Past projects 2
New Equitable Instruments
Funded Dec 4, 2023Thank you again so much for your help in getting my classroom equipped with better, but more importantly, uniform pianos. It really makes such a difference in the energy in the classroom and the streamlining of lessons when everyone's using the same equipment. Each piano is equipped with various different tones, but if folks are going too far afield with it, all the buttons are right on top and easy to correct. The tone on them is surprisingly good, and for an audio-snob like me, that's high praise.
Something I didn't realize that my students are extremely grateful for is the stickers. Each piano included a set of stickers to label the keys up and down the piano. I for one didn't want to put them on, but it did make it easier for them to learn those first few crucial steps, and the 5th graders put them on, which I was able to turn into a little lesson too.
I laughed when some of my more confident players at first didn't like them. The weighted keys were a shift for them, but just today, I had a student use one of the old keyboards and the weird disgusted face when they played regular keys again made me laugh. "I told you you'd like them better." Thank you again and again and again, you've made my classroom so much more.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Merg
This classroom project was brought to life by A family that cares about Boston and 4 other donors.Gaming Club for Creative Thinking
Funded Oct 18, 2022You're incredible. There's no other word for it. You've given these kids the chance to get together in a social environment and have fun telling new and compelling stories among friends with all kinds of hidden school skills in it. Need to attack that goblin? Roll a d20, then add your strength modifier, and your proficiency bonus, or in other words x+2+4 where x= a random integer between 1 and 20. Can't advance without the clue from the local priest? What sort of social interactions would be considered proper here? Should we be polite and respectful? Should we intimidate him? Which would work better? Or even the ideas for "out of game" interaction learning how to navigate what your character would do vs. what might be best for the party at the time.
The supplies came in so fast, and we put them to use immediately. Thanks to all of you, I was able to give them their first dice set, like, to keep. I wrote the families a letter home explaining where these dice came from and what they're for just in case anyone was confused. But even that turned into a wonderful chance to communicate with the families and get them on board with what we're doing as a club.
As you can see from the picture we've gotten some other games as well either donated through friends or other teachers who are also gamers, but without you, we would have had to trade a single players handbook between as many as 8 kids in one day, and since I imagine most of you have played before, you'll know what a pain that can be.
I'm blathering again. Suffice it to say, I am grateful and humbled by all of you and your kind donations. Thank you thank you thank you again and again. Cheers, and may your roll always come up 20”
With gratitude,
Mr. Merg