nears, weather gets cooler, schedules become busier, and students have a more difficult time staying on the “nice” list. But who can blame them? The anticipation of winter break beckons. Staying focused is so much harder when there are snowmen to be built and cookies to be decorated. For teachers, too, the weeks preceding holiday break are challenging; the list of curriculum to cover is long, but students’ attention spans are awfully short. 

Instead of beginning a countdown to the calendar year’s end, consider bringing the holiday magic into the classroom with a few of these ideas. 

Add more decor. 

A little bit of celebratory spirit goes a long way when it comes to decorating your classroom for the holidays. Surprise your students with some sparkly lights around the whiteboard or with a bulletin board lined with colorful fall foliage. For added coziness, use your SMART board or projector to display a long video of a crackling, tranquil fireplace. There are plenty to choose from on YouTube, and your students will love the calming background during independent work time. 

Incentivize celebrations. 

As your excited students become sillier and squirrelier, get creative with your classroom management by rewarding good behavior with festive activities. Younger students will love making digital snowflakes, all while reinforcing basic geometric vocabulary. For older students, grab some cheerful props and use an app (like MonaCam) to turn your Chromebook into a photo booth. Students of any age will enjoy a hot cocoa or apple cider bar on a chilly afternoon during silent reading time. Positively reinforcing great behavior will go a long way during these long weeks. 

Incorporate merriment into instruction. 

To keep minds from wandering during class time, think about integrating themed elements into your instruction. For example, try using holiday-related words in math problems (such as turkeys, dreidels, or pies). Take a virtual field trip to the “North Pole” by studying the arctic through the National Geographic Kids or World Wildlife Fund websites. Take your little astronomers on a venture into space to learn about the Winter Solstice. Encourage students to study different cultures by writing about and sharing their own, unique, family traditions and beliefs. 

Give back. 

Channel the generous spirit of the season by planning a meaningful mission with your students. Take on a service project, write thank you cards to support staff, or commit to doing random acts of kindness around the school. 

During those chilly, busy months when everyone is ready for a break, it’s important to keep your classroom running smoothly. Combining fun festivity with student learning helps make the season calm and bright for all. 

Teaching Tips: How to Stay Organized All Year

All teachers can relate. School has only recently resumed, and yet, your desk is buried under stacks of papers and miscellaneous school supplies. Post-it notes containing countless clerical to-dos are everywhere. Between the desk mess, a teeming inbox, and planning for upcoming lessons, it’s difficult to know what to tackle first.  

There’s a reason why disorganization is an issue for most teachers; the profession is incredibly demanding. It requires one to make hundreds of decisions per day, all pertaining to the monumental task of educating children. Because of the urgency of students’ needs and lesson preparation, it’s easy for organizational maintenance to fall to the wayside. 

Instead of adding more hours to your already-busy workweek, incorporate these simple tips to stay organized all year. 

Make the most of every minute. 

It’s certainly tempting to use your breaks linger in the teacher’s lounge, comparing the day’s tales with colleagues. But think of it this way: every unused moment is work time added to your evening. Time is valuable, and many daily tasks only require a few minutes each. So the next time you have a short break (or when your students are working independently), use the opportunity to enter grade book data, arrange instructional materials for the next class, or answer a quick email from a parent.  

Get your students involved.  

Smoothly run classrooms call for everyone to do their part. Kids love to help with daily duties, so use that enthusiasm to your advantage. Ask a student to pass out lesson materials while you get your Power Point into slideshow mode. Assign a few kids each week to take care of a designated area of the classroom; one can tidy bookshelves, the other can organize art supplies or keep staplers and tape stocked. If left only to the teacher, these tiny tasks can accrue. Delegate small jobs to students when applicable, and consider it a learning opportunity. 

Utilize digital tools. 

The technological world is brimming with resources designed for classroom use. In addition to enhancing student engagement, many of these tech tools can also aid in administrative duties. Google Drive allows teachers remote access to files, so they can keep documents in one place, but work on them anywhere. With the ability to submit assignments electronically, mysterious paper disappearances will be thing of the past. Google calendar is another beneficial tool. With it, important due dates and school events become always accessible to students and their families. 

Maintain a clear workspace.  

Because of the busy nature of a teacher’s day, it’s easy for your personal desk to become a “catch-all” location. Sifting through the day’s debris then becomes a daunting afternoon chore. To avoid wasting time merely muddling through the piles, create file shelves so that every unfinished project (such as incomplete grading) has its own place. Having designated locations, and taking the extra few seconds to maintain them, will result in a neat, clean area for when it’s time to get to work. 

