School Church Furniture

Worthington Direct specializes in school furniture that can be used for a broad range of school facilities.  Whether a public, private or Montessori school, Worthington Direct will have the student desks, classroom chairs, computer furniture and early childhood furniture that is best for any given curriculum.  Visit www.worthingtondirect.com today for great deals on top brand school, church and early childhood furniture. 

You may have driven past one in your area, or heard the name when looking for a school for your child, and wondered, "What is Montessori?"  Take some time to read about what a Montessori school is and how it differs from most traditional schools.  You might find that it offers the type of education you wish to find for your child.

In 1907, the first woman to become a physician in Italy developed a revolutionary method of teaching children.  Dr. Maria Montessori developed the Montessori Method which today is used in thousands of schools all over the world.  Through her research in psychiatry and education and work with different types of children, Montessori concluded that children are capable of teaching themselves if given the proper environment.

The Montessori Method differs in many ways from the structure of mainstream schools.  Rather than a teacher whose role is to bestow knowledge upon the children, the teacher serves as the facilitator between the environment and the developing child.  The teacher helps the child maintain his concentration and the environment so that each pupil is able to explore and create.

The method operates under the assumption that children learn differently from adults and even differently from each other.  A sense of individuality is encouraged in the way that the children are allowed to learn.  A child is able to learn at his own pace and continue engaging in an activity for as long as he desires. 

Subject areas such as cooking, cleaning and gardening are just a few of the many practical areas that are studied at a Montessori school.   According to the International Montessori Index, a child is not interested in pretend cooking when he can do the real thing.   At any point during the day the traditional subjects, Math, Science, Language, History, Science, Music etc. are studied as well.  

 The method aims to cultivate individuals who are well adjusted, have a strong sense of themselves, and a well developed character rather than children that are simply full of facts and figures.  Along with linguistic or logical-mathematical styles of learning, the Montessori Method recognizes that spatial, interpersonal and intuitive forms of learning are just a few modes that are just as essential.

The experience of learning and developing is paramount to the end goal of having a traditionally educated child.  Rather than passive activities such as listening to a lecture or just reading, Montessori students are taught to use all of their five senses in their learning environment.  A child is encouraged to appreciate the world around him and explore the unique potential and abilities that he alone possesses.

Montessori schools are primarily focused on younger children.  Different aged children are in the same classroom and are broken up into age ranges:  3-6, 6-12.  Children learn from each other and through individual lessons with the teacher as well as on their own.  The method supports the idea that at different developmental stages children are more equipped to learn different things.  The very youngest children are encouraged to develop their language skills and use their senses.  In contrast to middle-school aged children, who are taught to use their imagination, learn to make informed choices, develop sustained concentration. 

There are special teacher training programs for Montessori teachers as well as Montessori designed materials and even classroom furniture.  There are not tests or grades; the Montessori materials tend to be self-correcting.   Teachers observe children's development in order to be cognizant of areas that the child may be struggling with.    

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School furniture is being used less for finger paints and more for Microsoft Paint in most classrooms today.  Worthington Direct has a wide variety of classroom furniture that can also double as computer lab furniture.  Computer seating, computer tables, computer cabinets and multimedia centers are all important parts of the modern classroom; from college students all the way down to toddlers clicking away at their early childhood computer tables.  Visit www.worthingtondirect.com today for quality school, church and early childhood furniture that will support the new technology found in today's classroom.

In some classrooms, iBooks have replaced textbooks. In others, students prepare video yearbooks that can be delivered to their classmates' cell phones. In still others, teachers ask students a question and they punch in the answers with "clickers" that look like TV remote control devices.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent getting computers into classrooms, and teachers and students around the country are using technology in new ways. That raises two important questions for parents:

1. How is technology being used to improve learning?

2. Are students developing the skills they'll need to understand and use it in the future?

Pointers for Parents

It can be tough to assess a school's use of technology. There is little research to go on since many of the tools and techniques that employ them are new. Here are three pointers to help assess how technology is being used:

1. Ask the teacher or principal how technology is aligned with grade-level goals. Parents might be wowed by an 8-year-old's ability to produce a Power Point presentation without looking closely at the thinking that went into it. While students need to develop technological skills, it should be in the context of thinking and learning to solve problems. That means the technology needs to be aligned with learning goals, says Shelley Pasnik, senior researcher for the New York-based Center for Children and Technology. "There needs to be a vision on the part of the instructional leaders at the school," she said. "The content should lead, the tool should follow."

