Past projects 77
Plugging Back Into the New Year
Funded Jan 17, 2024Not one day goes by that we don't use your donations in our classroom. Most popular, by far, are the chromebook chargers. Students use their chromebooks all day long. Inevitably someone runs out of power. The students know that I recently got a supplies of chargers from you, so they are not shy about asking to use them.
What makes my classroom management even easier are the extension cords you also funded. This way students can stay in their assigned seats and charge easily. (I have long suspected that some students ask to charge their devices just so that they can move their seat to one near an outlet...usually in the back of the room.)
The mini-lights are simply a nice, soothing touch to the room. The defused lighting is nice when I am projecting an image on the whiteboard. In those circumstances I have to dim the overhead lights, so the soft lighting around the room gives off just enough illumination for students to see classroom furniture clearly.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
This classroom project was brought to life by Someone who cares about Boston Public Schools and 6 other donors.Representing Our Students' Origins
Funded Jan 29, 2024What may seem like a little thing is HUGE in the minds and hearts of my students. The first flag I flew from this donation was for Barbados. One of my students had been asking for months for me to fly "her flag." I did not mention to her that I received a shipment. She walked into class and jumped for joy. She had her friend take a picture of her in front of it.
The same thing happened with the Nigerian flag. (I even matched my day's outfit to match the Nigerian flag.)
My classroom always has the US flag. I rotate other flags - both national and topica (like Valentine's Day) - frequently so that students both see themselves in the mix and also are made aware of the diversity around them.
On their behalf, I thank you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
Student Snacks
Funded Jan 23, 2024Simply put, the students love having the snacks. Would you believe one-quarter of the snacks are already consumed. The students come to visit after school and are both ravenous - as teenagers tend to be - and grateful for the food.
As you can see from the pictures, we have a little basket for storage. The students, thankfully, are good natured enough to only take one item at at time. I'd love to tell you that we can leave the basket out in the open, but we can't. We have it where the students can see and access it, but where it is also within our eyesight. :-)”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
Certamen Snacks
Funded Oct 21, 2023The Boston Latin Academy Certamen Club expresses our gratitude for your generous contribution. We thoroughly enjoyed the snacks during our practice sessions!
Your support has truly made a positive impact on our club's experience. The snacks not only provide the students with the energy needed to engage in their Latin studies but also create a warm and welcoming environment for them.
Thanks to your thoughtful donation, our after-school Latin Club has become a space
where students not only learn about the language and culture but also forge lasting
friendships and memories. Your commitment to education and the well-being of
students by your donation of snacks for our club members is greatly appreciated.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
This classroom project was brought to life by A Donor Who Loves Teachers and 3 other donors.Ancient and Modern Philosophy
Funded Oct 11, 2023We are still in the midst of our term project based upon your donations, but I could not wait any longer to tell you Thank You! Since receiving you gifts, we have started Philosophy Fridays. We started out by reading about Plato's Cave (an allegory where humans are imprison in a cave only observing shadows on a wall. the prisoners think their observations are reality. Then one day a prisoner escapes, see the real world, and then tries to rescue his fellow prisoner only to find that they do not believe him for all they have known is life in the cave.)
Then we watched the Barbie movie and are now in the midst of The Truman Show. I ask students to point out Plato's influence on the storyline. Honestly, they are quite good at picking out moments of enlightenment and the ensuing difficulty it brings to those who now see more clearly.
Their term paper is to take these stories, plus the ones in the other books you helped purchase, and compare them to situations in their own teenage lives. The obvious comparison is with social media, but I've asked them to do deeper. I sure they shall.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
This classroom project was brought to life by The DonorsChoose Community & an Anonymous Partner and 2 other donors.Classical Classroom Accessories
Funded Sep 14, 2023We recently used all the amazing items you helped purchase. The items we use mostly are the diamond tiaras.
In mid-level and advanced Latin we spend a lot of time discussing subjunctive verbs. Now most students struggle with the subjunctive in English, let alone Latin. So to help them we use a mnemonic device: shE wEArs A dIAmond tIAra. (The capital letters are the vowels for the subjunctive in the various conjugations.)
To make was dull concept fun, we wear the diamond tiaras in class. The students take selfies. They argue over which tiara they want to wear. It's mildly chaotic, but it is great fun. Some students don't like the tiaras, so they wear the golden laurel wreaths.
The lightning bolt and the trident are props whenever Zeus or Poseidon are in our mythology stories.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
Flags of Home
Funded Feb 24, 2023There really is no way to describe how happy the students are when then see their flags flying in the classroom. I put the flags in the doorway of the classroom. It is thus visible both inside the classroom and from the hallway.
Students watch every day to see which flag I am displaying. I often get requests for more. Honestly, that's were this donation started. Some students had said, "Hey, how come you don't have _____ flag?" So I asked. And you answered.
So on their behalf, I say "vobis gratias ago" which is Latin for "Thank you!"”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
Restocking for the New School Year
Funded Jun 14, 2023Thank you for helping me launch a new school year. We are now well past the beginning stages and have established our classroom routines. This process is smoother due to your generosity.
Students take for granted that they can charge their laptops in class. This is because you purchased the chargers. I have extension cords which emanate from a power strip in the center of the room. Also located in the center of the room are the facial tissues you purchased. No student is more than three steps from relief...and no one is more happy that I am.
The multi-color dry erase markers are my favorite item. I write Latin sentences on the board in one color and make commentary, draw arrows, and scribble notes in other colors. It's visually appealing and helps students ask me question, like "What does the blue underlined word mean?"
Now, the students' favorite items are the lollipops. I give them out when we do contests or for special occasions. It's such a simple snack but the students - even the seniors - love it. It makes them feel special. And I owe it all to you.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
This classroom project was brought to life by Kleenex® Brand and 6 other donors.ReCharging the Year
Funded Jan 12, 2023Words cannot describe how valued and valuable your donations are. The phone charging cords have become an integral part of our classroom. Students charge their phones every day. The extra charging unit is very much appreciated as I used to run out of ports for students.
Truly the best part of offering to charge phones is that I no longer have to fight with students when I tell them to put their phones away. They freely yield because they know they can leave the class fully charged. It truly is a win-win.
The Chromebook chargers are just as important (well, maybe the kids prefer the phone chargers!). I have extension cords all around the room so students can sit in their assigned seats AND still charge their computers.
Your generosity makes for a much more enjoyable - and productive - school day.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire
Printing Worksheets
Funded Dec 21, 2022I cannot tell you how invaluable the printer is. Far too often the photocopiers at our school are either jammed, without ink, or - as was the case today - without paper. I save so much time by having a printer where I can just print a page and then take that page to a RISO machine (it's a duplicator but without printing capabilities) .
I get the most use out of the Epson printer when I just need to make one copy of a page for a student. I no longer have to run to the copy room (located on a different floor). I only have to set over to the cart you see in the photos and like magic the paper prints for my student.
Honestly, it's the little things which make the day go by so much more smoothly. :-)”
With gratitude,
Mr. Maguire