Beowulf and other projects

My students were delighted to get their copies of Beowulf, and having their own copies helped them do work at home. It was especially helpful for the two or three students who are often absent for health reasons, including one who is pregnant. They enjoyed the book, and had some very interesting discussions about whether Beowulf is actually a hero: his boasting and self-involvement made some students argue that he was not, but others argued that he should be judged by the standards of his own time, making him a great hero.

Since then, we've been able to do all kinds of things that wouldn't be possible otherwise because of the funding you have all so generously given. I bought supplies that are difficult to get here (including copy paper!), white boards, and prizes for students who did well in class competitions. The prizes have helped students feel more motivated, and, in a school where students often feel like they don't get anything from their education, gives them a tangible, short-term reason to learn more. They love the whiteboards! Your donations let me purchase a class set, plus enough markers that I always have enough, and let me tell you, students will do things on whiteboards that they won't do for any other reason. I gave a 1.5 hour test and let them do their scratch work on whiteboards, and it dramatically helped with student motivation and the quality of their written work.

Last week, I used some of the funds to subsidize a class trip to see the movie version of Beowulf and eat at a Vietnamese restaurant. It was amazing! We took 12 seniors, all of whom contributed some money, and they ate all kinds of foods they'd never had before. The movie was pretty bad visually and in terms of dialogue, but it sparked some interesting conversations about cyclical patterns and the different story lines in the book and the movie. I also bought an LCD projector, which was awesome for teaching research methods. Next time I write, I'll tell more about the research project we're working on, and post pictures of the trip.

Again, thank you all for your generosity! It means the world to my students and to me.