International Dot Day-September 15th

The author Peter H. Reynolds has created through his Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning and Creativity a wonderful initiative called "International Dot Day". His mission is dedicated to ensuring that all learners develop the confidence, vision, skills and knowledge necessary to live a fulfilled life and use their positive energy to move the world into becoming a better place.

 International Dot Day is named for the classic Peter H. Reynolds book "The Dot" which tells the story of a little girl who begins a journey toward self-confidence and growth after a caring teacher challenges her to "make her mark" and sign it.  This is a wonderful mentor text for building a community of "growth-minded"children in every classroom.  Dr. Carol Dweck, in her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success"(2007), discusses when students and teachers have a growth mindset, they understand that intelligence can be developed through effort and self-assurance. She encourages us to buy-in to the belief of "can" versus "can't".

Today, I celebrated by reading aloud the book to a kindergarten (KBR) and a first grade classroom (1M). A few days before, I sent out e-mails with resource links to the staff in preparation for the happy day.  In response, teachers and students dressed in dots, created dot headbands, viewed animated versions of the book, placed dots on clothing, wrote on dot-printed paper, created pictures and stories with dots.  Children did "turn and talks" around the message of the book and whether it made them realize their own talents, strengths or skills in areas where they previously had doubts. Thank you for inviting me into all of your classrooms-our kiddos are fantastic!

3S-Dot Writing

Hooray! 1K Celebrates Dot Day!

3GY-Viewing " The Dot"

                                                 
                 

                                                                                                                                      1M-Listening to read aloud of " The Dot"                                                     

                                         

At some point in time, please do a classroom read aloud of " Ish"  also by Peter H. Reynolds. It's the sequel to " The Dot" and the message it conveys about how the pursuit of perfection may limit us and how being"-ish" allows our ideas to flow freely in order to nurture our best selves is thought provoking. We have been reader-ish, writer-ish, poem-ish, and math-ish in our lives and that's okay.

Shedding Light:  Everyday we look in the faces of our students and believe that what we have taught  will keep them growing, learning and living beyond our farthest dreams.


"Shine a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care."
                    Peter H. Reynolds