September 15th is International Dot Day. This is a day where kids and grown-up kids alike celebrate the unique ways we can all "make our mark" on the world. Inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot, it's a day to connect, to collaborate, to create, and to celebrate!
If this is your first time celebrating Int'l Dot Day, you'll find lots and lots of really great resources in the FREE Educators' Handbook available after signing up for Dot Day 2012. If you're interested in connecting in a new way this year, I may just have your ticket.
Last year I got into connecting our library with other classes in a big way through Skype. This year I was looking at the plethora of dots on the map below (maintained by Dot Day Ambassador Terry Shay) representing all of the locations participating in Int'l Dot Day and, rather suddenly, I saw a place these dots could take us! Just look at all of these amazing schools (filled with incredible children and enthusiastic educators) who are celebrating Dot Day 2012!
View International Dot Day 2012 in a larger map
Now, consider what impact it could have on your students to connect with one of these schools. Do your kids ever complete connect-the-dots activities? What if we did that on a global scale? Imagine all these map markers connected through a web of skyping classrooms!
What if you were a connector? What if, in connecting with other classes for Dot Day 2012, you could help others connect, too? What an incredible way to help students and adults alike "Make Our Mark" and celebrate our dot creations with one another!
As in any connect-the-dots, you've got to start somewhere. I've created a home for us to connect (if you're interested, of course) and I hope that through this resource you'll be able to fill your Dot Day with exciting meet-ups with other kids, collaborations with other classes, or whatever your need might be.
By completing the form below, I'll create a "Want Ad" for you and post it to a GoogleDoc where you and other educators can connect, determine schedules for skyping, and make new connections. (View the GoogleDoc at http://tinyurl.com/dotday2012)
Sample Want Ad:
ELEM LMS in Columbia, MD
seeks K-12 classes to connect with
on Friday, Sept 14th to celebrate Dot Day.
Contact Matthew C. Winner (skype: MrWinner)
@MatthewWinner
Last thing, I promise. We're going to connect on Skype, right? So Skype as this whole support system in place for educators to connect. It's called Skype in the Classroom. I'm new to SITC, but that's okay. I've created a project in order to help draw more educators in and support more connectors bringing us all together. You can visit the project site below.
I hope you'll consider trying something new this year. Make some dots. Celebrate your mark on the world. Connect with other educators. Feel good.
...And let's see where all these connected dots lead us!
Sounds like a great break before the year starts. We don't start till Sept. 5!! Good thing as I got a few thousand things to get done before then. Would love to hear more about Chicago and the fun things you saw and did.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mr. Patterson. Looking forward to connecting with you on Dot Day!
DeleteI am so excited to Skype with folks! I have a question - what is the best way to do this? I see my students once a week, so should we read The Dot and make our creations the week BEFORE we Skype? That way we have something to share? Or, should we READ The Dot WITH our Skype friends and THEN make our creations? What would you suggest? What are others doing? Can't wait to hear!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!
Valerie Byrd Fort
www.valeriebyrdfort.com
Valerie,
DeleteWe're doing both at Longfellow (depending on with whom we connect). Some of our connections will be nothing more than saying "Hi", introducing our schools, and sharing the read aloud together. Others are a little more collaborative in the name of student projects, but they're with teachers I've coordinated with a bit more over the past weeks.
Whatever you do, just do it with heart and it will be amazing!
Glad you're connecting for Dot Day!