Blogging to promote literature

Through a professional development activity run by The Centre of Youth Literature in May 2006, Marianne Lee was introduced to the world of blogging. Seeking new ways to promote literature and reading Marianne went on to create the CBC Book Week blog, the Wide Reading blog and Year 9’s Writer’s Gig blog.

The CBC Book Week Competition blog involved students posting a review of one of the shortlisted books for 2006.All students who posted a review enjoyed a Book Week luncheon in the ISC where book vouchers were awarded for best weblog entries. Ther were many entris and for the first time boys were well represented in a Book Week competition which was most likely due to the technology component.

Year 7 and 8 English students also posted reviews on the Wide Reading blog for their extended reading activity. The public space of the blog enabled students to view other students work which gave a new dimension to this type of activity.

Scot Gardner was the guest author for the Writer’s Gig in Sept 2006 which was attended by Year 9’s from Sale College, Catholic College, Maffra Secondary College and Gippsland Grammar.Marianne created a blog so that students from the four schools could converse with Scot and give him feedback about his books and writing. The blog was a great strategy as it allowed the schools to interact and gain some prior knowledge about Scot before they attended the workshop.

Visit Marianne's Blogs:

http://www.bookweek.blogspot.com/

http://www.writers-gig2006.blogspot.com/

If you would like to learn about blogging in your subject area or how Marianne can help you develop a blogspace, please don't hesitate to contact Marianne.