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Includes a small commentary on how he thought of the idea for the book.

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Video by Emily Arrow with Motions Guide

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The Dot Song Motions Guide - Emily Arrow & Peter H. Reynolds

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How to Make a Mark

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Author Study

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A few years ago, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck and it completely lifted the level of my thinking as an educator and learner. I immediately wanted to teach the concept to my students that year and make them aware of their mindsets as learners. To read all of my posts I wrote about mindset and teaching students about the difference between a growth mindset and fixed mindset, click here. To read my post that describes the difference between the two mindsets and my first introduction to students about the concept, click here.

Ever since I read Mindset by Carol Dweck and read additional books about the concept, I always introduce the concept to students during the first week of school through read alouds. We read picture books with characters who demonstrate perseverance, along with characters who may want to give up at the beginning, but then realize they CAN do it in the end. I always read The Dot on the first day of school to begin these important conversations by talking about Vashti and noticing how she didn't think she could draw at the beginning, had little confidence in herself, and became very frustrated. Then we discuss how Vashti changed at the end and began to work harder and built up confidence in herself as an artist. This discussion leads us to the power of the word YET and how when we can't do something, we should say, "I can't do this YET" instead of "I can't do this." See our class chart below for The Dot by Peter Reynolds.

In addition to The Dot, I also read aloud a new book, The Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, that I came across this past summer. This is a perfect picture book to read aloud to discuss perseverance - what it looks like and sounds like. It also reinforces that making mistakes and failing is part of the learning process and that you should keep trying and put in 100% effort into your goals and dreams. In this book, the character has an idea that she wants to make something magnificent, but each time she tries it doesn't come out the way she pictures it in her mind. Even though she continues to fail multiple times, she keeps on trying. Even though she still gets frustrated and thinks for a second that she should just give up, she doesn't. This is a powerful read aloud to discuss perseverance and growth mindset.

Once we read aloud a few picture books that have characters who don't give up, I begin to go back to those charts to discuss growth mindset - what it looks like and sounds like. The students realize that the characters in those books have a growth mindset and begin to think about other characters in books they have read who also have a growth mindset. I teach students that having a fixed mindset is the opposite of having a growth mindset. Then I have students work together as table groups to create t-charts to jot down what they think a growth mindset and fixed mindset looks like and sounds like. Below are two examples of charts groups made:

After groups have time to discuss the differences between the two mindsets and jot down their thinking, we share ideas as a whole class. Below are two charts we created to compile the students' thinking about the two mindsets. The first chart is our draft that I jotted quickly as students shared out, and the second is the one we have hanging up above our smartboard in the front of the class as a reminder to strive to have a growth mindset as learners.

During the second week of school, once students have discussed the concept of the mindsets and have an understanding between the two, I have students write a personal reflection about their own mindset. We talk about how it is possible to have a growth mindset in one area and a fixed mindset in another. For example, you may have a growth mindset in reading and writing, but a fixed mindset in math. Or you may have a growth mindset while playing sports, but a fixed mindset when it comes to school.

Below are two examples of personal reflections that students wrote about their mindsets as learners. Students will continue to write personal reflections about their mindset throughout the school year and at the end of the school year they will compare their reflections to see how their mindset has changed throughout the course of the year.

In addition to conversations and reflections, we also consistently talk about mindset during our read alouds throughout the year. For example, this week we are finishing our first chapter book read aloud, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, and students have shared their thinking about the characters' mindsets and noticed the word "Grit" that Mr. Daniels used and how it is connected to growth mindset and perseverance. Below is one of our 5 charts we created during our read aloud for Fish in a Tree that shows some students' thinking about mindset.

If you have not read Mindset by Carol Dweck yet, I highly recommend that you add it to the top of your stack to read. Ever since I read it a few years ago and began teaching and discussing the concept of mindset with my students, I have noticed the positive impact it has on my students as learners and individuals.

Stay tuned to hear more about how we are discussing mindset and striving to have a growth mindset in our classroom! :)

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Discussing Growth Mindset Early in the Year

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A few years ago, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck and it completely lifted the level of my thinking as an educator and learner. I immediately wanted to teach the concept to my students that year and make them aware of their mindsets as learners.

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by Emily Arrow

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ISH Song Motions Guide - Emily Arrow & Peter H. Reynolds

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Comparing and Contrasting two books by Peter H. Reynolds

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...allows me to create freely. I'm not a perfect person. Realizing this, I don't try to be. I don't compare myself to others. I go to school each day to inspire my kids to become their individual best selves.

Our story last week was by Peter Reynolds. It is my ABSOLUTE favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sit on pins and needles once we move into the last six weeks waiting for it because I know how fun it will be to dive into it. Part of the reason I love it so much...probably?? Who am I kidding? The reason I love it so much is because it's centered around art. All of the stories that we'll read as we finish up the year are "confidence boosters" and have a focus on friendship.

Have you ever watched the Disney movie, Tangled? Well, in it there's a scene where Rapunzel lays on her bed looking up at all the pictures she's drawn over her bedroom walls. They each light up one by one as she realizes that she IS the princess that the king and queen have been longing for! THAT is exactly the feeling I get when reading The Dot and its sequel Ish! Really good, crazy good....things happen in my head when I read a children's book that I connect to and these two books describe me to a 'T'.

