Print or Digital? What Does Neuroscience Say?

We know with today’s reality of submersion in digital texts, we must teach our students the skills and tools to successfully navigate and comprehend them.  But like everything in this world, there needs to be balance.

What do the experts say about print and digital reading? 

Dr. Jennifer McCarty Plucker, Director of Mackin Professional Learning, discusses the research and findings on print and digital reading and the critical implications for our instructional practices. 

Click here to read and download the article -- "Print or Digital: What Does Neuroscience Say?"

3 Partners You Need To Know! (November)

Acco Brands USA: ACCO Brands USA LLC brand delivers innovative products that allow users to present, protect, secure, organize, enhance and transform all printed material to achieve a professional edge in a competitive marketplace.

Discounted line-items under contract include: GBC document camera, Pinnacle 27 laminator, Ultima 65 laminator and laminating film.

Rosetta Stone: Rosetta Stone can be used to support or supplement any type of language learning acquisition program. Think outside the box! Rosetta Stone can make it easier to connect your teachers and staff with students they serve as well as enable students to explore a world of languages at their own pace.

Proquest K12: ProQuest provides online resource content and tools that enable research and curiosity. Proquest K12 is a great supplemental resource to add to your offering.

Mark Your Calendars! (November)

Nov. 14-15: Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) 

If you find yourself in Des Moines next week and are attending the IASB conference, be sure to stop by our booth! Staff will be at the ready to inform you on what's new and how we can better serve your school.

Nov. 22-23: Offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Resources for Professional Development

Looking for help in implementing new programs, engaging students and bringing new energy into teaching and learning?

Turn to School Specialty!

Through a variety of programs, School Specialty's education experts share current research and best teaching practices on topics across a wide range of content areas.

Check out this brochure to learn more!

Get Familiar With Our Office & Classroom Program!

Interested in learning more about our Office & Classroom purchasing program? Keep reading!

Our Office & Classroom program covers everything your school might need to maintain day-to-day operations.  Looking for basic supplies? We've got 'em! Looking to stock up on copy paper or envelopes? Look no further! Are you in need of a new multi-function copier/printer? We've got you covered!

AEA Purchasing currently has contracts with:

• Konica Minolta and Kyocera (MFP and large scale copiers/printers)
• Midwest Technology Products (industrial/tech ed support)
• Student News Net and TypingClub (curriculum/instruction supports)
• Quill and School Specialty (supplies) 
• and more!

Check out these partners on our website or email joni@aeapurchasing.org for more information!

Meet our Health & Special Needs Purchasing Program

Interested in learning more about our Health & Special Needs purchasing program? Keep reading!

Our Health & Special Needs program covers everything your school might need to keep your students, faculty and staff healthy as well supply your special education efforts. Looking for assistive technology? We've got it! Looking to stock your first-aid kits and medicine cabinets? Look no further! Are you in need of vision and hearing screening tools? We've got you covered!

AEA Purchasing currently has contracts with School Health and School Nurse Supply for all of your health and school nursing needs. Discounts are available on the entire catalog of offerings from both partners as well as a market basket of items for even bigger savings on some of the most commonly used products.

For the special education/special needs realm, we currently work with Abilitations (School Specialty) and Enablemart (part of the School Health family). Catalog discounts are available from both partners. Enablemart also has a market basket of items for deeper discounts off commonly ordered items.

Check out these vendors on our website or email joni@aeapurchasing.org for more information!

FREE Webinar on Cyber Secuirty

Public Spend Forum is offering a FREE webinar on cyber security in the public sector. The number and types of threats in this environment change at what seems to be the speed of light. Every time you power on your device, a new warning of a potential threat(s) appears.

This webinar will focus on the landscape of cyber security in the public sector as well as share some tips on how to buy them.

Registration for this event is free and is open until October 18, 2018.

3 Partners You Need to Know! (October)

Acco Brands delivers products that allow users to present, protect, secure, organize, enhance and professionally transform all types of printed material.

ProQuest K12 provides online resource content and tools that enable research and curiosity.

National Business Furniture offers a huge selection of educational furniture in a wide range of categories.

Mark Your Calendars! (October)

October is Farm to School Month! Information & free resources to celebrate are available here: http://www.farmtoschool.org/our-work/farm-to-school-month.

Iowa Library Association's (ILA) conference, Oct. 3-5: Be sure to visit our booth if attending the event.

Iowa Council of Teacher's of Mathematics (ICTM) conference, Oct. 8: AEA Purchasing is excited to be attending this event for the first time. Look us up if you're attending.

Iowa Technology & Education Connection (ITEC) conference, Oct. 14-16: Visit our booth at this great conference to learn the many ways we can help support your technology and education programs.

Iowa Local Food Day, Oct. 11! The Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship was awarded the opportunity to create Iowa Local Food Day through a USDA Farm to School Grant. For questions about Iowa Local Food Day or to request resources, please contact Tammy Stotts at tammy.stotts@iowaagriculture.gov.

Building Your Classroom Library

Experts agree:  School classrooms should have 7-10 books per student and should grow every year.  Classroom libraries should provide a literacy-rich environment that contains authentic literature, offering windows to the world of every student.

To help accomplish this, Mackin’s education professionals can create unique classroom collections for each teacher across grade levels.  They will listen to fully understand your vision, research and recommend the newest vetted titles, and deliver not only the best authentic literature, but also containment solutions to create the most effective organization system for your unique classroom.

 Your custom classroom library can include:

• Read-alouds
• High-interest materials
• Mentor texts
• Informational texts
• Leveled readers
• Content aligned to curriculum
• eBooks & databases

Interested in learning more about Mackin's custom classroom library solutions? Click here!

Quick Updates and Reminders

AEA Purchasing has a few items we'd like to make you aware of:

• The  Fall 2018 Technology Update Screencast is available for viewing on our website. Check it out here!
  
• We've also got a tutorial on how to use the Statewide Technology Buy on-line catalog. This will show you how to use the on-line interactive catalog for specific line items competitively bid by AEA Purchasing.  You can view the tutorial here.
  
• Don't forget to register for the Konica Minolta event if you are interested in seeing what products are available under this AEA Purchasing/AEPA contract, including Facility Security and IT Security!  Register by next Wednesday, the 26th! Complete details can be found here.
  
• Don't miss our "Get to Know Us" webinar on October 2nd! Learn more about what AEA Purchasing does, get a tour of our new website to learn how to find what you need easily, and get the chance to ask any questions that you may have! Email laurie@aeapurchasing.org to register.

Konica Minolta Security Forums

Join AEA Purchasing and partner Konica Minolta on October 3 (in Hiawatha) or October 4 (in Urbandale) as we discuss innovative solutions for facility and IT security needs.

In the morning, Konica Minolta solutions experts will lead a discussion regarding school facility best practices and potential security solutions that have been implemented across the country. After lunch (provided), IT Security experts will lead a discussion and demonstration around IT security risks and solutions in a school campus environment.

RSVP is required. Click here for complete details.

BenQ Interactive Touchscreen Open House

Interested in seeing the latest interactive screens from BenQ and Midwest Computer Products? Be sure to attend a special open house event on Sept. 19, 2018. Click here for complete details and RSVP information.