Every year on September 15, innovative educators around the world celebrate International Dot Day by making time to encourage their students’ creativity. After the last International Dot Day, we were overwhelmed by wonderful stories about the “outside-the-box” activities educators invented for their students. September 15th will be here before you know it — this year, we encourage even more kids and grown-up kids to “make their mark” in new and exciting ways!

Want to connect with like-minded educators participating in this one-of-a-kind, once-a-year event? Visit our International Dot Day Facebook page. Share your own stories and what you’ll be doing to celebrate!

Sign Up Now for Dot Day 2012 and Download the Free Educator's Handbook!

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NEW! To make this year's Dot Day even bigger, FableVision Ambassador Terry Shay launched a new Celebri-dots Blog. The blog features dots by celebrities — visit today to see awesome submissions, including dots by authors Sharon Creech, Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and Kristin Tubb. If you know of authors, illustrators, sports personalities, or other celebrities who might be interested in creating a dot, please encourage them to visit the blog and submit!

Here are some fun suggestions for having a fable-icious International Dot Day:

1. Read Peter H. Reynolds’ The Dot to your students. International Dot Day takes its name from this classic storybook, published in 22 languages (including Braille) and popular around the world — from Portland, MA to Portugal, from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires. The book shares the story of a girl named Vashti, who begins a journey of self-discovery after she is dared by her teacher to “make her mark.” Capturing the power of the caring teacher, The Dot demonstrates how someone who encourages students to explore their unique gifts can impact their entire lives.

   By the way — The Dot is also available as a title for Big Screen Books™! This downloadable software provides a fun and engaging way for students to interact with the story. Take a look to see how it could change your classroom reading experience!

 




2. Create your own "Make Your Mark!" activity ideas. Need some suggestions? Here are some great activities created by Peter H. Reynolds—bound to spark some ideas of your own.
   
   

   This video, "Two Libraries, One Voice Dot Day Celebration," was a collaboration by Shannon Miller and John Schumacher, who each celebrated with their students in separate states. Learn more!
   
   

   
   
   
   Show your students how other kids are making their mark. Richard Colosi and his classroom got creative with The Dot Project, and even created this great video!
   
   

    

   Here’s a video that shows what students in Portugal accomplished:
   
   
   
   
3. Share what you and your students are up to! We encourage you to ask parents’ permission to post your classroom’s work to our International Dot Day Facebook page, your school blog or wiki, and a variety of other places. Or, create a Make Your Mark Museum in your classroom and hold an open house. The possibilities are endless.


4. Print this Dot Day certificate, add your school or class's information, and display it proudly on your wall!


5. Learn more about Peter H. Reynolds and his other inspirational stories. Have you read Ish yet? It’s the companion book to The Dot, and presents a positive message that releases all of us from the inhibitions of “not getting it right”. Visit Peter H. Reynolds’ website or explore the rest of our site. Also, don’t miss the animated version of The Dot, a DVD available through our online store - as well as the new Dot "Make Your Mark!" poster, tote bag, and t-shirt.
   

Please drop us a line about how you’ll be celebrating this year. We can’t wait to hear what teachers and students will come up with!