We created this venn diagram to compare and contrast the two stories. Each group discussed the two stories and added to the chart individually. Once I had met with the last of my reading groups, we met in whole group to go over the entire chart together. Each friend contributed to the chart in some way and they were super proud of the finished product!

I love these type of activities because it really causes them to think deeply about the story. There was quite the debate about both of the stories starting with the character not liking art because Vashti refused to participate in art class while Ramon drew everywhere he went.....(even on the toilet). Yes, on the toilet! {{Insert 25 engaged, giggly 1st graders here! :-}} Can't you just hear the laughter? The kids finally agreed to write the first statement in the 'both' column after stating that though Ramon did like drawing, his feelings changed when his brother criticized his art......BUT I won't spoil it for you, just in case you haven't read these two stories! If you haven't, you'll want to and will be kicking yourself if you don't!

Now, we couldn't read stories about art all week and not be a little creative ourselves! After our wonderful discussion, the girls were grouped together to do "dot" art and the boys were grouped together to do "ish" art. They had a ball with this if for no other reason than being able to sit in another person's seat! ....and we pulled out the paints and markers!

As others walk down the halls of our school and see my kid's art, I'm sure they just see dots and squiggles....but me? I see so much more. I picture the student who made it. I picture the smile on their face that beamed with each stroke. I know that they may struggle in math or reading, but creating art is freeing and they're willing to try. I see that when given a blank sheet of paper, they can be creative and follow their own rules for a little while. There's no pressure to be as smart as the next kid or as pretty as the girl with perfect clothes. They know its ok to color outside of the lines or to create their own. They can be free, dream and create whatever they like and just in case they might need a little help...I'm there for them.

You have to reach your student's hearts before you can reach their heads and art is the connection that allows me to do that in my classroom. So the next time, you think of that perfect project you'd like to do...the one with a million pieces to cut, paste or glue...put it away....give 'em a blank sheet of paper and tell them this........ "Just start with a dot and see where it takes you.....thinking ~ishly will allow you to create freely!"

Tell them to think about Vashti...the girl who thought she could not create art. Tell them to think about how after she discovered her own talent helped some one else to discover his own....You just may be surprised, very pleasantly surprised!

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allows me to create freely. I'm not a perfect person. Realizing this, I don't try to be. I don't compare myself to others. I go to school each day to inspire my kids to become their individual best selves. Our story last week was by Peter Reynolds. It is my ABSOLUTE favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Also check out #dotday on twitter and instagram for ideas.

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International Dot Day, Boston, MA. 13,532 likes · 838 talking about this · 127 were here. Celebrate #DotDay Sept 15th (before/or after) Join free: www.TheDotClub.org - kids & adults around globe...

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Ideas for Dot Day

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A video hosted by Peter H. Reynolds encouraging kids to use dots in their artwork and to be creative with their dots.

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Ready Set Draw-ish! Peter H. Reynolds' THE DOT

Dot Day is a celebration of creativity! We're excited to present this special episode of Ready Set Draw! featuring The Dot author and illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds. Watch and learn as Peter draws a dot galaxy, then register for Dot Day and make your mark!

Ready Set Draw-ish!

Share your dots with us using #ReadySetDraw and we'll post them in our Fan Art Gallery!

This episode was sponsored by Epic! Get the app that gives kids access to thousands of books anywhere!

LIKE IT? PIN IT!

REGISTER for INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY

Creativity is an important aspect if everyone's life. Want to make your mark this year and show the world your creative side? Register for Dot Day and participate. You can sign up HERE!

ALL ABOUT THE DOT and Peter's CREATRILOGY

The Dot
Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Candlewick Press

Vashti is not an artist. She jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There" she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti's journey of surprise and self-discovery.

Ish
Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Candlewick Press

Ramon loves to draw and it makes him happy but, in one split second everything changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right."

Sky Color
Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Candlewick Press

Marisol loves to paint. So when her teacher asks her to help make a mural for the school library, she can't wait to begin! But how can Marisol make a sky without blue paint?

ALL ABOUT PETER H. REYNOLDS

Peter H. Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling illustrator who has created many acclaimed books for children. In addition to his Creatrilogy The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color he is the author-illustrator of Rose's Garden, The North Star, and So Few of Me. Peter H. Reynolds helps inspire children find their creative side and dream big through his art and writing!

Say "Hi" to PETER H. REYNOLDS
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CONNECT WITH KidLit TV
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Ready Set Draw-ish! Peter H. Reynolds' THE DOT - KidLit TV

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Dot Day is a celebration of creativity! We're excited to present this special episode of Ready Set Draw! featuring The Dot author and illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds. Watch and learn as Peter draws a dot galaxy, then register for Dot Day and make your mark! Ready Set Draw-ish!

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Dot Day Tech Integration Ideas explained by kids

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Dot Day Tech Integration Ideas explained by kids

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Artwork using Ipads

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iPad Artwork Inspired by Peter Reynold's "The Dot"

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http://www.TheDotProject.org As part of our reading program, Mr. Colosi's First Grade class read the book "The Dot," by Peter Reynolds. Students were so inspired by the book's message of uniqueness that they decided to create art in a brand new way. Using the classroom iPad, each student sketched their own "dot" using the Drawing App app.

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Using Watercolors to create doodles from dots

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I hope you are having a good summer. I have spent some time doodling with watercolors, my favorite artsy thing to do. Today I am going to show you how I transform puddles of watercolor to flower ...

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Youtube Video of The Dot

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Writing and Drawing with Dots