FableVision Learning Spotlight Blog

International Dot Day FableVision Learning International Dot Day FableVision Learning

The Bouncing Dot Music Video

There are dozens of ways to conduct your Dot Day celebration! This September 15th-ish celebrate with "The Dot Song." Singer-songwriter Emily Dale collaborated with Peter H. Reynolds to create this beautiful melody inspired by The Dotand International Dot Day!

Listen and sing along to this uplifting tune about creativity! FableVision Studios developed this amazing animation to engage your students with this captivating song. Peter has created this free handwritten lyric sheet for you to share with your students and encourage them to Make Their Mark this Dot Day.

This animation brings to live the collaboration between singer-songwriter Emily Dale and Peter H. Reynolds, author and illustrator of The Dot. "The Dot Song"...

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the_dot_song

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Superhero Educators of Dot Day

International Dot Day would not be possible without amazing educators around the world. We would like to take the time to put these superhero educators of International Dot Day in the spotlight. A sincerest thank you from your FableVision friends for incorporating this special day in your classroom.

Are you looking for more ways to make your Dot Day celebration one that your students will never forget? Click on each superhero to connect with him/her via twitter and for more creative ideas. Also check out their blogs for great ways to celebrate Dot Day with your class. Discover amazing activities on our Pinterest and find resources to enhance your September 15th-ish on our Dot Day Tools Page.

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Matthew Winner: The Busy Librarian Blog Shannon Miller: The Library Voice Blog John Long: Palm Beach Dot-cumentary Kim Howell Gretchen WelkCristol Kapp: Cristol's PinterestMaryann Molishus: EraserTown USA Blog Sarah StaudtCarrie Hillman Cathy Potter: Dot Day Video Erika Victor kbport714Diane Cordell: Seeing Spots...and Dots Melvina KuraschigeDelyn Beard: BlogKathy Schmidt: Dot Day Video Sherry Gick: The Library Fanatic Allison Jackson William Chamberlain Esther Uribe: Rutledge Library BlogTammy Parks: Dot Day at Howe Public SchoolsKaren McMillan: Notes from McTeach Blog John Schumacher: Watch. Connect. Read. BlogAndrea Keller: The Local Musings of a Busy Bee Amy Kline: Dot Day on NBC26Shannon Smith: YouTube Video Edie Crook: Article in Gaston Gazette Valerie Byrd Fort: Library Goddess BlogErin Broderick: Ms. Broderick's Book BlogSuzy Brooks: Fourth Graders Dreaming Big BlogKatherine Sokolowski: Read, Write, ReflecSummer Len Diamond: Inspired Adventures in Teaching Louise Morgan: Mrs. Morgan's Superstars BlogJenny Lussier: Durham-Middlefield Patch ArticleMisti Sikes: Monroe County Reporter ArticleErin Olson: Monroe County Reporter ArticleHeather Fox: The Library Voice BlogJudy Arzt: Integrating Technology and Literacy Donna Sullivan MacDonald: Animoto Donna Romalino: NJ.Com story Laurie Yocom:NCompass Live Andy Plemmons:Barrow Media CenterShawna Ford:Curtis Elementary Jennifer Reed:Reederama Dawn Hallman Adam Randall:Make Your Mark Alice Gentili: Augmented Reality Julie Hembree: Bell Bulldog Readers Meg Feller: Christchurch Connected Educators

Are you a Dot Day Superhero too? Let us know the creative activities you do with your class to celebrate bravery and creativity. Or nominate a friend that goes above and beyond for their September 15th-ish celebration.

Submit nominations by:

  1. Email to Terry Shay, the teacher that started International Dot Day.

  2. Or Twitter @FableLearn.

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Don't Miss Your Chance to See Peter H. Reynolds Speak at ISTE 2014!

If you will be at ISTE in Atlanta, join Peter H. Reynolds and Dell for a special presentation! On Monday June 30th from 12:30-1:30 in the Dell Learning Lounge Conference Room B310, Peter will share his vision of how to inspire a more creative classroom and his life-long love of words.

Hear about Peter’s essentials to foster creativity and innovation in the classroom.  See how technology allows one to make new connections, share new ideas, and see what else is possible.

The presentation will include a delightful combination of word, image and video using Dell's latest technology tools. We look forward to seeing you there as well as at our FableVision Learning booth!

 

 

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Free Create Bravely Poster By Peter H. Reynolds!

For all our FableFriends here is a new downloadable poster by Peter H. Reynolds for your classroom or home! Originally as a gift for our booth visitors at ISTE* 2014, this poster should spark the imagination of all who see it. For those of you who got a copy at ISTE we thank you for sharing your ideas with us and we hope to connect the dots with all of you again.

* International Society For Technology and Education

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3 Creative Activities For Ending Your School Year

The end of the year is here! We would like to share some fun and memorable end-of-the-year activities. At the bottom of the post, please share your ideas for great ways to end the year.

