by Peter H. Reynolds (Candlewick, 2003).
This book started a paradigm shift when Terry Shay, a teacher in North Tama, declared International Dot Day and encouraged students to make their mark. The Dot was the first step leading to a trio of titles in the Creatrilogy that helps readers to remember to make their mark, enjoy the ish-fulness and think outside the box. In this Common Core-driven age, we need to remember that we have a responsibility to help students acquire the skills to make their mark but also have to create environments for students to make decisions about how they make their mark. There is a place for creativity in school, in life and in wonder.
So, here are a few ways for you to meet the Common Core Standards and have your students explore their potential.
- Write/draw/video/audiotape etc. about how they want to make their mark.
- Create your own dot in any media form and describe what you did.
- Locate dots in your life and write a statement about what the dot represents.
- See how many ways you can create a dot without making a dot.
- Read The Dot aloud and ask students to describe a time when they were scared of starting something new.
- View the Celebridots and have students read the books/research the creators.
- Describe a time in your life when someone encouraged you to be brave.
- Describe a time in your life when you wanted to be brave but needed encouragement.
There are so many ways to make your mark, no matter how small or grande. As a teacher and a mentor, I think that we need to focus our energies to JUST DO IT while remembering that I think I can.
Think about how you Make Your Mark as an I think I can teacher who models reading, writing, listening, speaking, thinking and creating.
Watty Piper may have started it but Peter H. Reynolds thought outside the box one mark at a time and now millions of people around the world know that they can make their mark.
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