FOR THE WEEK OF AUG. 18, 2025

Tech refreshes for a new school year: Math calculator, digital note-taking, headphones, chargers, cool desk lamp

Artificial intelligence hasn't nudged aside traditional education yet, so here's a selection of back-to-school tech and home study aids, such as compact chargers, other digital accessories, a Bluetooth mini-speaker, a handy desk lamp with lots of functions and more. They're all $50 or less, mostly way less.

A scientific calculator with digital notepad for middle school and high school students is just $16 from iPepul. It has a 10-digit screen, math calculator keys and an attached LCD notepad screen with writing stylus. The lightweight device, available in six colors, uses two lithium batteries (included) that can be replaced without a screwdriver. Another classroom aid is a 36-page reusable spiral notebook from Rocketbook Core, which lets you store notes in the cloud. It can also be totally erased for reuse with just 30 seconds in the microwave. (Yes, you read that right!) An 8-inch by 11-inch version has a camo-pattern cover and is $30.

A Talk Pro microphone from JLab ($50) is ideal for virtual classes, remote group projects or study sessions, podcasts and recording. It uses a USB connection and has a tripod desk stand. Youth-size Bluetooth headphones are practical for music listening, video calls, voice calls and gaming. The JBuddies Studio2 blue and red model from JLab ($25) offers 65-hour battery life (40 hours talk time) and foam earcups. A braided nylon cable is included for connecting to devices when needed. Another choice from Belkin is the SoundForm Mini Headphones ($33; case extra). It has a built-in microphone and 30-hour battery life. It connects to iPhone, iPad, Galaxy and other devices with Bluetooth pairing (30-foot range). A four-foot cable is included for jacked-in use.

These items also may support your experiences in classes and outside school:

• Portable recharging: We all can use a muli-device charger, especially when on the go. The Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 is a basic model for one device at $26. It works with the iPhone, iPad and Galaxy S23. The same firm’s Prime 100-watt model ($46) has foldable prongs, two USB-C ports and one USB-A hookup one for charging three things at the same time. Suitable for MacBook, iPad, iPhones, Galaxy S24/S2 and more.
• Wrist rest: Something as simple as a wrist rest can upgrade your desk at school or home. The HyperX brand ($23) has a cooling get, soft black material and memory foam for comfort over long stretches of typing or gaming.
• Wireless mini-speaker: The JBL Go 4 ($40) uses Bluetooth technology and offers up to seven hours of playtime.
• Wall outlet extender: Don't hunt for nearby power – bring it to you. If you have a hard-to-reach plug receptacle at home, the EZ Outlet ($50) from a company of that name adds up to 34 inches of connection reach without wiring, tools or installation. It has two rotating outlets, a ledge for cell phone charging via a USB-A or USB-C port.
• Desk lamp: A sleek, adjustable lamp for bedside or study desk has a clock, alarm, date display, digital thermometer reading, dimming control and USB charging port. It's from a company named "snsok" and costs $25 in white or $30-$39 in three other colors.
• Screen cleaner: Phone, tablet and laptop screens get grimy fast, and a once-over with a cloth doesn't always clear the veiw. Get some screen cleaner, such as a Whoosh! kit ($18 for two sprayers, two microfiber cloths) before your device looks grungy or even grungier than now.

Front Page Talking Points Archive

Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.