Teachers are professional jugglers with a wide range of daily responsibilities. With so much on the to-do list, organization is imperative. This year, implement these routines so that you can spend less time managing mess and more time inspiring intellect. 

10 Ways To Take A Real Break This Summer

The last bell has rung, the hallways are clear and the lockers are empty. It’s that glorious time of year when schools empty of students and teachers and improvements begin for the next school year. And while the to-do list may be long, it’s essential for educators to take a real break this summer. 

It is important for our emotional wellbeing to take a pause from our jobs. Work breaks help our brains by preventing decision fatigue, restore motivation for long-term goals, increase productivity and creativity and improve learning. 

Here are 10 things you can do to help relax this summer. 

1. Sleep in or take naps. Replenish your sleep during the summer to help start the next school year well rested. You deserve it! 

2. Have some laughs. Meet friends for coffee or drinks or go to a funny movie. Laughing helps people relax and releases endorphins. 

3. Do some coloring. Coloring isn’t just for kids. Adult coloring books are great for switching the brain from thinking about school, to thinking about what shade of orange you want to use on that butterfly’s wing. 

4. Do some crafts. Many local art centers and museums have summer classes for both kids and adults. Learn origami, throw some pottery or take a painting class. It’s a great way to decompress and learn a new skill. 

5. Read for yourself. Take a break from young reader favorites, e.g., Judy Moody, Greg Heffley and Percy Jackson, and read something just for yourself. It doesn’t have to be Jane Austen (although that’s a great choice), it can be a total guilty pleasure like a steamy romance. 

6. Get a massage. Forget about the cost and allow yourself to be treated and enjoy the many benefits a massage provides. Massages release tension and can eliminate pain in shoulders, back and neck (you know you’ve hunched over a Chromebook for nearly a year), help with insomnia and anxiety. 

7. Spend all day in your PJs. Take a break from the normal morning routine by skipping it entirely! Take the day to just lounge in your pajamas watching Netflix, cozying up with a book or eating junk food on the couch. 

8. Take a long lunch. Relish in the ability to take as long as you want to eat, instead of frantically trying to consume lunch in 15 minutes. Pick a favorite lunch spot and invite friends, partners or even coworkers to join you once or twice a month. 

9. Go for a walk. Grab the kids, the dog or just yourself and take a stroll. A 20-minute walk can do wonders for your health by building strength in your heart, improving your mood and helping you sleep better. 

10. Play with your kids or grandkids. Life feels like a series of schedules during the school year – go to work, pick up kids, make dinner, do homework, wash a load of laundry, go to bed, repeat. Take this time to have some fun with your kids. Go to the movies or the pool, play board games or visit some local museums.  

Once you’ve taken some real “me” time and are refreshed, refocused and ready to think about the upcoming school year again, we can help. We have a whole menu of personalized services for educators who are looking to add new devices or upgrade wireless equipment. And, we perform all imaging, asset tagging, consolidation and laser etching work in our state-of-the-art fulfillment center. Contact us today to learn more. 

Who is Arey Jones?

The New Year is a time to look forward, make resolutions and leave old business behind. That’s not to say you forget your roots, your history. So who is Arey Jones? We have a long history that’s been weaved into technology and education for more than 100 years.

We’re a Trusted Leader in Educational Technology

We’ve been involved with Educational Solutions since the early 1990s by providing hardware, software, integration, configuration, service and support. We’re dedicated to working exclusively with the k-12 marketplace. Every employee within the Arey Jones company has experience working with the hundreds of school district customers around the county we have contracts with. Our employees are trained in all aspects of our business and must adhere to our strict policy that requires background checks on all employees and current fingerprinting or registration. We understand the importance of having trustworthy employees working with schools.

We’ve Been Around a Long Time

We were founded in 1897, yes 1897, in San Diego, Calif., as a business serving the stationary and administrative needs of the local educational market. As writing technology evolved, so did we. In 1972, Arey Jones was purchased by Broadway Typewriter Company, owned by the Scarpella Family. Since that time, the Scarpella Family has operated and expanded the business as Arey Jones Educational Solutions and remains active with the company. The Scarpella family is involved in day-to-day executive management and operations of the company and our management teams have been with us for more than 10 years.

We’re Equipped to be Your EdTech Partner

Our services are backed that a structure of regional configuration centers that allow us to design and implement technology architectures unique to each of the districts we serve. We have offices in California (San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco), Alabama (Mobile, Baldwin), Georgia (Atlanta) and Florida (Broward). Our centralized services will not only provide tech tools, like Chromebooks, (which can be shipped preloaded with integrated curriculum packages at competitive prices) but we also offer solutions that include peripheral, network architecture, data centers and cloud integration.