2. Ask your child about how he uses technology in doing his assignments. Pasnik advises parents to talk to their children about how they use technology in their assignments. If, for example, your child put together a multimedia presentation about the Lewis and Clark expedition, ask why he chose the elements he did. You'll find out pretty quickly if technology was used for its own sake or because there was thought behind it. "If your child says, 'I was able to use not only my words to describe Lewis and Clark's journey, but also a picture' or 'I chose this font because it looked like something Lewis and Clark might have used in the 1800s,' you'll see that technology was used to give deeper meaning to learning."

3. Volunteer in the computer lab. Pasnik also encourages parents to help out in the school computer lab to see how technology is used. When you're visiting the school, ask the teacher why the computer was used in a particular lesson. If she says, for example, that she's using the Internet so students can pose questions to experts in the field, that's a sign that technology is being used with a purpose. Continue reading

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If you appreciate the convenience of a joint tradeshow that boasts insightful workshops and social networking venues all for one registration fee, this year’s School Products Expo (SPE) is one event you won’t want to miss. With 1,173 booths and 436 companies exhibiting as of January 11, SPE promises to be the largest tradeshow event in the industry, combining Ed Expo, the largest back-to-school tradeshow, and the School Equipment Show (SES), a huge furniture, fixture, and equipment event.

This year represents the last opportunity to attend both shows in one venue. “The educational products industry continues its dynamic cycle of change, and NSSEA, if it is to remain relevant, must change with it­­­­­­­,” explained Tim Holt, president and CEO of NSSEA. “The SPE format was an ambitious attempt to bring the two largest industry sectors together under one roof, and in the process created the largest show of its kind. The synergies of this bold change were indeed achieved. However, the market consequences produced by the ‘compromise’ timing required to make this happen were untenable.

Very quickly, the leadership recognized the wisdom of recalibrating the optimal timing for both sector events.” Thus in March 2008, the combined SPE format will operate for the third and final time. Then, November 13 through 15, the School Equipment Show will be held as a stand-alone event. The two-show format will be fully reinstituted in 2009 with Ed Expo in Dallas, March 5 through 7, 2009, and the School Equipment Show in Phoenix on November 18 through 20, 2009. “The NSSEA leadership will continue looking forward and monitoring industry trends in order to optimize the commercial value of all of our industry-leading events,” said Holt.

Learn

For dealers, discovering new products may be the primary reason for coming to Orlando this March. However, NSSEA is proud to present many additional opportunities to learn and grow this year with 10 workshops geared towards optimizing your retail exposure and success. Retailer Susan Savoie from Teacher Heaven in Austin and manufacturer’s rep Cam Logan from Cameron Marketing Services will lead a workshop on Wednesday, March 5, called “Hot Topics: Using Industry Trends and Standards to Effectively Choose ‘Future Best Sellers,’­” and retail experts Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender will present, “Are Your Promotions Causing Commotions? In-Store Event Planning 101,” on Thursday, March 6. Among the valuable SES sessions, Paul Houston, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators, will present “Leadership: Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Times,” which will shed light on how to best navigate through today’s sea of expectations and tight resources. Deb Moore, executive editor/publisher of School Planning Management magazine, will offer a 360-degree view on “Trends in the School Equipment Market.”

Network

SES attendees may leave most satisfied after indulging in the “Taste of Baltimore” Networking Reception. Here, you not only chat with your customers before dinner while snacking on Maryland’s best, but you can also get a special preview of what’s in store at the SES event forthcoming in November 2008. The LEAD Reception on Thursday, March 6, sponsored by the Leadership and Education Development Committee, seeks to connect people across the board. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and make connections with likeminded individuals from all over the country in a relaxed environment. Both new and returning participants are invited.

The success of NSSEA’s SeaWorld Party two years ago has prompted its return in 2008, aptly named “Make a Splash.” A great dinner and exclusive Shamu show await you on the evening of Friday, March 7. Party guests are welcomed to visit all areas of the park and see any show and animal exhibit offered during park hours. “The Friday night party is a fantastic way for vendors and dealers to have impromptu business meetings … I’ve heard it said many times that a vendor representative would much rather be able to mix and mingle with all of his customers than have to pick one or two for a private dinner situation. I am proud that NSSEA offers such an event that truly reflects what a trade organization is designed to do: Create strong and long-lasting business relationships,” said Susan Savoie. Continue reading

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