Review-tionary:

The Review Game of the Quick Draw!

Reviewing what you’ve learned over an entire year can be a daunting task. Engage your entire class with this playful activity:

  1. Write the names of major concepts covered on strips of paper.

  2. Place the strips of paper into a hat or a bowl.

  3. Have the students pick from the papers blindly..

  4. Ask students to illustrate the concept without using words in their drawing. (Tip: To get the creative juices flowing, try reading one of the books from Peter H. Reynolds' Creatrilogy — The Dot, Ish and Sky Color.)

  5. After drawings are finished (or time is up), the students should gather to present their work,Pictionary-style. They can act out the subject a little — but challenge them to not talk during the presentation.

  6. Have the students in the audience guess what the drawing depicts.

  7. Once a student guesses correctly, the class can then have a group discussion on the subject that will cover even more material.

  8. After a discussion on the lesson the next student will go up and present their drawing, etc. It is an exciting way to break up a long review!

An alternative to the Pictionary game is to have the students illustrate their favorite lesson or subject from the year. Have the student write a short “artist statement” about the work. Things that could be included in the artist statement are:

  • A description of the lesson or activity and what they learned.

  • An explanation of the concept taught in the lesson.

  • An anecdote about the activity done in class.

  • A poem to accompany the piece about the subject.

  • An explanation as to why they enjoyed this project in particular.

After writing the statement is presented to the class. After each presentation, other students can share their thoughts on the lesson the student chose to depict. If students pick the same lesson, it is OK because different points can be raised with each illustration depending on how the student chose to represent the activity.  The students will appreciate sharing and explaining their art and writing. This will also provide helpful insight as to which lessons are popular and particularly resonated with students. The students will also enjoy the trip down memory lane while looking though old projects.

Review the lessons taught in the past year. Do a quick summary of the topics covered in each subject. The students will pick a lesson and write a haiku about the topic or how the lesson was taught. Then present the poems with a poetry jam! Each student reads their poem to the class (snaps encouraged). This is a fun way to fit in one last lesson and a review — all in one.

SHAVING CREAM JEOPARDYCreative Cleanup and Reflective Fun!

Get your students involved in cleaning their desks at the end of the year. Usually wiping away marks can call for lots of cleaning supplies and elbow grease — but there is an easy and fun way to get your students involved in the clean up.

Shaving cream actually lifts dirt and grease from the textured surfaces of desks. Since shaving cream is also extremely manipulatable, students love to get their hands in it!

This activity is simple, First distribute dollops of shaving cream onto the desks. Make sure it is the white fluffy original kind NOT the gel. Gel creams will just leave a sticky residue and grease.

Have students rub it around, covering the entire surface of the desk. After they have their fun manipulating the cream and completely covering the desk, you can introduce the game.

The layout of this game can mimic the configuration of Jeopardy. Use topics covering the main subjects learned throughout the year (i.e. math, science, literature). Each topic will contain five questions (more can be added, it is a very flexible game). These questions will have point values ranging from 100 to 500 (or beyond). Usually 100 point questions will be recently covered topics or easy-to-remember topics, and 500 point questions will be more difficult topics, or topics from the very beginning of the year.

Much like final Jeopardy, students must answer the questions by using their fingers to write in the shaving cream on their desk. Students can either work in teams or individually. When working in teams it is best to require everyone in the group to write the answer on their desk. You don’t want to leave anyone out of the fun of writing in the cream. After answers are checked and points are distributed, the students should “erase their boards” by rubbing away the words in the cream.  Cream refills may be required, so consider this when purchasing your supplies. After the game the shaving cream can simply be wiped off with a paper towel.

Not only will you have a fresh clean set of desks, but you will have sent your students home with a better understanding of the materials covered during the year!

We would like to thank each and every educator out there for inspiring and motivating students to create bravely and make their mark this year! We hope you enjoy your summer and continue to innovate in life, as well as the classroom.

Gallery and paintbox illustrations from THE DOT, copyright 2003 Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick Press)

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Above and Beyond: The Story of the 4C's

  FableVision in collaboration with Partnership for 21st Century Skills has produced a short, animated film called Above & Beyond. Help your students go "above & beyond", by embracing the 4Cs - communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.  Enjoy & share this video and poster!

above_and_beyond_poster

above_and_beyond_poster

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March is Creativity Month!

March is here! We are happy to re-release one of our popular classroom posters: March is Creativity Month. You'll find great tips for celebrating creativity month. Our lead ambassador (and dear educator friend) Terry Shay wrote the tips, while Peter H. Reynolds provided the illustrations. Keep in mind — you can take these tips and apply them to celebrate creativity in ANY month!

March (2014) is creativity month!

March (2014) is creativity month!

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