And our services don’t stop with the sale. Our support system is on point to make sure your classrooms spend more time learning instead of troubleshooting. Our teams of designers, installers, systems engineers, and support staff who are proud to be Arey Jones employees, are just one call away and ready to serve you.

Want to learn more? Contact us today to see how our education technology solutions can help you.

Introducing … The Lenovo Virtual Reality Classroom

Imagine being able to take your students on a field trip to the African jungle, the solar system and even back in time to the creation of planet Earth. It’s possible with the Lenovo Virtual Reality Classroom. 

The Lenovo VR Classroom is now shipping out to schools across the country. The kit includes everything administrators need to introduce this type of immersion learning to students. The entire VR system is easy-to-use, easy-to-clean, highly-durable and offered in 3-, 10- and 24-student kits, but adaptable for up to 30 students.

The Specs

At the heart of the Lenovo VR Bundle is the Daydream VR headset. No cables, no PCs and no smartphones are needed to use it. Everything your teachers need is right in the headset. The Daydream VR also offers WorldSense™ motion tracking with a 110-degree field of view. And, bonus, the face and head cushions can be sanitized.

The Lenovo VR kit also includes:

• The Tab 4 10 Plus which connects to the student’s headsets, without disrupting the experience, and guides instruction to monitor student focus.

• The Bretford Mobile Cart offers secure storage for the headsets and includes integrated device charging. It’s made of sturdy steel, constructed in the United States and is certified for safety. Note - it is only included with the 10- and 24-student kits.

• The Ruckus R510 Access Point gives stunning, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi performance. It makes sure there’s a strong connection between teacher and student devices and is included with all kits.

Optional accessories are also available, like the Mirage camera with Daydream. This accessory allows teachers and students to create their own content that can be seamlessly uploaded to YouTube and Google Photos.

The Software

Virtual field trips go anywhere at any time, without the need of permission slips and bus rides, with experiences from Google Expeditions and The Wild Immersion with Jane Goodall.

The free Google Expeditions app has more than 700 virtual field trips. These can be integrated into included Scholastic STEM lesson plans that meet next gen Common Core standards. The environments support nearly every other subject as well.

The Exclusive Wild Immersion videos give students breathtaking views of Africa, Asia, the Amazon and more. Additional content is available from the Daydream OS store.

The Support

Rest assured, Lenovo has your back. Value-added services are included with every kit. Including:

• A one-year school-year warranty that can be upgraded to two years.

• Advanced Exchange for quick, no-hassle equipment swaps.

• Premier Support with one direct number to call.

• Device connection, testing, and access point provisioning all built in.

• Full setup so you can open the box and go right away.

Virtual reality not only helps students keep up, but stay ahead in a world that’s learning faster every day. Lenovo is leading the way with solutions to fit your school’s needs. Contact us to see how we can help put this new technology into your teachers’ hands.

How To Save Work Offline In Google Drive

When they say Google Drive is everywhere, they mean it. Not only is it in the cloud, providing you access whenever and wherever you have an internet connection, but it can also live right on your hard drive, giving you access to the files you need, even when you’re offline.

Uses for offline Google Drive:

• When driving or flying (as a passenger!)

• When poor internet connections keep interrupting your workflow

• When traveling to areas of unknown or insecure internet

Students can also take advantage of this when they're at after-school practices without reliable connection, but want to get a head start on their Chromebook homework. To take advantage of the most useful aspects of Google Drive, you should access it through the Chrome browser. Installing it on your computer is pretty straightforward; just go here and follow the download instructions. If you don’t have a Google or Chrome account, get one (it’s worth it, and it’s free), then follow these instructions.

1. Download all the Google Drive onto all of your devices.
   If you want to edit your Google Doc (or worksheet, presentation, etc) from anywhere, all of your devices need to be on the same page. The Google Drive app is available on Android and Apple; download it on the devices you’ll be using for access. You’ll also need to download the Google Drive app onto our computer.

2. Log into Google.
   Signing into your Google account usually triggers automatic offline access so you’ll have instant access to the Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

3. Enable offline access.
   If you use Google Apps for Education or Google Apps for Work, you’ll have to manually enable offline access, which is as simple as going to google.com, click on the menu icon, and select Settings. Find “Offline Sync” and toggle it to “on.”

You’ll know you’re working offline in Drive when a gray circle with a lightning bolt appears next to your page title. Here's how to do it for Google Docs.

Remember, in offline mode, you can create, edit, and write until your heart is content, but you won’t be able to sync those changes to the online file or see anyone else’s contributions in a collaborative document until after you return to wireless. Syncing will happen automatically once your computer detects a familiar network. 

Did you learn something new today? How about getting to know us more?