How Will YOU Make Your Mark?

Principal ponderings...

Did you know that this Friday is International Dot Day?!  What does that mean?  Several years ago, one teacher decided to share Peter Reynolds' book The Dot and celebrate the themes of bravery, creativity and self expression.  And now people all over the world celebrate International Dot Day in many different ways!

So how should we celebrate Dot Day?  Well, if you ask Peter himself, he says, "“Spread the word… On International Dot Day, read The Dot, wear dots, eat dots, draw dots, frame dots, connect the dots, splurge on art supplies, try a new medium — a new instrument, write a poem, rearrange your furniture, reconnect the dots with an old friend, make something, or make something with a friend. Share your creativity with the world.”

Check out this website: http://www.celebridots.com/.  This site has authors, illustrators, and other celebrities who have shared their dot creations.  Students may find some inspiration from seeing what the different celebrities have done.

There are endless possibilities for what you could do with your students to celebrate International Dot Day, either on Friday or during the week leading up to the day.  I am already thinking I need to find some extra games of Twister to have out on the playground!  Be sure and share what you do!  Check out this link for all kinds of ideas: http://www.thedotclub.org/dotday/

How will you make your mark this week and how will you encourage our students to make their mark?!

Currently reading:
Since this is the week of International Dot Day...here is a read aloud of Peter Reynolds' book The Dot.  If you don't have a copy to read to your class, feel free to show them this read aloud!

Along the same line as the book The Dot, I reread a great picture book called Scribble and Author.  This is a book about writing your own story.  Scribble has a conversation with the author and goes through the beginning, middle and end of the story.  Just like The Dot is about making your own mark, this book is about finding your own path.  Let me know if you want to borrow it!

This summer, our co-teaching teams had some great PD days with Wendy Murawski, a co-teaching guru!  We will be working with her in different ways this year, and I was excited to get some books to read, including this one:

Events this week: 
Monday - Optional staff meeting at 8:30 in the library
Wednesday - 9:30 4th grade band demonstration in the PAC
Friday - Elementary half day, dismissal at 12:15, Welcome Back Party from 4:00-6:00 on the back track

Great things I noticed last week:

• Kindergartners were exploring, creating meals and getting to know new friends in Mrs. Taylor's class. 
  
• I walked into independent reading time in Mrs. Mills and Mrs. Smith's class...love all of the flexible seating and option for headphones. 
  
• I popped into the library to listen to a read aloud with Mrs. West.  Love the new table signs! 
  
• 3rd graders in Mrs. Pierantozzi's class were working on skip counting to help with their multiplication skills. 
  
• 1st graders were working on learning everyone's names during their wellness block with Mrs. Cahill. 
  
• Considering the tragic events of this past weekend, this bulletin board seems even more important...
  

Check it out:
Even though this is a letter written from teachers to administrators...just wanted you to know I read it and certainly thought of how I can strive to follow through with many of the action steps listed in the letter: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/letter-to-administrators/