I came across this purely by accident this morning, I just had to share as it is such an inspirational idea.
Full details taken from The National Literacy Trust:
On 29 February, leap year day, David Mitchell, deputy headteacher at Heathfield Primary School in Bolton will be encouraging pupils, teachers and anyone else, anywhere in the world to write on the same blog.
Heathfield Primary in Bolton has already gained an international reputation for encouraging its pupils to blog. Deputy head David Mitchell introduced classes to the idea in 2009, and since then they have been busy posting their writing online.
Since Heathfield Primary introduced blogging, it has seen a sharp increase in its pupils’ writing results, including those for boys. The proportion of pupils gaining level 5s rose from 9 per cent to 60 per cent in just 12 months, and the past two Year 6 classes at the school made double the expected progress in writing in their final year.
On 29 February, the blog will begin as soon as the day starts in Tonga and end 48 hours later when it reaches midnight in the Western Pacific. Everyone will be able to add postings to the blog with a few clicks, Mitchell says, and he hopes the site will help to create a global picture of people’s experiences that day. “Who will be the youngest? Or the oldest? Will there be any marriage proposals?”
The blog will be moderated by Mitchell and other teachers and volunteers, including, he hopes, some at schools outside the UK. Schools can get more information at:http://feb29th.net.
Read more about the project, blogging tips, and evidence that it works at TES.
David Mitchell will be leading a webinar on the subject of blogging for National Literacy Trust Network members on 13 March 2012. Find out more.
So what are you waiting for - go leave a message.
Also check out the great resources available for teachers.
I can see why you think this is a great idea!
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