It’s interesting what doors the world of blogging opens. In the years I have been writing this blog I have made many real and online friends, I feel part of a community of like-minded people, have gone to conferences, been offered complimentary stays in hotels, books to review. It’s a huge part of my life and a very enjoyable one at that.
One other spin-off from blogging which I have been involved with for some time is being part of 100 Word Challenge (100WC), which is best explained by its creator, former Headmistress, Julia Skinner:
100WC is a weekly creative writing challenge for children under 16 years of age. Each week a prompt is given, which can be a picture or a series of individual words and the children can use up to 100 words to write a creative piece. This should be posted on a class blog and then linked to the 100 Word Challenge blog.By setting a limited word count with a focused theme and a guaranteed audience beyond the class teacher, children have far greater motivation for writing. Those who are reluctant writers feel safe with only 100 words to write, whilst those more advanced writers can really extend themselves with the word restriction.One of the special things about 100WC is that those entering a piece are encouraged to visit other blogs and leave a constructive comment. Peer ‘talking’ to peer is very powerful and we have seen a real improvement in some writing that has come from suggestions from other children. It also provides another teaching point for teachers to show children how to comment constructively.
Each week, as one of Julia’s team, I visit up to 10 pieces of work and comment on each blog. I may suggest improvements with regard to spelling or punctuation but in the main I give them lots of positive feedback. Most of the children are young, aged between 8 to 11, so I have to keep in mind what children in each age group are capable of producing. Taking a look at what their own teacher has written about the work can give me some guidance as to each child’s ability.
I know that Julia is always looking for new people to become part of the 100WC team. You don’t have to be a teacher (I’m not) but what you do need is bags of enthusiasm, a little time to dedicate each week (approximately 30 minutes to an hour spread out over a week) and a genuine desire to help children write creatively. Bloggers are ideal as they know how to navigate themselves around signing in pages, Captcha etc.
The children are based in schools all over the world – UK, Australia, New Zealand, Monaco -and they all love the feedback they receive from their peers and from a team of adults all committed to helping them improve. Each week, the team can suggest which pieces of work are suitable for inclusion in the ‘Special Showcase’, highlighting creative writing which is particularly noteworthy.
If you would like to be part of Team 100WC, contact Julia via the website, on twitter @TheHeadsOffice or comment below and I’ll pass your details on. The number of children sending work in each week is growing, over 1000 this week, so more dedicated adults commenting on their work would make a huge difference.
For me, it’s a very enjoyable thing to do each week. There are funny stories which make me smile, kids with vivid imaginations and then, unexpectedly, a beautifully written piece of work can stop me in my tracks and its message can stay with me for some time. It can be such an uplifting yet humbling experience.
What a lovely lovely idea! I might just drop Julia a line! 🙂
I know she would be very grateful, as would the teachers and children. It's not too demanding and, if you can't manage it one week, you can always let Julia know so she can do your numbers for you.
I wonder if my mum would be interested. I might mention it to her, but retired teachers tend to not want any part of it!
I'm sure she would know just what to say to the children: it would be the blog commenting technicalities that she might need help with initially, though that shouldn't put her off.
Thank you SO much! You are wonderful. Fingers crossed we get some!
I don't know why I didn't think to use my blog to publicise the 100WC before! Let's hope we get some willing volunteers.
I wish they'd had this when I was a kid – I would have been so up for it!
I bet your stories at that age would have been highlighted for the Showcase!
What a lovely idea to get children interested in writing.
Schools already involved are very positive about it. I know how I feel at my age when I get a comment on my blog. Imagine how it must feel if you are 8 or 9 and people take the time to comment on your work.
This is such a lovely idea! I'm going to share it with my teacher chums and see if we can get more children to join in¬
There will be details on the website about how schools can get involved. More children are certainly welcome and more adults to comment then becomes even more necessary.
Hope your teacher chums come onboard. Thanks Mary.
What a wonderful idea. I think the girls' schools will be interested thanks for sharing.
Julia works so hard with schools and is so enthusiastic. If your girls' schools are into class blogging, it will be very simple for them to become involved.
What a really nice idea – I shall help share this.
Thanks so much x
The one thing that has always held me back from participating is the time commitment, I'm worried of letting people down, how does it work, are you given a set number of blogs to visit? Or is it a free for all? If I could be sure that I have set blogs and can dedicate that time I'd be up for it.
You have about a maximum of 10 to comment on each week. Very occasionally one or two more, sometimes less. I have the same numbers to read each week – 2, 97, 192 etc, every 95th blog. As the children link up their blog as they complete it each week, you almost always have different children to read. I tend to leave my commenting until the weekend as Sunday is when the link is closed, but if I know I'll be busy, I will do the earlier numbers earlier in the week. It takes me 30 minutes to an hour but that's because I sometimes dither about what to say!
The more adults we get to comment, the fewer number of blogs we will need to comment on. Also, if there is a week you can't do, you let Julia know and she will do your numbers for you. Oh and it tends to stop in the summer holidays, plus half term, Christmas etc are much lighter on numbers.
I had the same worries as you, Mari, but as long as I put aside a little bit of my time, it's never been a problem and the pleasure of helping the kids has always made it worthwhile.
Sorry I didn't get back to you before now, I must get into the habit of replying immediately otherwise it tends to slip my mind. I shall have a go at it, I think it's a lovely idea and now I've scaled back my own blog to posts that of are interest to me rather than all and sundry I, hopefully, will have more time on my hands.
Sounds a really cool idea but I would be very fearful of any teen taking my advice about writing. That is a great technique of having a deadline to write to, on Monday night I go to a class where she reads out a passage from a short story and you have to imitate it
Although the challenge is open to children up to 16, I don't think I've ever commented on a teen's work. They all seem to be much younger, 9-11 mostly.
I think I would find it hard to write as the children do – it's far easier reading!
I think I could manage this. Count me in.
That's brilliant, Sarah. You would be perfect for this. Shall I leave you to contact Julia?
Yep, I can do that. 🙂
Absolutely love 100WC and wrote about it on School Gate having interviewed Julia too! Also, my daughter won it one week and was absolutely thrilled. It is a brilliant thing and fab that you are involved too.
I didn't realise your daughter was involved. I wonder if I have ever commented on one of her pieces. Great to know that being showcased is such a big thrill for the children.
Sounds like a fantastic inititiative. I'll try and remember to contact Julia when we're back home (currently in India!)
That would be fab, CQ. Julia will be so pleased. Hope you're enjoying your holiday x